Republican U.S. Senate candidate John E. Sununu is drawing a clear line between his home‑state campaign and the flood of out‑of‑state Democratic visitors rallying behind his opponent, Democrat Chris Pappas.
Out‑of‑state visitors dominate Democratic effort
Over the past weekend, California Governor Gavin Newsom joined Pappas on the campaign trail in Nashua and Exeter, drawing large crowds and urging voters to “Get Chris into the United States Senate.” Newsom added his name to a growing list of prominent Democrats, including former Vice President Kamala Harris, who is scheduled to appear with Pappas later this week.
Sununu argues that this wave of national figures sends a misleading message to New Hampshire voters. “Chris Pappas has campaigned exclusively with people from out of state and mostly people from California, which is how he’s earned the name ‘California Chris,'” Sununu said at a recent press event.
Sununu stresses local focus
Unlike his opponent, Sununu says he does not need national surrogates to win. He pointed to former Florida Senator Rick Scott, a Republican who visited the state in September, as an example of a single national figure who was unnecessary to his campaign.
“I’ve said from the beginning, I don’t need anyone from outside New Hampshire to come in and campaign for me, because my focus is on our state,” Sununu explained. He added that figures such as Senator Bernie Sanders, Governor Newsom, or former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg are “just enabling the socialists.”
Pappas counters with past record
In response, Pappas reminded voters that he previously served as a U.S. senator, noting, “I don’t have to remind you all that he was our senator before. Many of you remember that, right? It didn’t end well for New Hampshire.” He criticized former President George W. Bush’s administration, saying it supported “forever wars” and “massive tax breaks to the super wealthy and the biggest corporations that added trillions of dollars to our debt.”
Local voters weigh national influence
The contrast between Sununu’s home‑grown message and the Democratic strategy of bringing high‑profile national figures highlights a broader debate in New Hampshire politics: how much outside influence should shape a state’s federal representation.
Sununu’s campaign continues to emphasize his New Hampshire roots, promising to prioritize local concerns over national party agendas. As the Senate race intensifies, voters will decide whether a candidate’s reliance on out‑of‑state endorsements or a focus on home‑state issues better serves the Granite State’s future.
Original reporting: WMUR (Hearst) – local news — read the source article.
