{{Short description|American government official}} {{about|government official|the singer-songwriter|Maura Sullivan (singer)}} {{use mdy dates|date=October 2023}} {{Infobox officeholder |name = Maura Sullivan |image = Maura C. Sullivan 150625-A-DZ999-922.jpg |office = Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs |president = Barack Obama |term_start = July 15, 2015 |term_end = November 2015 |predecessor = Brent Colburn |successor = Peter Cook |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|10|18}} |birth_place = Evanston, Illinois, U.S. |death_date = |death_place = |party = Democratic |education = Northwestern University (BA)<br>Harvard University (MBA, MPA) |website = {{url|maurafornh.com|Campaign website}} |branch = United States Marine Corps |rank = Captain |battles = Iraq War |mawards = Navy Commendation Medal<br>Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal }} '''Maura C. Sullivan''' (born October 18, 1979)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.wmur.com/article/maura-sullivan-democratic-candidate-for-1st-cd-seat/22794099 |title=Maura Sullivan, Democratic candidate for 1st CD seat |first=Adam |last=Sexton |date=August 31, 2018 |publisher=WMUR}}</ref> is an American politician and former government official. Sullivan previously served as an official in the Obama administration from 2014 to 2016 in both the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and the United States Department of Defense. She also served on the American Battle Monuments Commission starting in 2010, and began her career as an officer in the United States Marine Corps serving in the Iraq War after the September 11 attacks.
Sullivan ran for Congress as a Democrat in New Hampshire's 1st congressional district, which includes Manchester, Portsmouth, and Lake Winnipesaukee. On September 11, 2018, she lost her primary race for the 1st congressional district to Chris Pappas. In April 2025, after Pappas announced his run for Senate in 2026, Sullivan launched her campaign for the same House seat in the 2026 election.<ref name="WMUR 2025-04-10">{{cite news |author=Sexton |first=Adam |date=April 10, 2025 |title=First on WMUR: Maura Sullivan launches 2026 campaign for New Hampshire 1st Congressional District |url=https://www.wmur.com/article/maura-sullivan-2026-congress-campaign-040925/64436932 |access-date=May 23, 2025 |publisher=WMUR}}</ref>
== Early life and education == Sullivan attended Northwestern University on an ROTC scholarship.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=https://www.alumni.hbs.edu/stories/Pages/story-bulletin.aspx?num=4703 |title=The Military and the MBA: Maura Corby Sullivan (MBA/MPA 2009) |website=Alumni - Harvard Business School |language=en |access-date=2018-04-22}}</ref> Sullivan then served as a logistics officer in the U.S. Marine Corps,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.fortune.com/galleries/2010/fortune/1003/gallery.military_business_leaders.fortune/5.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005010821/http://archive.fortune.com/galleries/2010/fortune/1003/gallery.military_business_leaders.fortune/5.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 5, 2015|title=The new warrior elite - Maura Sullivan (5) |website=Fortune}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cpl.hks.harvard.edu/news/cpl-fellow-alum-maura-sullivan-george-09-appointed-assistant-ash-carter|title=Maura Sullivan (George Fellow '09) Appointed Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at Department of Defense|website=cpl.hks.harvard.edu}}</ref> reaching the rank of captain, and her deployments included time in Okinawa, Japan, and Fallujah, Iraq.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.war.gov/About/Biographies/Article/621461/maura-c-sullivan/|title=Maura C. Sullivan |publisher=U.S. Department of Defense |language=en-US|access-date=2018-04-22}}</ref> She earned the Navy Commendation Medal and a Navy / Marine Corps Achievement Medal with a Gold Star.<ref name=":1" />
Following her military service, Sullivan attended Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School.<ref name=":0" /> She graduated in 2009 and worked at PepsiCo in management roles across New England.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://frenchamerican.org/young-leader/maura-corby-sullivan/ |title=Maura Corby Sullivan - French-American Foundation |publisher=French-American Foundation |access-date=2018-04-22 |language=en-US |archive-date=April 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423033735/https://frenchamerican.org/young-leader/maura-corby-sullivan/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== Government career == In 2010, Sullivan was named to the American Battle Monuments Commission.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.abmc.gov/about-us/commission |title=The Commission |publisher=American Battle Monuments Commission |language=en |access-date=2018-04-22}}</ref> On October 1, 2014, President Obama appointed Sullivan Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the Office of Public & Intergovernmental Affairs.