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Statement from NHDP Chair Ray Buckley: “Chris Sununu is in full on panic mode” over his anti-choice record
Today, New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley released the following statement responding to Chris Sununu and his staff’s freak-out over being held accountable for the Governor’s anti-choice, anti-reproductive health care agenda:
“Facing a huge backlash for his anti-choice record, Chris Sununu is in full on panic mode. But no amount of tweets or statements can erase the fact that Sununu voted to defund Planned Parenthood, signed an abortion ban, and is the most anti-choice governor in New Hampshire’s history.”
Sununu’s Record:
Chris Sununu Cast the Deciding Vote to Defund Planned Parenthood When He Served on the Executive Council.
In 2015 when he was on the Executive Council, Sununu cast the deciding vote to defund Planned Parenthood. [Seacoast Online 1/28/16, Patch 8/7/15]
Chris Sununu Signed An Abortion Ban and Mandatory Ultrasounds into Law.
In June, Sununu signed an abortion ban into law that imposes criminal penalties and prison time for doctors and makes no exceptions for rape, incest, or fatal fetal anomaly. [Seacoast Online, 7/1/21]
Sununu also signed into law mandatory ultrasounds for any woman seeking an abortion. [Seacoast Online, 7/1/21]
Sununu’s abortion ban also included criminal and civil penalities for doctors who perform abortion services. [NHPR, 6/22/21]
Chris Sununu Has Supported the Confirmation of Supreme Court Justices Who Now Threaten Reproductive Rights on the National Stage.
In 2017, Sununu signed a letter saying he “applaud[s]” the nomination of Justice Gorsuch and urged the Senate to “swiftly confirm” him. [Republican Governors Association, 3/16/17]
In 2018, Sununu signed another letter saying he stood “in support” of Justice Kavanaugh’s nomination and encouraged the Senate to “move expeditiously” to confirm him. [Concord Monitor, 7/29/18]
In 2020, Sununu refused to stand up to McConnell and oppose the confirmation of Justice Coney Barrett, and encouraged her advancement through the confirmation process on a Facebook Live video. [WMUR, 10/9/20]
Sununu Appointed an Anti-Choice Chief Justice to the New Hampshire Supreme Court
Sununu has nominated anti-choice judges — including Gordon Macdonald, who represented anti-choice organizations and supported anti-choice candidates — to the New Hampshire Supreme Court., [Concord Monitor, 6/28/19 and Valley News 6/17/19]
And last week, Sununu’s Hand-Picked Executive Council Did Exactly What He Did in 2015: Vote to Defund Planned Parenthood
Executive Councilor Dave Wheeler voted to defund Planned Parenthood four seperate times while on the Executive Council — and had even won the praise of anti-abortion extremists for “leading the fight” to defund Planned Parenthood in New Hampshire. Sununu strongly backed Wheeler’s campaign to the Executive Council, saying “New Hampshire needs Dave back on the council now more than ever, and I strongly urge the citizens of Executive Council District 5 to vote for Dave Wheeler.” Wheeler voted for a fifth time last week to defund Planned Parenthood.
In 2016, Ted Gatsas opposed funding for Planned Parenthood — yet Sununu endorsed and campaigned with Gatsas during his reelection campaign last year Last week, Gatsas voted to defund Planned Parenthood.
Last year, Chris Sununu endorsed Executive Councilor Joe Kenney, who had previously voted three times to defund Planned Parenthood and pledged to do it again during his 2020 campaign. Last week, Kenney voted a fourth time to defund Planned Parenthood.
Just weeks after Executive Council candidate Janet Stevens explicitly pledged to defund Planned Parenthood last year, Chris Sununu gave her a full-throated endorsement and helped raise money for her campaign. Last week she voted to defund Planned Parenthood.