BREAKING: Former Governor Chris Sununu “Keeping the Door Open” for a 2026 Senate Run

Former New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu joined The Guy Benson Show to discuss Senator Jeanne Shaheen’s decision not to seek re-election, a move that opens the door for a potential Senate bid of his own. Looking ahead to 2026, Sununu and Guy discussed why Sununu is confident that he could win a Senate election in the state of New Hampshire, and Sununu also broke down Kelly Ayotte’s performance as NH governor so far. Sununu also weighed in on the first 50 days of the Trump administration, particularly DOGE’s efforts to rein in government spending, as well as the Democrats’ partisan decision to potentially shut down the U.S. government. Listen to the full interview below!

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Read the full (automated) transcript below:

GUY BENSON: Well, we’re very pleased to welcome back to the show, the former governor of New Hampshire, Chris Sununu, a Republican governor. Welcome back.

CHRIS SUNUNU: Sup, Guy? What’s up buddy? How you doing?

GUY BENSON: So excited to have you here. And immediately your name jumped to mind when I saw some news the other day involving a certain politician in your state with whom you’re very familiar. Senator Jeanne Shaheen announced she will not be running for reelection in 2026, which is interesting because you kind of look down the list in Minnesota, Michigan now New Hampshire, these purple ish blue states have some incumbent senators who apparently don’t really want to be there anymore for whatever reason. And that would create an open seat in your state. You and I have talked about this through the years. Your political desires, your political trajectories. Senate did not seem appealing to you. I have seen some reports that you might be rethinking it. Before we get to that, though, let me just ask you about Senator Shaheen. Her record, what you think of her and the legacy she will leave behind when she retires.

CHRIS SUNUNU: We don’t need to go over that. You, look. She served. She served the state. We disagreed on a lot politically. She was governor. She was senator. Did her term. Thank you for your service. But like anything, we’re moving on, so I don’t want to say anything negative. I’m not going to. You know, I was there to say we just we’re just moving on. So thank you. Thank you and goodbye. Just like I did, I did my my eight years and the day after I wasn’t governor. Everyone’s like, yeah, thank you and goodbye. Which is the way it’s supposed to be. It’s just public service. Like, I think we attach way too much emphasis on on this because people try to make it careers out of it. So no, it’s you got to just serve. Do it. Do the best you can and then go back and take care of private sector and family, which I was ready to do and I’m still ready to do. But some I know some folks in New Hampshire especially, and some of our mutual friends in Washington, D.C. have asked me to at least keep the door open and reconsider, and I am. It’s not high on my priority list, but I’m definitely. There’s something that definitely changed from when I really didn’t want to do it in 22 to today. You know, specifically just the priority. I mean, back then I had Republicans in the US Senate telling me balancing budgets didn’t matter. America didn’t care and it wasn’t important. And I basically said, screw you. I’m not going to become a you call yourself a Republican. I’m a budget hawk. I’m not going to become part of a group that doesn’t stand for, you know, efficiency and government and good values and having the moral courage to make tough decisions. Now, clearly that has changed. Right. We have Doge going on. Thank you, President Trump. He’s talking about balancing budgets. He’s driving that message. And clearly there’s a need for some leadership on something that I believe very, very strongly. And so no okay. There’s a different attitude here. They’re taking their job seriously. They understand that managing other people’s money is really one of the most responsible things you can do. And you know, they’ve done it terribly up until now. So it looks like hopefully, if they’re willing to make some tough decisions in the next few months, they’re willing to follow through on some of this Doe stuff. It makes me okay, look and say, maybe there is a possibility of working with this group. I still think it’s a bit of a step down from being governor. I’m not going to lie about that. But if there’s a way to drive home what really is our biggest national crisis, which is debt deficit, budget inefficiency with a president that clearly believes in it and is talking about it, that that raises the hairs on the back of my neck a little bit.

