Chris Sununu takes major step toward announcing White House run
Ryan King
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Gov. Chris Sununu (R-NH) established a “Live Free or Die” committee in a significant step toward laying the groundwork for a possible presidential campaign.
Through his committee, which was named after his home state’s motto, Sununu can raise nearly unlimited funds to ascertain interest from donors who would be critical to financing a presidential campaign. A spokesperson for Sununu confirmed the launch of the committee to the Washington Examiner.
Sununu has long dropped hints about presidential aspirations.
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“I’m excited to talk about the successes that we’ve had in New Hampshire: lowering taxes, creating educational choices for parents and kids, and building opportunities for businesses to grow and thrive,” Sununu said in a statement to the Washington Examiner. “What we’ve done in New Hampshire is a great model for the federal government — specifically promoting the conservative tenets of limited government, local control, and individual responsibility.”
Similar 501(c)(4) organization-style committees like Sununu’s have been widely deployed by politicians mulling a campaign for higher office. Former Vice President Mike Pence established his Advancing American Freedom committee nearly two years ago, and other speculated 2024 contenders have debuted similar committees as well.
Under federal law, these types of committees are not required to divulge their donors to the public.
Sununu recently won his fourth term in office as governor in the Granite State during the 2022 midterm elections. He has contrasted himself with former President Donald Trump, who is widely seen as a favorite in the 2024 GOP primary. Sununu has also frequently admitted that he is “definitely thinking about” running for president.
“At the end of the day, you’re going to have a lot of Republicans that get in that race, they’re all really good people, they’re really good candidates,” Sununu told ABC over the weekend. “Unfortunately, at the end of the day, November of ’22 showed us that, right? Trump is going to be seen as a very extreme candidate. The country is going to push back against it.”
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So far, Trump is the only heavyweight Republican to declare his 2024 campaign. Former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley is expected to reveal her presidential plans in South Carolina next week. From there, she will travel to New Hampshire and Iowa for various stops.
Sununu will attend the National Governors Association’s winter meeting in Washington, D.C., from Wednesday to Sunday.