Jeanne Shaheen not seeking reelection in 2026 adds another competitive Senate race for Democrats in a challenging election cycle.
“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.”
While stepping away from the Senate, Shaheen made it clear she is not retiring and will continue working to impact both New Hampshire and the nation.
A Crucial Senate Seat in the 2026 Contest
Shaheen has been a mainstay of New Hampshire politics, having served as the state senator and governor until joining the U.S. Senate in 2009. In what is expected to be a crucial 2026 Senate race, her decision to not run creates another competitive seat.
Shaheen’s announcement follows similar decisions from Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Tina Smith (D-MN), both of whom will not seek reelection. These retirements, along with the highly contested Georgia Senate seat held by Sen. Jon Ossoff, put at least four Democratic seats in play.
Republicans Eye a Senate Flip
With Republicans already controlling the Senate 53-47, they see Shaheen’s seat as a prime pickup opportunity. Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, welcomed the news, expressing confidence that the GOP can flip the seat in New Hampshire.
In the meantime, President Donald Trump’s actions are influencing the national dialogue, and Democrats are facing a challenging election season. While New Hampshire and Minnesota are shifting to the Democratic Party but are still hot battlegrounds, Michigan and Georgia are now classified by the Cook Political Report as toss-up elections.
What Takes Place Next?
Now that Sen. Jeanne Shaheen has decided not to run for reelection, focus is shifting to possible contenders for the Senate seat in New Hampshire. This seat is intriguing to watch because both Democrats and Republicans are anticipated to put up strong contenders for it in 2026.
Source: USA Today