GUY BENSON: Has there been any change or what would things need to look like for perhaps your family to feel differently? Because I know in the past you said, well, you know, I’ve been in the public service thing for a long time. I want to go out there and be in the private sector and be successful in all of that. What would those conversations need to look like internally with your family, but also just your your circle in New Hampshire, if you’re going to, let’s say very seriously, consider jumping into this, this type of a race where you had previously said, yeah, no. Not interested.

CHRIS SUNUNU: Yeah. That’s it. I mean, that’s the big question. What is the family dynamic? How you know. How’s it going? It’s not for two years. It’s for six, you know, and I always said my biggest fear is that I would win. I’m not too worried about that. Actually, I. I would win, by the way. But it’s better if I did win. Okay. Now, if it turns out within five months, I realize, oh, I am not happy being in the Senate. Guess what? They’re stuck with me for another five and a half years. And I know what. I don’t want to be miserable. I don’t want to make their life miserable. I have a pretty high bar and a pretty high standard of accountability when it comes to government, government service, and they have to kind of meet that. So it would make my family’s life miserable. My kids are a little older now than than when they were before. The dynamics have changed a little, to be sure, but that’s that’s really what it comes down to. What do I want the next ten years of my life to look like and is there? I want it to be fulfilling. I want to provide, do something. And maybe finally, there’s a little bit of a window here where there could be a possibility. So look, I’m not saying it’s a it’s a high probability. Can’t wait to jump in. Definitely not. But at least you know…

GUY BENSON: The door is not closed.

CHRIS SUNUNU: Door is not closed. And and look, I spent a lot of my time over the past couple of months since being governor. I’m so passionate about a balanced budget and more importantly, a balanced budget amendment for a balanced budget. Constitutional amendment is is what kills the deep state for good. It is the Kryptonite of socialism because it means that for all the hard work that Trump and Doge and all these guys in the tough decisions they’re willing to make today, no one can screw it up in the future. Every other president, Republican or Democrat, congressional leadership, they all have to play within the revenue and means that they bring in just like every other state does. I mean, this is how bad it is. Let me give you a quick example. California as horribly run California as and you couldn’t really find a more irresponsible, financially irresponsible governor than Gavin Newsom.

GUY BENSON: Maybe Illinois Pritzker might go ahead.

CHRIS SUNUNU: Good point. Good point. They’re fighting for it. But listen. Even California has a balanced budget amendment now. They handle it terribly. When they don’t make enough revenue, they tax the hell out of people. They chase people out of their state. But at least they have to balance their budget every time they go to session. So I argue to the Republicans in Washington. Guys. Gavin Newsom even has a better fiscal responsible, better fiscal responsibility and accountability than you do. That is setting the bar insanely low. Right. Get your act together and take this seriously. Traditionally, they haven’t been willing to do it. Mitch McConnell was a big part of that. And other leaders, I don’t want to just put it all on Mitch that just never wanted to support anything with a balanced budget. Trump is saying we got to get it done. Trump is saying, I’m willing to do the hard work today that none of you were willing to do for the past 25 years. That that gets me excited and you get everybody excited. We have 27 states, you know, that have passed balanced budget resolutions. Idaho, Idaho and Montana are the next ones If you’re a Republican in Idaho, in Montana, make sure you vote for the balanced budget resolution. South Carolina Kentucky will happen next year. So if Congress doesn’t do it, the states are going to end up doing it for them. I’d rather, you know, see Congress step up to the plate and be the adult that we elected them to be.

GUY BENSON: So, a couple things. You mentioned Trump. I want to come back to him in a second. But you said something very briefly and with great confidence that if and this is all still hypothetical, right? If you decide, all right, things are different. This is a good opportunity. The seats open. The time is now. I’m going to run. You said you’d win. You’re like I would win, by the way, I would win. What makes you so confident? I’m obviously you did very well at the governor level, but at the federal level in your state, it has been a real struggle for Republicans across the board. Senate races, of course, the presidential level as well. You’ve got your own separate brand there. But, you know, like in a midterm election, if the electorate in a purple state is not thrilled with the Trump administration or what have you, it could be a real uphill battle compared to races that you’ve won in your career. What makes you feel confident that if you decide to go for it, you would be successful?

