Chris Sununu

Christopher Thomas Sununu was born on November 5, 1974. He is an American politician and engineer. He served as the 82nd governor of New Hampshire from 2017 to 2025.

Sununu is a Republican. His father was John H. Sununu, a former governor of New Hampshire and White House Chief of Staff. His brother, John E. Sununu, served as a U.S. representative and later as a senator. Chris Sununu studied civil and environmental engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Before becoming governor, he was the chief executive officer of the Waterville Valley Resort and served on the New Hampshire Executive Council from 2011 to 2017.

Sununu was first elected governor in 2016 and was reelected three more times. He focused on fiscal conservatism, tax cuts, and supporting businesses. He also worked on efforts to address the opioid crisis. Sununu supported some LGBTQ rights. In July 2023, he announced he would not run for a fifth term and endorsed Kelly Ayotte, who later won the election to become his successor.

Early life and education

Chris Sununu was born on November 5, 1974, in Salem, New Hampshire. His parents are former New Hampshire Governor John H. Sununu and Nancy Sununu, who was the former chair of the New Hampshire Republican State Committee and First Lady of New Hampshire. He has several siblings, including an older brother, John E. Sununu, who was a U.S. senator and U.S. representative.

Sununu went to school at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Fairfax County, Virginia. He later earned a degree in civil and environmental engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1998. After that, he studied film at New York University Tisch School of the Arts.

Early career

Chris Sununu began his career as an environmental engineer. He worked on projects to clean up waste sites, including soil, water, and landfills.

In 2010, he led a group that bought Waterville Valley Resort. He became the resort's top leader and managed over 700 workers in the White Mountains area.

New Hampshire Executive Council

Chris Sununu was an elected member of the five-member Executive Council of New Hampshire from 2011 to 2017.

In 2015, Sununu helped create a plan for transportation in New Hampshire. The plan tried to solve money problems and expected to get about $160 million each year from the federal government.

In 2010, Sununu and the other Executive Council members voted to free Ward Bird from prison. Bird had been in trouble for showing a gun to someone on his property. However, the governor did not agree with this decision. The council then voted to shorten Bird’s sentence, and the governor allowed this vote.

Governor of New Hampshire

Elections

2016

Main article: 2016 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

In the election, Sununu won against Democratic nominee Colin Van Ostern.

2018

Main article: 2018 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

Sununu was reelected, winning against Democratic nominee Molly Kelly.

2020

Main article: 2020 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

In May 2019, Sununu said he would run for a third term as governor. After winning the Republican nomination, Sununu got the most votes ever for a New Hampshire governor candidate. He got more votes than President Donald Trump.

2022

Main article: 2022 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

In November 2021, Sununu said he would run for a fourth term as governor. He won the Republican primary and then the general election, defeating Democrat Thomas Sherman and Libertarians Karlyn Borysenko and Kelly Halldorson.

Tenure

Sununu became governor on January 5, 2017. He started his second term on January 3, 2019, and his third term on January 7, 2021.

In 2018, Sununu started a plan to help people with addiction. The plan includes centers across the state that work with local groups for support.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sununu talked about problems with relief packages and issues with vaccine timing. In November 2020, Sununu asked people in the state to wear masks. He supported vaccines but did not agree with mandates from Washington.

In 2023, Sununu stopped the state from working with groups that support boycotts against Israel.

Presidential aspirations

Main article: 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries

In January 2023, Chris Sununu considered running for president in 2024 but said he didn’t have a clear plan yet. By June 2023, he decided not to run for the Republican nomination for president.

Political positions

WMUR sees Chris Sununu as a middle-of-the-road Republican. He cares about money and fairness. He also thinks a lot about personal freedom.

Sununu did not agree with many bills and refused to sign them as governor. He wanted to change some taxes to help older people and students becoming doctors or social workers. He also supported giving parents money to help pay for school choices for their children. In 2025, Sununu talked about changing some big government programs to save money.

In 2025, Sununu talked about how a famous person was trying to save money for the government. He liked the goal but thought the way the person was doing it was too rough and could hurt people’s feelings.

Sununu did not agree with some energy plans that would cost money and affect regular people. He wanted to create a new department to help with energy, especially wind power off the coast.

Sununu supported a certain leader in 2016 but later criticized him after an election dispute. He later supported another leader in the next election.

Sununu has talked about many social topics. He has supported people’s rights to make their own choices and has signed laws to protect people from unfair treatment.

After a sad event, Sununu started a group to look at how police officers work and make sure they treat everyone fairly. He agreed with the group’s ideas, including having police officers wear cameras.

During a time when many people were sick with COVID-19, Sununu asked for help from the government to support New Hampshire.

President & CEO, Airlines for America

On August 18, 2025, Airlines for America announced that Sununu would become its new President and Chief Executive Officer starting September 9, 2025.

Personal life

Chris Sununu met his wife, Valerie, in college, and they married in 2001. They have three children named Calvin, Edith, and Leonardo and live in Newfields, New Hampshire.

Sununu enjoys skiing and playing rugby. In 1998, he hiked the entire Appalachian Trail from Maine to Georgia. In 2024, he helped save someone at a lobster roll eating contest by using the Heimlich maneuver.

Electoral history

Executive Council 1st term

In 2010, Sununu won against Beverly Hollingworth with 55.9% of the votes.

Executive Council 2nd term

In 2012, Sununu won against Bill Duncan with 55.2% of the votes.

Executive Council 3rd term

In 2014, Sununu won against Robin McLane with 61.6% of the votes.