[3] After graduating, Sanusi worked as an English teacher at a state-funded Islamic High School at his home village, and was also active in the sugarcane industry.

The following year, he became chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB; also Nahdlatul Ulama affiliated) in Gondanglegi.

[5] In the 2015 regency election, he ran as the running mate of Rendra Kresna, and the pair won with 605,817 votes (51.6%).

[7] On 15 October 2018, Kresna was arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission under bribery charges,[8] and Sanusi became acting regent the following day.

[11] He proceeded to win the election with Didik Gatot Subroto as running mate, securing 530,449 votes (45.5%) in a three-way race.