Chris Sununu facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chris Sununu
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Sununu in 2022
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| 82nd Governor of New Hampshire | |
| In office January 5, 2017 – January 9, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Chuck Morse (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Kelly Ayotte |
| Member of the New Hampshire Executive Council from the 3rd district | |
| In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Beverly Hollingworth |
| Succeeded by | Russell Prescott |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Christopher Thomas Sununu
November 5, 1974 Salem, New Hampshire, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Valerie Sununu
(m. 2001) |
| Children | 3 |
| Parents | John H. Sununu (father) Nancy Sununu (mother) |
| Relatives | John E. Sununu (brother) |
| Education | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (BS) |
Chris Sununu (born November 5, 1974) is an American politician and engineer. He served as the 82nd governor of New Hampshire from 2017 to 2025.
He is a member of the Republican Party. Chris Sununu comes from a family involved in politics. His father, John H. Sununu, was also a New Hampshire governor and a top aide in the White House. His older brother, John E. Sununu, was a U.S. representative and senator.
Chris Sununu studied civil and environmental engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Before becoming governor, he was the chief executive officer of the Waterville Valley Resort in New Hampshire. He also served on the New Hampshire Executive Council from 2011 to 2017. In 2023, he announced he would not run for a fifth term as governor.
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Early Life and Education
Chris Sununu was born on November 5, 1974, in Salem, New Hampshire. His father, John H. Sununu, was a former New Hampshire Governor. His mother, Nancy Sununu, was the former head of the New Hampshire Republican Party. Chris is one of eight children. His older brother, John E. Sununu, served as a U.S. senator and representative.
Sununu's family has roots in Lebanon. His grandfather, John, was born in the United States.
He graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Virginia in 1993. In 1998, he earned a bachelor's degree in civil and environmental engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). After MIT, Sununu briefly studied film at New York University Tisch School of the Arts.
Early Career
After college, Sununu worked as an environmental engineer. He helped design systems to clean up waste sites. His work focused on cleaning soil and groundwater, treating wastewater, and designing landfills. In 2002, he became an "engineer in training" in California.
In 2010, Sununu led a group of investors who bought the Waterville Valley Resort. He became the resort's chief executive officer. The resort employed over 700 people in the White Mountains area.
New Hampshire Executive Council
From 2011 to 2017, Sununu was an elected member of the Executive Council of New Hampshire. This council is a group of five people who work with the governor. They approve state contracts, appointments, and pardons.
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Governor of New Hampshire
Chris Sununu was first elected governor of New Hampshire in 2016. He won re-election three more times, in 2018, 2020, and 2022. This made him the second governor in New Hampshire's history to be elected to a fourth term. On July 19, 2023, he announced that he would not seek a fifth term.
Presidential Aspirations
In early 2023, Sununu mentioned he was thinking about running for president in 2024. However, in June 2023, he announced that he would not seek the Republican presidential nomination.
Political Positions
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Sununu has supported reducing certain taxes in New Hampshire. He wanted to lower the state's tax on income from investments, saying it unfairly affected older citizens. He also aimed to reduce other taxes and help students pay off loans if they worked in health care or social work. He supported tax cuts for businesses and lower property taxes.
Sununu supports giving state money, called "school choice vouchers," to students from low-income families. These vouchers could help them attend religious or private schools.
In 2020, Sununu suggested creating a new New Hampshire Department of Energy. He said this would make the government more efficient. One goal of this department would be to develop offshore wind power along New Hampshire's coast.
In 2019, Sununu vetoed a bill that would have stopped people from carrying firearms on school property.
In 2017, Sununu signed a law that allowed people to carry a handgun in New Hampshire without needing a permit.
In 2020, Sununu joined Democrats in supporting permanent funding for conservation efforts. This funding helps protect natural areas in the U.S., especially in New Hampshire.
After the murder of George Floyd, Sununu created a special group called the New Hampshire Commission on Law Enforcement Accountability, Community, and Transparency (LEACT). This group looked into police training and how police interact with communities. In September 2020, LEACT gave Sununu 50 suggestions. These included creating a group to review police misconduct and recommending that all police officers wear body cameras. Sununu supported all these ideas.
Personal Life
Chris Sununu met his wife, Valerie, in college. They got married in 2001. They live in Newfields, New Hampshire, with their three children: Calvin, Edith, and Leonardo.
Sununu enjoys skiing and playing rugby. In 1998, he completed a long, five-month hike of the Appalachian Trail. He walked the entire trail from Maine to Georgia.
See also
In Spanish: Chris Sununu para niños
