Sununu endorses Kelly Ayotte to succeed him as NH governor

Gov. Chris Sununu endorsed former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte to be the next New Hampshire governor Wednesday, choosing her over former Senate President Chuck Morse as his preferred successor.

In a post on the social media website X, Sununu, a Republican who is not seeking reelection, argued Ayotte would be the best candidate to continue his economic policies.

“Kelly Ayotte understands that with strong fiscal management, limited government, and local control, (New Hampshire) has set the Gold Standard for the country,” Sununu wrote. “She’s the Republican who will win in November and hit the ground running in January. Count me in as an enthusiastic supporter!”

The move aligns Sununu with a candidate who herself has aligned with Sununu’s efforts as governor, and has attacked her Democratic opponents, former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig and Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington, for suggesting an alternative approach. She reiterated that defense in her own statement reacting to Sununu’s endorsement Wednesday.

More: Ayotte and Morse seek Republican nomination for NH governor: What voters need to know

“Our state is only one election from becoming something we are not,” she said. “Joyce Craig and Cinde Warmington think the Massachusetts model is a better path than the one Governor Sununu has put us on – that couldn’t be further from the truth.”

The decision also represents a break in Sununu’s support for Morse. Morse served as Senate president in four out of Sununu’s eight years as governor, working with the governor on budgets and helping to pass or kill many of Sununu’s priorities.

When Morse stepped down in 2022 to run a campaign for U.S. Senate to unseat Sen. Maggie Hassan, Sununu endorsed him in the Republican primary against Brig. Gen. Don Bolduc; Bolduc won the primary but lost to Hassan.

More: Craig and Warmington seek Democratic nomination for governor. What voters need to know.

In his gubernatorial campaign, Morse has presented himself as the true champion of conservative governance, pointing to his work in the state Senate passing business tax cuts, education freedom accounts, and a ban on abortions after 24 weeks. But Ayotte – the former state attorney general who has made criticism of Democratic-run Massachusetts a touchstone of her campaign – has taken a broader approach to campaigning that has seen her touring state businesses and aligning herself closely with law enforcement. In doing so, Ayotte has adopted some of Sununu’s own political tactics.

Following the endorsement, Sununu and Ayotte said they would take part in a “Super 603 Day” Thursday in which they will tour state attractions.

The state primary is Sept. 10.

This story was originally published by New Hampshire Bulletin .

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Sununu endorses Kelly Ayotte to succeed him as NH governor