Manuel Espitia, the northern regional director of Run for Something, attacked Republican U.S. Senate candidate John Sununu's record on healthcare legislation. Telegraph photo by CHRISTOPHER ROBERSON   

NASHUA – Deputy House Democratic Leader Laura Telerski (D-Nashua) recently went on the offensive against Republican U.S. Senate candidate John Sununu, accusing him of making light of the affordability crisis in New Hampshire.

During the Sept. 14 press conference hosted by the New Hampshire Democratic Party, Telerski called attention to a recent poll from the University of New Hampshire Survey Center. According to the poll, 78 percent of Granite Staters said their overall cost of living has gone up during the past year.

However, she said Sununu and GOP leaders have turned a blind eye and supported President Donald Trump’s policies that continue to drive inflation.

“Within the last year, Trump has called affordability a ‘hoax,’ a ‘con job’ and a ‘fake narrative,’ while ignoring the tough realities families are facing,” said Telerski, who is running to represent District 13 in the state Senate. “Whether it’s putting food on the table, making rent, filling up the car, paying for school supplies or doctor’s bills, our neighbors are struggling to stretch their dollars with each passing day.”

Telerski also said Sununu has backed Trump’s tariffs and considers their economic impact to be “very modest.”

Deputy House Democratic Leader Laura Telerski (D-Nashua) accused Republican U.S. Senate candidate John Sununu of dismissing the affordability crisis in New Hampshire. Telegraph photo by CHRISTOPHER ROBERSON    

“That might fit in with Trump’s perspective on affordability, but it doesn’t align with what the average Granite Stater is feeling whenever they pull out their wallet at the cash register,” she said.

According to the Center for American Progress, the war in Iran has caused New Hampshire gas prices to increase by as much as $1.30 since the conflict began seven months ago without congressional authorization.

“Despite New Hampshire drivers having to pay sky-high gas prices that are due to Trump’s war with Iran, Sununu has defended the war,” said Telerski. “Issue after issue, John Sununu is putting Donald Trump’s priorities ahead of the needs of hardworking Granite Staters.”

She also said that in addition to being endorsed by Trump, Sununu has received $10.7 million from the president’s No Going Back PAC for advertising expenses.

During the primary election, Sununu’s opponent, former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, received a flurry of phone calls from U.S. Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) and U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) urging Brown to drop out of the race.

Sununu went on to win the primary with 68 percent of the vote.

“Trump and Republicans in Washington are desperate to get Sununu elected in November and will stop at nothing to accomplish that goal,” said Telerski.

In contrast, she said Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH), Sununu’s opponent in the general election, is “laser-focused on lowering costs” and is not afraid to rail against the Trump Administration.

“He pushed to stop Trump’s tariffs and put that money back into the pockets of New Hampshire’s small business owners and the people who shop with them,” said Telerski.

In March, Pappas introduced the Gas Prices Relief Act of 2026. The legislation, which remains stalled on Capitol Hill, would have suspended the federal gas excise tax of 18 cents through Oct. 1.

Manuel Espitia, the northern regional director of Run for Something, called attention to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which Trump signed into law on July 4, 2025. The legislation will cut federal healthcare spending by $1.15 trillion during the next 10 years.

Espitia said the law has caused more than 15,000 Granite Staters to lose Medicaid coverage, a figure that includes more than 5,000 children.

“Its Medicaid cuts have undermined New Hampshire’s health care system and caused a health care center in Franconia to close,” he said. “Yet John Sununu said he would’ve voted for it.”

Looking at Sununu’s record, Espitia said that during the 2008 financial crisis, Sununu voted in favor of a $700 billion bailout for the big banks at the taxpayers’ expense.

“That’s not serving others, it’s Sununu serving himself and Wall Street,” said Espitia, adding that Sununu also put forward a healthcare plan that would have allowed insurance companies to deny coverage to subscribers with pre-existing conditions. “That might benefit the insurance industry, but it doesn’t help New Hampshire’s most vulnerable residents when they’re in need of healthcare coverage.”

However, Espitia said Pappas will put the needs of his constituents ahead of any corporate interests.

“Chris Pappas cares deeply about our communities and wants to roll back Trump’s dangerous cuts and lower the cost of Granite Staters’ healthcare,” said Espitia.