2023 marks the official beginning of the 2024 Presidential Election. Although neither Party has determined its final ticket, the battle for nomination is full on.
For the Republican Party, the alliances and triumphs at this stage will define the strategy for the final race. One of its possible key players hails from New Hampshire – the state where the first primaries are traditionally held.
Who is Chris Sununu?
Before becoming Governor of New Hampshire, Chris Sununu was an M.I.T. graduate, an environmental engineer, and a profitable businessman.
However, as the son of a former governor and the brother of a former Senator, Chris Sununu may have always had his eyes on the common good.
He won his first tenure in public office in 2011 after he was elected to the New Hampshire Executive Council. After serving there for three terms, he ran for governor of the State of New Hampshire. He has held that office continuously since 2017.
What are his Political Credentials?
Chris Sununu has cultivated a strong supporter base among New Hampshire’s fiscal conservatives, thanks to a consistent pro-freedom, pro-business position.
He was named the most fiscally responsible governor in the country by the Cato Institute, and he has fought hard to keep his State free from any new taxes.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sununu’s administration was characterized by dynamic prompt responses, which kept infection rates relatively low while still minimizing lockdowns and stay-at-home orders.
Finally, one of his biggest achievements was to reduce drug overdose deaths throughout the State – one of just four states to achieve this over the past 10 years.
Sununu’s Bid for the 2024 Presidential Nomination
Within his party, Sununu is considered a largely moderate voice. He keeps a libertarian, pro-business philosophy and is a staunch defender of the free market. However, his social policies are more progressive than the GOP average.
Unlike the Democratic Party, the Republican Party plans to keep New Hampshire as its first-in-the-nation presidential primary. This will provide him with an early opportunity to prove himself, and to test the waters for a “post-Trump conservative platform.”
Within his State, he is well known for his approachable manner, spontaneous declarations, a fondness for pop-culture references, and his “be normal” political mantra. However, it is yet to be seen if the intimate “normalcy” he cultivates in New Hampshire will work across the nation, especially as he faces performative big tickets such as Nikki Haley or Ron DeSantis.
Grassroots Pulse covers public policy and political issues aimed at engaging highly-active policy makers, donors, and grassroots leaders at the forefront of the political process in America today.
Image Credit: Photo by Gage Skidmore on Flickr
