Stefany Shaheen, daughter of Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), launched her bid for New Hampshire’s open House seat on Wednesday, another family dynasty looking to take root in Congress as many Democrats either seek another office or retire from politics.
The younger Shaheen, a former Portsmouth City Council member, is looking to replace Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH). Pappas is running in the open Senate race to replace Sen. Shaheen, who is retiring. The senator is one of several Democrats opting not to seek reelection in 2026, ushering in a wave of House Democrats launching bids for the upper chamber.
Stefany Shaheen said in a two-minute video announcing her campaign that she jumped into the race because of her concerns with the Trump administration, particularly Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., cutting medical research funding through the Department of Government Efficiency. She mentioned her daughter’s Type 1 diabetes as a motivating factor to fight for the United States to stay ahead in medical breakthroughs.
“For 15 years I’ve been a fierce fighter for medical research and innovation in healthcare to help people like my daughter, Elle, battling chronic, life-threatening diseases, like diabetes,” Shaheen said. “So, when I see [President] Donald Trump crushing medical research and slashing healthcare for kids, seniors, and veterans to give tax breaks to billionaires and corporations, I have to fight back.”
She criticized congressional Republicans for “slashing Medicaid, children’s healthcare and veterans’ healthcare, all to fund massive tax breaks for billionaires,” a narrative many Democrats have pushed over the GOP’s reconciliation bill passed in the House last week that calls for over $1.5 trillion in spending cuts to offset the trillions needed to extend the 2017 tax cuts.
Stefany Shaheen already faces one other Democratic opponent for the nomination: Maura Sullivan, the former assistant secretary at the Veterans Affairs Department in the Obama administration.
The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the First District as “likely Democrat,” though House Republicans’ campaign arm has it on its target list for the 2026 midterm elections. House Democrats are defending more seats than the GOP, but Democrats only need a net gain of three seats to take back the majority.
In recent years, several legacies and family dynasties have emerged in the government. Many have completed the terms of their relatives after they died, while others have served in Congress at the same time as their family members.
Name recognition plays a significant role in elections, particularly when a longtime lawmaker dies or retires from the political scene. This offers a chance to bring fresh blood to the halls of Congress while keeping the seat within the family. Stefany Shaheen’s relation to her mother, who has served in Congress since 2009, will likely boost her in the House Democratic primary.
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Other examples of dynasties include Rep. Rob Menendez (D-NJ), who served in the House at the same time his father did in the Senate; former Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) resigned in August after being found guilty in a corruption case.
Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV) serves in the same seat his aunt, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), held from 2001 to 2015. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) was sworn into office in 2011 while his father, former Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), still served in the House. And Rep. Erica Lee Carter (D-TX) finished out the term of her mother, the late Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, last year.