Senator Jeanne Shaheen speaks at NHTI Concord Community College in Concord, New Hampshire, on October 22, 2024. (Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images)
Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire announced Wednesday that she will not run for reelection in 2026, setting the stage for a potentially competitive race to fill her seat.
“I ran for public office to make a difference for the people of New Hampshire. That purpose has never and will never change. But today, after careful consideration, I’m announcing that I have made the difficult decision not to seek reelection to the Senate in 2026. It’s just time,” Shaheen, 78, said in a video released by her congressional office.
A U.S. senator since 2009, Shaheen won reelection in 2014 and 2020 and currently serves as the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Before joining the Senate, she made history as New Hampshire’s first female governor, serving three terms from 1997 to 2003.
Although some New Hampshire Democrats had privately urged her to run for a fourth term, Shaheen kept her decision under wraps. In her announcement, she made it clear she is not stepping away from public service, stating, “Believe me, I am not retiring.” She will serve out her term, which ends in 2027.
Her departure opens a crucial Senate seat for Democrats, attracting early interest from prominent figures in both parties. Republican former Gov. Chris Sununu has not ruled out a run, while Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas is strongly considering entering the race. Former Democratic Rep. Ann Kuster has also expressed interest if Pappas declines to run.
Former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown, a Republican who challenged Shaheen in 2014 and narrowly lost, is also weighing another bid.
Despite the uncertainty, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesman David Bergstein projected confidence in retaining the seat, emphasizing that no Republican has won a Senate race in New Hampshire in over a decade.
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