Trump Republican mold a ‘negative brand’ for GOP candidates: Chris Sununu

Gov. Chris Sununu Blames ‌Trump for Recent Election Defeats

Gov. ⁢Chris Sununu ⁢(R-NH) has ​placed the blame for‌ a ⁣series of ‍recent special election defeats on former President Donald Trump. In a Sunday morning interview on Meet the Press, Sununu, a fourth-term ⁣Republican governor, ‌expressed his strong opposition to Trump’s campaign for a second stint in ‍the White House.

“It’s about the former president more than anything,”​ Sununu ‍stated. “I can tell you, I’ve had school ‍board⁣ members, Republican school‍ board members, ​that have lost their seats because they ‌felt like they​ had to constantly answer for⁣ being ⁤a Trump Republican and all of that. ‌It’s a negative brand. It puts a ​lot of⁤ hesitation.”

Sununu‍ emphasized that the negative impact of the Trump brand extends beyond federal ​seats, affecting governorships, school boards, and congressional seats. He particularly​ highlighted ⁢the independent-minded nature of New ‌Hampshire, where the Trump brand fails to⁣ resonate.

Special Elections and Democratic Success

According to analysis from FiveThirtyEight, Democrats have outperformed the partisan lean of the areas in 38 special ‌elections held‍ as of early last ‌month, ‍with an average margin of 10%. This has resulted in Democratic blowouts in traditionally blue areas and‌ closer races in more ‍conservative areas.

In a special election⁤ held in May for‌ a state House seat in⁢ New Hampshire, the⁤ Democratic candidate won by⁤ a ⁣significant 43-point margin, surpassing the party’s estimated 23-point edge in the district.

Call⁢ for Tougher Stance‌ on Trump

Sununu, who has chosen not to run for​ a fifth term as governor or launch a bid for the White ‌House, believes that GOP presidential candidates, with the exception of former New Jersey ⁤Gov. Chris⁢ Christie, need to ‌take a tougher ⁢stance against Trump.

“They have to⁤ be a little tougher on ​Trump. … What‍ we saw on that debate stage last week,⁢ I think‌ there was still a little too much kowtow into him.”

New Hampshire will⁣ hold the first Republican presidential primary next​ year, following the Iowa Caucus. While the date​ for the ⁣New Hampshire primary has not ⁢been finalized yet, it remains a crucial ‍state in the ‍nomination process.

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