Gov. Chris Sununu often emphasizes that when it comes to politics and policy, he’s laser-focused on the Granite State.
“I’m very selfish about the people of New Hampshire in the 603. And that’s where 100% of my focus is,” he said in an interview with the Monitor earlier this week.
Well, maybe not 100%.
The governor has traveled outside the Granite State a couple of times this year to help fellow Republican candidates who are running in the 2022 elections. Last month he traveled to Connecticut to campaign with and raise money for Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Stefanowski.
On Tuesday, Sununu headlined a fundraiser for former two-term Maine Gov. Paul LePage, who is running this year against Democratic Gov. Janet Mills as he tries to win back his old job. The next day, Sununu and LePage teamed up at Messer Truck Equipment, a more than century-old family-owned business in Westbrook, Maine.
Speaking with reporters, Sununu said that LePage “brought some awesome economic opportunities to the state for eight years.” He predicted that “Maine is going to become a lot more competitive with New Hampshire in just a few short months when Paul gets elected.”
Early next month Sununu heads to Massachusetts to headline a fundraiser for GOP gubernatorial candidate Chris Doughty.
“I just want good candidates that believe in individuals, that don’t believe that big government is the answer. And I’m a big believer that states are the answer. Good governors in states can make huge differences for their communities,” Sununu said in an interview. “So I’m out there helping everybody I possibly can, whether it’s Glenn Youngkin down in Virginia, Paul LePage up here. Anyone who wants my help, I’m happy to go help them.”
The New Hampshire Democratic Party took aim at Sununu’s campaign efforts, particularly alongside LePage, who was an outspoken and unconventional governor.
Sununu’s travels outside of New Hampshire have fueled some speculation that he might have national ambitions and may be mulling a run for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination.
But the governor dismissed such talk by political prognosticators, pointing to his own reelection this year as he runs for a fourth two-year term steering the Granite State.
“I’m not thinking past re-election. Right. If I don’t close the deal in November and earn those votes and get out and talk to voters, then nothing else really matters,” he said.
According to recent fundraising reports, Sununu was edged by his Democratic challenger, state Sen. Tom Sherman. The doctor from Rye narrowly edged Sununu during the most recent fundraising period, but the governor still enjoyed a $100,000 cash-on-hand advantage over Sherman.
While he’s politically popular, Sununu comes from a family with a strong political pedigree. He is considered a talented campaigner, but fundraising has never been an activity in Sununu’s wheelhouse.
“I never worry… I think I’ve always been out-fundraised by folks,” Sununu said. “It’s not about fundraising in New Hampshire.”
“At the end of the day, I just gotta get out there and do my job. And if we have good results – and we’ve had tremendous results in New Hampshire – I feel confident that we can get reelected,” he said. “But you’ve got to earn it.”
While Sherman is the first Democratic gubernatorial candidate in eight years not the face a rival or challenger in the primary, Sununu is facing a handful of longshot GOP candidates who are running to his right. The governor discounted his primary rivals.
“I don’t even really think about the primary,” he said. “My job is to govern the state. We’ll deal with the campaign when the campaign finally gets down to heating up in September and October.”
He emphasized that we still have a big summer ahead.
“Everything from investing in (American Rescue Plan Act) funds, really dealing with the energy issues, really planning for heating oil assistance, which we’re going to bring to the table, to managing our mental health system,” Sununu said. “We have two new mental health hospitals we’re going to be investing in in the state. And then obviously, the opioid crisis.”
Sununu was interviewed while he was in Maine. The top reason for his trip was to attend the annual summer meeting of the National Governors Association, a bipartisan group of governors that seeks common ground on policy.
Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey succeeded GOP Gov. Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas as chair of the organization.
Each incoming NGA chair gets to set their own initiatives, and Murphy announced that his over the next year will “be focused on mental health of our youth.”
Friday was the deadline for candidates running for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to file their April-June second quarter of 2022 fundraising figures with the Federal Election Commission.
In the race for the GOP Senate nomination in New Hampshire, state Senate President Chuck Morse reported bringing in roughly $550,000 during the past three months. Cryptocurrency entrepreneur Bruce Fenton mostly self-financed his $1.6 million haul. Businessman, economist and author Vikram Mansharamani reported hauling in approximately $830,000. Former Londonderry town manager Kevin Smith reported a $1.4 million haul, but that also included fundraising from an outside super PAC that is supporting his Senate bid. Retired Army Gen. Don Bolduc, who’s making his second straight run for the Senate, reported raising roughly $85,000.
Those numbers pale compared to the more than $5 million raised the past three months by the Democratic incumbent in the race – Sen. Maggie Hassan – whose second-quarter haul set a new Granite State fundraising record.