WASHINGTON – New Hampshire Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said on Wednesday she will not run for re-election in 2026, putting another competitive race in play for her party ahead of a critical mid-term campaign where President Donald Trump’s agenda will be front and center for voters.
“I ran for public office to make a difference for the people of New Hampshire. That purpose has never and will never change,” Shaheen said in a video statement. “But today, after careful consideration, I’m announcing that I’ve made the difficult decision not to seek reelection to the Senate in 2026. It’s just time.”
She added that she is “not retiring” and will continue working to make a difference for New Hampshire and the United States.
Shaheen has served in the U.S. Senate since 2009. She previously served as the state’s governor and as a member of the state senate.
Her retirement puts one more Democratic seat on the map in what will likely be a competitive 2026 senate campaign for Democrats.
Two other Democratic senators – Gary Peters of Michigan and Tina Smith of Minnesota – previously announced that they, too, would not seek another term in the Senate.
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Peters’ swing state seat is considered a “toss up” by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, as is the Georgia seat currently held by Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff. Shaheen’s New Hampshire seat and Smith’s Minnesota seat will both be competitive, though more likely to go to Democrats.
That leaves Democrats with four competitive seats to defend, compared with two for Republicans in Maine and North Carolina.
Republicans already control the Senate 53-47, after Democrats lost four seats to Republicans in the 2024 senate elections in a year when Trump led the ballot.
(This story has been updated with more information.)