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/10/01/president-obama-announces-more-key-administration-posts |title=President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts |date=2014-10-01 |work=whitehouse.gov |access-date=2018-04-22 |language=en}}</ref> At the VA, Sullivan was the principal public affairs advisor to Secretary Robert A. McDonald.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://cpl.hks.harvard.edu/news/cpl-fellow-alum-maura-sullivan-george-09-appointed-assistant-ash-carter |title=Maura Sullivan (George Fellow '09) Appointed Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at Department of Defense |website=cpl.hks.harvard.edu |language=en |access-date=2018-04-22}}</ref>
On June 22, 2015, Sullivan was named Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, where she led communications policy for the Department of Defense.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.war.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/604862/sullivan-to-become-dods-public-affairs-chief-carter-says/|title=Sullivan to Become DoD's Public Affairs Chief, Carter Says|publisher=U.S. Department of Defense|access-date=2018-04-22|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://insidedefense.com/insider/dod-appointments |title=DOD Appointments |date=July 15, 2015 |website=InsideDefense.com}}</ref>
== Political career ==
=== 2018 congressional election === {{Main article|2018 United States House of Representatives elections in New Hampshire#District 1}} On October 23, 2017, Sullivan announced that she would run for Congress in New Hampshire's 1st congressional district less than three months after moving to the state.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://nhpr.org/post/maura-sullivan-former-marine-and-va-official-announces-bid-congress |title=Maura Sullivan, Former Marine and VA Official, Announces Bid for Congress |last=Moon |first=Jason |access-date=2018-04-22 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/08/12/she-moved-state-last-year-now-she-running-for-congress-can-she-win/uRh92sRF5eNuiPhzhTW7iI/story.html|title=She moved to the state last year. Now she's running for Congress. Can she win in N.H.? |work=The Boston Globe |access-date=2018-08-16}}</ref> After entering the race, Sullivan raised over $1.5 million and was endorsed by EMILY's List, Serve America, ''New Politics'', WithHonor.org, and Vote Vets.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.emilyslist.org/candidates/maura-sullivan |title=Maura Sullivan |publisher=EMILY's List |language=en |access-date=2018-04-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.votevets.org/candidates/maura-sullivan-for-congress |title=Maura Sullivan for Congress |publisher=VoteVets |access-date=2018-04-22 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wmur.com/article/democrat-maura-sullivan-raises-dollar604k-for-congressional-campaign-in-2nd-quarter/22088638|title=Democrat Maura Sullivan raises $604K for congressional campaign in 2nd quarter|last=DiStaso|first=John|date=2018-07-09|publisher=WMUR|access-date=2018-08-06|language=en}}</ref>
Throughout the campaign, Sullivan was criticized as a "carpetbagger" due to her lack of history in New Hampshire.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pindell |first=James |date=October 24, 2017 |title=N.H. congressional candidate announces bid with a logo that gets the state’s shape wrong - The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/10/24/congressional-candidate-announces-bid-with-logo-that-gets-state-shape-wrong/w2pE9bsAbEuYrRJTdVXAHM/story.html |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=BostonGlobe.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sexton |first=Adam |date=2018-03-02 |title=2 Democratic candidates in 1st District face carpetbagger charges |url=https://www.wmur.com/article/2-democratic-candidates-in-1st-district-face-carpetbagger-charges/19063172 |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=WMUR |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Graham |first=Michael |date=2018-08-24 |title=Maura Sullivan, America's Top Carpetbagger? |url=https://insidesources.com/maura-sullivan-americas-top-carpetbagger/ |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=InsideSources |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=DiStaso |first=John |date=2018-06-07 |title=NH Primary Source: Congressional candidate Sullivan to fundraise in Illinois |url=https://www.wmur.com/article/nh-primary-source-congressional-candidate-sullivan-to-fundraise-in-illinois/21109195 |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=WMUR |language=en}}</ref>
