John E. Sununu facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John E. Sununu
United States Senator from New Hampshire
In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2009
Preceded by	Bob Smith
Succeeded by	Jeanne Shaheen
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Hampshire's 1st district
In office January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2003
Preceded by	Bill Zeliff
Succeeded by	Jeb Bradley
Personal details
Born	John Edward Sununu (1964-09-10) September 10, 1964 (age 60) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Catherine Halloran ​ (m. 1988)​
Relations	Chris Sununu (brother)
Children	3
Parents	John H. Sununu (father) Nancy Sununu (mother)
Education	Massachusetts Institute of Technology (BS, MS) Harvard University (MBA)

John Edward Sununu (born September 10, 1964) is an American politician who served the state of New Hampshire in the U.S. government. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1997 to 2003 and then a U.S. Senator from 2003 to 2009.

For his entire six-year term in the Senate, Sununu was the youngest senator serving at the time. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Politics runs in his family. His father, John H. Sununu, was a governor of New Hampshire and a White House Chief of Staff. His younger brother, Chris Sununu, also served as the governor of New Hampshire. In 2008, Sununu ran for re-election to the Senate but was defeated by former governor Jeanne Shaheen.

Early Life and Education

John E. Sununu was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He is one of eight children of John H. and Nancy Sununu. His family has a diverse background, with ancestors from Lebanon, El Salvador, Greece, Ireland, Scotland, and England.

Sununu was a very strong student. He went to the famous Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he earned both a bachelor's and a master's degree in mechanical engineering. Later, he earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Harvard University. Before entering politics, he worked in the technology industry and as a business consultant.

Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives

The U.S. House of Representatives is one of the two parts of the U.S. Congress, which makes laws for the country. Sununu represented New Hampshire's 1st district in the House.

Elections

In 1996, Sununu won his first election to Congress. He was re-elected two more times, in 1998 and 2000, serving a total of three terms (six years).

Time in Office

As a representative, Sununu was known for his conservative views. This means he generally supported policies like lower taxes, less government spending, and more power for individual states. He was a member of important committees, including the Appropriations Committee, which decides how the government spends money, and the Budget Committee.

He received awards from groups that liked his focus on saving government money and supporting small businesses.

Serving in the U.S. Senate

In 2002, Sununu decided to run for the U.S. Senate. The Senate is the other part of Congress, and each state has two senators.

Elections

2002 Election

To become the Republican candidate, Sununu first had to run against the current Republican senator, Bob Smith, in a primary election. Sununu won that race. He then faced the Democratic candidate, Governor Jeanne Shaheen, in the main election and won, becoming a U.S. Senator.

2008 Election

Six years later, in 2008, Sununu ran for re-election. His opponent was once again Jeanne Shaheen. This time, Shaheen won the election, and Sununu's term in the Senate ended in January 2009.

Time in Office

As a senator, Sununu often voted with the Republican Party. However, he was also known for sometimes disagreeing with his party on important issues. For example, he joined with Democrats to oppose parts of the USA PATRIOT Act, a law dealing with national security, because he was concerned it might affect people's privacy.

Here are some of his key positions:

• Gun Rights: He was a strong supporter of the right to own firearms.
• Immigration: He opposed plans that would give a path to citizenship for immigrants who were in the country illegally.
• Internet: He wanted to permanently ban taxes on internet access.
• Environment: He co-sponsored a bill to reduce air pollution from power plants. The bill aimed to lower emissions of harmful chemicals like sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide.

He also worked with senators from both parties on different issues. For example, he worked with a Democrat to write a plan to change how the insurance industry is regulated.

Life After Politics

After leaving the Senate in 2009, Sununu has worked in the private sector. He has served as an advisor for several companies and law firms. He was also appointed to a panel that watched over how the government used money to help banks during the 2008 financial crisis.

Sununu often writes opinion articles for the Boston Globe newspaper. In 2019, he was appointed to the governing council of Lloyd's of London, a major insurance company.

Personal Life

Sununu married Catherine (Kitty) Halloran in 1988. They have three children named John, Grace, and Charlotte.

Election Results

*Write-in and minor candidate notes: In 2002, write-ins received 197 votes.

See also

In Spanish: John E. Sununu para niños

• List of Arab and Middle-Eastern Americans in the United States Congress
• List of Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States Congress
• List of Greek Americans