New Hampshire's governor to seek 3rd term, not Senate seat

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Chris Sununu will seek a third term as New Hampshire’s governor in 2020, ending speculation that the Republican would make a bid for U.S. Senate.

Sununu announced his decision Tuesday night, saying in a statement that he wanted to preserve strong leadership in the state’s executive office. He cited New Hampshire’s unemployment rate and wages as proof of effective leadership and said he wanted to stave off a “more radical” agenda from Democrats, who took control of the Legislature in November’s election.

Despite declaring in 2017 that he would “never run” for U.S. Senate, Sununu this year indicated interest in challenging Democratic U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who’s up for reelection in 2020. Shaheen announced she would seek a third term in January, and Federal Election Commission records show she raised $1.4 million in the first quarter of 2019.

Sununu’s statement criticized Shaheen’s accomplishments during her tenure, but the governor said he and his wife, Valerie, decided he would be of more use in Concord than Washington.

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