Chris Sununu

Christopher Thomas Sununu ( sə-NOO-noo; born November 5, 1974) is an American politician and engineer who served as the 82nd governor of New Hampshire from 2017 to 2025. A Republican, Sununu is the son of former New Hampshire governor and White House Chief of Staff John H. Sununu and the younger brother of former U.S. representative and senator John E. Sununu. He earned a bachelor's degree in civil and environmental engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Sununu was chief executive officer of the Waterville Valley Resort in New Hampshire, and he served on the New Hampshire Executive Council from 2011 to 2017. Sununu was first elected governor of New Hampshire in 2016. He was reelected in 2018, 2020, and 2022. Sununu is the second governor in New Hampshire history (after John Lynch) to be elected to a fourth term. His tenure focused on fiscal conservatism, tax cuts, business-friendly policies, and efforts to combat the opioid crisis. A moderate Republican, Sununu took mixed stances on social issues, supporting some LGBTQ rights while restricting certain transgender rights. On July 19, 2023, he announced that he would not run for a fifth term. Sununu endorsed Kelly Ayotte, who won the election to succeed him.