CHRIS SUNUNU: Nah, I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me. Seriously, I look, I know my voters. I’m connected to the voters. The biggest fundamental problem that federal candidates have in the state is as a governor. I was out there every day, eight years with voters listening to them, and that’s where the I tried to almost translate what was happening on the ground, whether it was to the folks in Washington, to the media who didn’t understand what was really going on. I just I have a good pulse. I think I’ve earned the trust of folks. I mean, I’m not I’m not taking it so for granted that I’m not saying I wouldn’t even run. Oh, you’d have to run hard and all that. But I know how to run. I know how to win. We’ve got great. I think we’ve we’ve got a great record here. I just I know my voters and they know me. And so it’s not it’s not an obligation I think we’ve earned kind of by mutual trust. And so if I really wanted to do this, I have no doubt we could be very, very successful. I know that sounds arrogant and all that kind of crap. I don’t care. I’m just saying things are the ABCs of me winning. Not to worry. It’s just about whether it’s really right for myself and my family.

GUY BENSON: Sure. I mean, and I think it’s fair to to brag a little bit when you won four consecutive elections statewide right there. It would make sense to have some confidence there. And I just I had to ask the question because of course, you know, some people might say, well, that’s he sounds he sounds a little too cocky. You know, it’s it’s a tough state and all that. But I think you’ve made your point. All right. So Trump this is this is an interesting X factor in all of this as well. Because it is not a secret that you and Trump have butted heads through the years. You back Nikki Haley for president. He was mad about that. He has had some pejorative for you. You’ve said things about him and how he couldn’t win and all this stuff. It would be a lot harder, I think, for you to win a Senate race if you were the Republican nominee. Let’s say he puts someone up against you in a in a primary and to to try to beat the hell out of you with the Trump brand, or even if not if he’s not really lock stock behind you in that race. How do you feel about that relationship and how that would have to be managed for you guys to be playing on the same team if it comes to it?

CHRIS SUNUNU: No, no, no, guy you’ve totally missed? No, I was at the white House three weeks ago. No, we I that relationship is is not of concern. Yeah. No, there’s a great understanding. I’ve been very supportive of what he’s been doing with those. You know, look, everyone ran tough in a primary. I mean, come on, like, everyone ran tough. And as soon as, you know, he won. He did a great job. He won 26 states and beat Nikki and and all that, and and like everybody else, we said, okay, look, this is where we got to go. He’s he’s got the right message. And we, you know, everyone has seen me out in the media for the last year working hard for the for the Republican Party, working hard to get folks to vote the right way and trip. No, no, no, that’s that is the least of my concerns to be to be honest. Yeah.

GUY BENSON: Okay, so a couple couple more things in your state. You did mention handing the baton off. Okay. You decided not to run again. You’ve now been, you know, out of elective office for a while and would remain even if you decide to run for Senate. That’s not even until next year. You’ve had a little bit of a breather here. You’re also looking at your successor. Kelly Ayotte, former U.S. senator, now the governor. It seems like with Shaheen, right, that there’s something to say about New Hampshire, where successful politicians sometimes end up doing both of these roles. Kelly Ayotte, what’s your view on her governorship so far and your thoughts on her?

CHRIS SUNUNU: Yeah, Kelly’s been doing great. She’s only been in there a couple months, but she’s not going to go down. You know, one of the hardest things you have to do as governor when you first get in is you got to design and pass a budget. And so she’s kind of in the middle of a legislative process. They’re doing they’re fixing all the bail reform nonsense that they had, kind of pestering them for years here. That but no, look, the state’s in great shape, there’s no doubt about it. But it still needs constant management. And she’s doing a great job. So her poll numbers are great. Everyone’s favorable. She’s out there. She’s talking to the the voters and the constituents like you’re supposed to be doing while you’re doing the job? So now she’s been fantastic. And, you know, I think everyone’s really excited to have her in there.

