Be aware that Chris Sununu’s record is neither moderate, as he claims, nor gender neutral. Some people seem inclined to re-elect Sununu based on his COVID-19 performance. Not me! As a female physician, I am extremely disappointed by his record, and note that it disproportionately burdens women.

Sununu vetoed Paid Family and Medical Leave twice– in 2019 and again in 2020 – leaving 63% of Granite Staters without paid sick leave when the pandemic hit (2016 data from NH Women’s Foundation). Even fewer have Paid Family Leave, which covers one’s own sick days and time off to take care of family members, usually children or parents. Women are 20% less likely than men to have this income protection, despite providing the vast majority of unpaid care at home. According to the September 14 Monitor, women have been diagnosed with 56.8% of the COVID-19 cases in our state, and experienced 58% of the job losses.

Sununu vetoed HB 731, which would have raised the minimum wage in New Hampshire to $10 per hour in 2021 and to $12 per hour in 2023. Given our gender pay gap of 77 cents on the dollar – even less for women of color – his veto perpetuates this inequity.

Sununu’s hands-off approach to school re-openings again devalues women. Women represent 81% of NH elementary and middle school teachers and 95% of childcare workers (NH Women’s Foundation). If the recent uptick in COVID cases in schools becomes a trend, the victims will be overwhelmingly female.