During her campaign, Sullivan was endorsed by Seth Moulton, a fellow Marine Corps veteran and U.S. Representative from Massachusetts.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wmur.com/article/nh-primary-source-congressman-seth-moulton-backs-maura-sullivan-in-nhs-1st-congressional-district/20891421 |title=NH Primary Source: Congressman Seth Moulton backs Maura Sullivan in NH's 1st Congressional District |last=DiStaso|first=John|date=2018-05-24|publisher=WMUR|access-date=2018-08-25|language=en}}</ref> She was also endorsed by Kathleen Sebelius, the former Health and Human Services Secretary in the Obama administration and former Governor of Kansas.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wmur.com/article/nh-primary-source-former-hhs-secretary-kathleen-sebelius-to-campaign-with-maura-sullivan/22620158 |title=NH Primary Source: Former HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to campaign with Maura Sullivan |last=DiStaso|first=John|date=2018-08-02|publisher=WMUR|access-date=2018-08-25|language=en}}</ref>
Sullivan lost the Democratic primary on September 11, 2018, coming in second to Chris Pappas.<ref name="Ballotpedia">{{cite web |title=Maura Sullivan |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Maura_Sullivan |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=June 24, 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
=== 2026 congressional election === {{Main article|2026 United States House of Representatives elections in New Hampshire#District 1}} On April 10, 2025, Sullivan announced she would again run for Congress in New Hampshire's 1st congressional district, following Pappas's decision to run for United States Senate.<ref name="WMUR 2025-04-10" /> Sullivan raised $400,000 in her campaign's first week.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-21 |title=Maura Sullivan raises $400k in her campaign's first week - Manchester Ink Link |url=https://manchester.inklink.news/maura-sullivan-raises-400k-in-her-campaigns-first-week/ |access-date=2025-05-28 |language=en-US}}</ref> She again received the endorsements of Vote Vets,<ref>{{Cite web |last=VoteVets |date=2025-04-14 |title=VoteVets PAC Endorses Maura Sullivan for Congress |url=https://votevets.org/press-releases/votevets-pac-endorses-maura-sullivan-for-congress |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=VoteVets |language=en-US}}</ref> With Honor,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Endorsements - With Honor Fund II |url=https://withhonorfundiii.org/endorsements/ |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=With Honor Fund III |language=en-US}}</ref> and Congressman Seth Moulton, as well as Pennsylvania Congressman Chris Deluzio, a Navy veteran.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sexton |first=Adam |date=2025-05-05 |title=Democratic military veterans in Congress endorse Sullivan in 1st District |url=https://www.wmur.com/article/democrat-veterans-congress-endorse-sullivan-5525/64675495 |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=WMUR |language=en}}</ref>
Shortly after her campaign was launched, Sullivan was criticized for Tweeting that she was a "lifelong Granite Stater," despite only moving to New Hampshire in 2017. She subsequently deleted the Tweet.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Graham |first=Michael |date=2025-04-11 |title='Lifelong Carpetbagger' Sullivan Stumbles at Gate |url=https://nhjournal.com/lifelong-carpetbagger-sullivan-stumbles-at-gate/ |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=NH Journal |language=en-US}}</ref>
Sullivan has been endorsed by Democratic Majority for Israel, a group closely aligned with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schneider |first=Elena |date=February 19, 2026 |title=Pro-Israel group wades into Democratic House primaries |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/19/pro-israel-dmfi-endorsements-democrats-house-primaries-00787254 |website=Politico.com}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|https://maurafornh.com/}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sullivan, Maura}} Category:1979 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century American women politicians Category:21st-century New Hampshire politicians Category:Candidates in the 2018 United States House of Representatives elections Category:Candidates in the 2026 United States House of Representatives elections Category:Female United States Marine Corps personnel Category:Harvard Business School alumni Category:Harvard Kennedy School alumni Category:Military personnel from Evanston, Illinois Category:New Hampshire Democrats Category:Northwestern University alumni Category:Obama administration personnel Category:PepsiCo people Category:Politicians from Evanston, Illinois Category:United States assistant secretaries of defense Category:United States Department of Veterans Affairs officials Category:United States Marine Corps officers Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of the Iraq War Category:Women in New Hampshire politics