GUY BENSON: There are reports emerging today of a very contentious Democratic meeting in Washington, D.C. The Senate Democrats, apparently one of the Senate Democrats, was shouting so loudly reporters outside the room could hear her. They’re debating what they want to do about this government funding bill, because as you as you know, governor and I made this point yesterday as well, the Democrats just spent how many years saying that the filibuster is, you know, anti-democratic and a racist relic. And we can never shut down the government. That’s a nightmare. And now they appear to be on the brink, potentially, of filibustering us into a government shutdown. And I guess behind closed doors, some of them are not so sure about that. You’ve got two Democratic senators from your state. Can you believe that with the House Republicans getting their act together with basically pretty close to a clean CR that Senate Democrats are thinking about using a filibuster to shut down the government anyway.

CHRIS SUNUNU: You know, the Democrats have been in this mode where it’s all politics all the time, and some of them are finally cynical and saying, look, I’m not going to put politics against doing the right thing and doing the right thing is really clear here. It’s not it’s not a hard decision, actually. So they’re going to have their fight, but they’re a party that doesn’t know what they’re about, doesn’t have any real leadership, doesn’t know don’t they really don’t know where to turn. Notice that the the Bidens and the Obamas and the Pelosis are all gone effectively, right? They don’t know what to do because they’ve caused a huge part of this problem. So yeah, this is what happens. I’ve said for 18 months that the Democratic Party had a DNA problem, a long term DNA problem, regardless of whether Kamala was going to win or not. And we knew that wasn’t going to happen, but that they have a DNA, they have a generational problem, and they’re just going to have to figure it, fight it out. But the right thing to do is the right thing to do. America is on board with cutting the budget. America is on board the fiscal responsibility. Americans on board with making tough decisions and finding efficiency and stop wasting our freaking money. And if the Democrats don’t want to get on board with that, they will pay a horrible political price for it. Do the right thing and get rewarded for it. That’s my message to Washington all the time. You get rewarded for doing the right thing. America’s smart. They’ll see it. And so I’m not telling the Democrats how to win elections, but the best thing they could do is support this. Support the CR, keep the government open. Forget this filibuster nonsense. And and then get back to work and finding, you know, whether it’s bipartisanship or finding common ground. Giving a little to get a lot. Yeah. Look, Guy, let me give you the example I always give. It was one of my proudest moments as governor. I as you know, I have 400 members in my House of Representatives, right? 400 members. And at one year in my last term, we had 201 Republicans, 199 Democrats. Okay. People say you’ll never get anything done. Guess what? I got my budget done with budget cuts. School choice, all included. Unanimous vote. First time first ballot. Unanimous vote on the first time it came to the floor. It can be done. You give a little, you get a lot. You find ground. So just the Democrats that are blowing up the Republican leadership to take the opportunity to bring some of those Democrats in and make sure they’re finding ways to secure those votes and get it done in a bipartisan way. Don’t wait for the Democrats to blow up. You have to do the work to bring the other side in. Find that common ground. See what. See what they want down the road and make. If you got to make a deal, make a deal. But that would be my only advice. Don’t wait for Democrats to blow up. Because America actually needs progress, not just a political fight.

GUY BENSON: Chris Sununu was the 82nd governor of the great state of New Hampshire. He’s a Republican. Is there a chance he might become the next senator from the state of New Hampshire? I guess we will have to stay tuned, wait and see. As he has us through that decision in the months to come. But we want to talk through that issue with you here today. Governor, we always appreciate your time here on the show. We look forward to talking again.

CHRIS SUNUNU: You bet. Thanks, brother.