Sen. Jeanne Shaheen announces decision not to seek reelection

The New Hampshire senator announced in a video on Wednesday that she will give up her seat, creating another tough fight for Democrats in the 2026 elections. Shaheen, 78, was the first woman to be elected as New Hampshire’s governor in 1996. Then in 2008, she became the state’s first female senator. She is the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and was expected to easily win reelection if she ran. While New Hampshire typically votes Democrat in presidential elections, it has a strong independent streak and has a habit of electing statewide lawmakers from both sides of the aisle. However, a Republican has not won a New Hampshire Senate seat since 2010.

How does this affect the Senate balance? Republicans hold 53 seats in the chamber, while Democrats have 47 members, including two independents who caucus with the party. But with three retiring senators, the Democratic Party will have more tight races to defend in 2026 than Republicans. Republicans have high hopes to flip outgoing Michigan U.S. Sen. Gary Peters’ seat, as well as the seat that will be left open by retiring Minnesota U.S. Sen. Tina Smith.

Dig deeper: Read my report from the campaign trail about New Hampshire’s voters during the presidential primary.