While no one has officially announced a campaign to run in New Hampshire’s 2026 Senate election following Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s (D-NH) announcement that she will not seek reelection, there are some lawmakers from the state who could be eyeing the office.
Several Republicans were already considering entering the race, including the state’s former governor Chris Sununu. But now Democrats, who likely would not have challenged Shaheen in a primary race, are expected to throw their hats in as well.
New Hampshire represents a mixed political bag, most recently voting for Vice President Kamala Harris for president while electing Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte in the 2024 election.
Sununu had previously said he was ruling out a run for the Senate, but this week indicated he has not ruled it out.
“I have not ruled it out completely, but folks in Washington have asked me to think about it and to consider it, and that is just kind of where I am,” Sununu told the Washington Times on Tuesday.
Former Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) also did not appear to rule out a run for the office. He wrote in a social media post that he appreciated Shaheen’s “service to our state” and her support in his confirmation to serve as Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa during President Donald Trump’s first administration.
He additionally attended the Senate GOP lunch at Capitol Hill on Tuesday, despite being out of office. Brown lost to Shaheen in 2014.
On the Democratic side, Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH), is “definitely considering” entering the race, according to a report from Axios. Pappas was first elected to the House in 2018 and would be the Senate’s first openly gay senator if elected. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) was the first LGBTQ person to hold office in the Senate when she was elected in 2012.
In a social media post, Pappas praised Shaheen as a “trailblazing leader.” Pappas additionally represents a swing district, which he has held onto for four elections. He could be an appealing competitor to counter Sununu, who has highly positive favorability in the state.
Freshman Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-NH) said she is also considering a run for the seat.Â
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Former Rep. Annie Kuster (D-NH), who retired from Congress this year, additionally said she “will take a serious look if Pappas does not run.”
As it stands, both parties could have competitive primaries for the seat.