Former New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu has left office with some of the highest approval ratings among America’s 50 governors. After eight years of steering the swing state, Sununu credited his success to his team, emphasizing the importance of surrounding oneself with great people. In an exclusive interview with Fox News on his last day in office, Sununu reflected on his tenure, stating, “You want to make sure you leave it better than you found it, and I couldn’t be more proud of where we’ve come in the last eight years.”
Sununu’s successor, former Senator Kelly Ayotte, who campaigned on continuing the Sununu agenda, praised her predecessor for moving New Hampshire in the right direction. Despite Ayotte’s support, longtime New Hampshire Democratic Party chair Ray Buckley criticized Sununu for what he deemed “years of failed Republican policies.”
As Sununu transitions out of office, he expressed his eagerness to return to the private sector, possibly in private equity or serving on boards. While Sununu has ruled out running for office in the near future, he did not completely shut the door on a potential return to politics down the road. With a background in a prominent political family, Sununu expressed interest in staying involved in politics in some capacity, whether through media roles or supporting the Republican Party.
Sununu’s relationship with former President Donald Trump has been tumultuous, with Sununu initially endorsing Trump rival Nikki Haley in the 2024 GOP presidential nomination race. However, after Trump secured the nomination, Sununu voiced his support for the former president, praising his efforts and accomplishments in office. Despite his past criticisms, Sununu acknowledged Trump’s influence within the Republican Party but emphasized that the party is diverse and inclusive of different ideologies.
See also Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s tough Bronx persona is under fresh scrutiny with a resurfaced childhood nickname from her suburban upstate New York upbringing casting doubt on that publicly portrayed image. The progressive champion’s latest spat with President Donald Trump over the Iran strikes again called into question her true upbringing when she declared on X she was a “Bronx girl" to make her a point against the president. The 35-year-old congresswoman wrote in part on X: "I’m a Bronx girl. You should know that we can eat Queens boys for breakfast. Respectfully," she said, referring to the president’s upbringing in Queens as she called for his impeachment over his decision to bypass Congress in authorizing U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Ocasio-Cortez was born in the Bronx but moved to Yorktown – which is nearly an hour outside New York City -- when she was 5 years old and went on to attend Yorktown High School where she graduated in 2007. She was considered an accomplished student there and well thought of by teacher Michael Blueglass, according to a 2018 report by local media outlet Halston Media News. “There, known by students and staff as ‘Sandy,’ she was a member of the Science Research Program taught by Michael Blueglass," the report states. “She was amazing," Blueglass said, per the report. “Aside from her winning one of the top spots and going to the [Intel International Science and Engineering Fair], she was just one of the most amazing presenters in all of the years I've been at Yorktown. Her ability to take complex information and explain it to all different levels of people was fantastic." After high school, Ocasio-Cortez attended Boston University, where she majored in economics and international relations, per the report. Ocasio-Cortez’s “Sandy" nickname — which carries a more suburban and preppy tone — appears to undercut her politically crafted image as a tough, inner-city fighter, one she has portrayed since her famous 2018 congressional campaign where she eventually ousted former 10-terms Congressman Joe Crowley. New York GOP Assemblyman Matt Slater, who now represents Yorktown, added to the scrutiny of Ocasio-Cortez’s persona in the wake of her brash with Trump and released images of Ocasio-Cortez from his high school yearbook. He claimed he and the rising Democratic star attended Yorktown High School at the same time when she was a freshman and he was a senior. "I saw the attacks on the president and her [Ocasio-Cortez] claims that she's a big, tough Bronx girl," said Slater. "To sit there and say that she’s a Bronx girl is just patently ridiculous." "Everybody in our community knows this is just a bold-face lie," said Slater on "Fox & Friends First" last week. "She grew up in Yorktown, she was on my track team." "She's lying about her background, she's lying about her upbringing," Slater claimed. Slater’s post sent social media ablaze and prompted Ocasio-Cortez to respond after an image if her family’s home was posted online. “I’m proud of how I grew up and talk about it all the time," Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X Friday responding to the post. “My mom cleaned houses and I helped. We cleaned tutors’ homes in exchange for SAT prep." “Growing up between the Bronx and Yorktown deeply shaped my views of inequality & it’s a big reason I believe the things I do today!"
Looking ahead, Sununu remains optimistic about the future of the Republican Party, noting its growth and diverse representation. He highlighted the party’s unity and potential for progress, pointing to leaders like Trump and JD Vance as catalysts for positive change. As Sununu embarks on the next chapter of his career, he plans to continue advocating for the values and principles that have defined his political journey.
