N.H.’s Sununu distances himself from Trump: ‘Never even met the man’
by George Caldwell · The Washington TimesNew Hampshire Republican Senate candidate John E. Sununu is denying any personal ties to President Trump as he faces an uphill battle in the Granite State.
In a new ad, Mr. Sununu fires back at Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas’ claims that he’s closely tied to Mr. Trump.
“The way Chris Pappas tells it, I’m President Trump’s long-lost son,” Mr. Sununu says in the spot. “I’ve never even met the man.”
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Mr. Sununu then distances himself from Mr. Trump’s policies.
“When the president’s policies are bad for New Hampshire, I’ll oppose them,” Mr. Sununu said. “Just like I opposed the war in Iran and the trade war with Canada. That’s New Hampshire independent.”
Mr. Sununu also accuses his opponent of “voting with Nancy Pelosi 99% of the time,” referring to the Democratic former House speaker from California.
Mr. Trump endorsed Mr. Sununu in the primary, despite his history of criticizing the president.
Mr. Sununu’s strategy is likely informed by negative polling for the president.
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A late September poll from the University of New Hampshire found 67% of respondents disapproved of the president’s job performance, whereas 32% approved.
New Hampshire is one of the handful of states where Republicans are making a long-shot effort to flip a Senate seat.
Doing so would help block Democrats from netting the four seats they need to gain control of the chamber.
Mr. Pappas quickly fired back on social media, writing, “I’ve never met the guy either. But I know New Hampshire is paying the price for his incompetence and corruption. We can do so much better than a failed former senator who feigns concern two weeks before the election.”
Mr. Sununu represented New Hampshire in the Senate from 2003 to 2009 after three terms in the House.
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He entered the 2026 race after his brother Chris, a former governor, decided against running.
Although its federal representation is all Democratic, New Hampshire is governed by a Republican trifecta.
The Cook Political Report says the state’s Senate race leans Democratic due to the president’s low approval rating.
The election is Nov. 3.
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George Caldwell
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