MARCO ISLAND, Fla. — With a convincing White House victory this month, President-elect Donald Trump's grip on the Republican Party is stronger than ever.
But the popular Republican governor, who has long been a vocal critic of former and future presidents, says there's still room in the party for people outside the MAGA and America First base to join.
“This is a big tent party. There's no question about that,” Sununu said in an interview with Fox News Digital on the sidelines of the Republican Governors Association winter meeting at a waterfront resort in southwest Florida this week. No,” he said.
Sununu is a leading surrogate and supporter of former United Nations Ambassador and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, Trump's final challenger in the 2024 Republican presidential primary, and the Republican candidate in the general election. supported the person.
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Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley and New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu visit a polling place in New Hampton on January 23, 2024. (Joe Radle/Getty Images)
Mr. Sununu said Mr. Trump's electoral and popular vote victory was “a huge victory for the entire country. The people of this country spoke very loudly and clearly.”
The governor acknowledged that Trump is the “standard bearer of the party” and the “spokesperson of the party.”
“But this is a very large party. If he hadn't, he (Trump) wouldn't have won. If he hadn't, we could have won convincingly in various states across this country.” “We wouldn't have been able to contain it,” Sununu said.
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Asked about the president-elect's flurry of announcements about Cabinet nominations this month, Sununu said, “He definitely has some controversial Cabinet nominees…I don't mind saying I'm not a big fan, but he's a big fan.” The majority are ministerial candidates.” they're great. ” (Sununu was interviewed before former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) withdrew his name as a candidate for attorney general amid the growing scandal.)
President-elect Donald Trump is pictured after speaking at the America First Policy Institute gala held at Mar-a-Lago on November 14, 2024 in Palm Beach, Florida. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
“He's bringing in people from the private sector, he's bringing in governors, he's bringing in people who have real experience in all of these issues and who understand the mandate of fiscal responsibility,” Sununu said. he said. “With regulation out of the way, this effectively reduces costs for businesses, reduces costs for consumers, and reduces costs for the public.”
Sununu didn't hold back on behalf of Trump in the battleground state of New Hampshire, but crisscrossed the campaign trail representing Republicans who voted against him. The governor was a top surrogate for former Sen. Kelly Ayotte, the Republican gubernatorial candidate who won on Election Day and promised to continue Sununu's policies.
Asked if Ayotte's nearly 9.5-point win was a win for him, Sununu said, “It was a win.” [a] A win for New Hampshire. ”
On November 7, 2024, Governor-elect Kelly Ayotte and Governor Chris Sununu meet in the New Hampshire Governor's Office at the State Capitol in Concord. (New Hampshire Governor's Office)
“Mr. Kelly is going to be a phenomenal person. She has experience as attorney general and as a U.S. senator. She understands how the system works,” Sununu said. Ta. “Our transition has already been incredibly smooth, with all aspects of government moving forward, how we build great teams, and most importantly… what’s happening in our communities. Opportunities to listen to animals are discussed almost daily.”
“She'll have my cell number. I don't know if she'll need it, because I think she'd be great on her own. But she'll always have my cell phone number.” You have the number,” Sununu said when asked if he would call. He intended to offer advice to his successor.
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Sununu then pointed to his two Democratic predecessors as governor and gave them their cellphone numbers, saying, “We want New Hampshire to succeed, so I'm not the only one helping Kerry.'' No. It's always a team effort. She's going to be tough.” You can rely on many people for advice when you need it. ”
After mulling a White House bid in 2024, Sununu announced he would run for president in the summer of 2023, weeks later not seeking an unprecedented fifth two-year term at the helm of the Granite State. He also said. (New Hampshire and neighboring Vermont are the only two states in the nation that hold gubernatorial elections every two years.)
New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu speaks during a press conference at the Statehouse in Concord on November 15, 2023. (FOX News/Paul Steinhauser)
“I'm excited to return to the private sector. I love business and I love deal sourcing,” he said. “I don't know exactly what the private sector will bring, but I think it's going to be pretty exciting.”
New Hampshire is likely to see a fierce Senate race in 2026, when former governor and longtime Democratic lawmaker Jeanne Shaheen is up for re-election.
But Sununu reiterated what he told Fox News Digital in July.
“Running for the Senate in 2026 is definitely ruled out. Yeah, it's definitely not on my dance card,” he said.
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But the governor said Republicans “will have good candidates. There's no question about that. There might be some different people interested in running. I think that would be great. We All of them were Democrats.'' [congressional] Delegation for the first time in a while. I think the people of the state, especially with Kerry's convincing victory, are going to want another voice and want some change. ”
Asked if he might run again in the future, the 50-year-old governor said: “I'm not thinking about that at all. I'm excited about the private sector. That's it…that's on my windshield.” said.
But he didn't close the door completely, adding: “We'll see what political chapters are written going forward.”
