Chris Sununu calls out Florida’s rival California Gov. Gavin Newsom: ‘Just a pr**k’

CONCORD, N.H. – New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu lambasted Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ top gubernatorial rival, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, in a recent appearance with the Reagan Foundation.

Sununu and DeSantis, Republicans, are often at odds politically with their Democratic counterparts nationwide, but Sununu said there are only a couple governors where relations are truly sour on a deeper level.

“I mean, in my eight years, I can honestly tell you there’s really only been [two] governors that really nobody liked – nobody cared for,” Sununu said. “Andrew Cuomo – complete jacka**.”

“I gotta be honest – no one cares for Gavin [Newsom]. Gavin’s just a pr**k,” the governor quipped. “I got along with them, all of us got along.”

“Even the Democrats – they won’t tell you out loud – but behind closed doors, they’re like, ‘Oh God, look who’s coming,’ you know? They’ll roll their eyes,” he said.

Sununu and DeSantis were friendly on the 2024 presidential campaign trail, though the New Hampshire Republican ended up endorsing Nikki Haley’s ultimately futile bid for president.

DeSantis frequently compares Florida to New York and California, and debated Newsom last year, as the two are seen as relatively younger figureheads of their respective ideologies with a potential national political future.

“I think his hair gel is interfering with his brain function,” DeSantis said in 2022 of Newsom, when the California Democrat called for an investigation into DeSantis’ migrant flights to Martha’s Vineyard.

At the 2023 debate, DeSantis called Newsom a “liberal bully” for wanting COVID-19 vaccine requirements for the Special Olympics.