PBS News · September 8, 2026
New Hampshire voters pick midterm nominees as Sen. Shaheen's exit sparks scramble for key seats | PBS News [PBS](https://www.pbs.org) Donate [Change your local station](javascript:void(0)) [ Explore More from My Station ](https://www.pbs.org/my-station/) ## MORE FROM * [Live TV](https://www.pbs.org/livestream/) * [PBS Shows](https://www.pbs.org/shows/) * [My Station](https://www.pbs.org/my-station/) * [My List](https://www.pbs.org/my-list/shows/) * [ Shop](https://shop.pbs.org) * [Donate](https://www.pbs.org/donate/) Choose station ## PBS IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY helps your community explore new worlds and ideas through programs that educate, inform and inspire. Your tax-deductible donation helps make it all possible. 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Click Cookie Settings to set your preferences or view more in our [Privacy Policy](https://www.pbs.org/about/about-pbs/privacy-policy/) Cookie SettingsReject Optional CookiesAccept Cookies [ PBS News ](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/)  By — [ Holly Ramer, Associated Press ](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/author/holly-ramer-associated-press) [ Holly Ramer, Associated Press ](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/author/holly-ramer-associated-press) By — [ Kathy McCormack, Associated Press ](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/author/kathy-mccormack-associated-press) [ Kathy McCormack, Associated Press ](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/author/kathy-mccormack-associated-press) [ Leave your feedback ](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/contact-us/) Share * Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/new-hampshire-voters-pick-midterm-nominees-as-sen-shaheens-exit-sparks-scramble-for-key-seats * [ Email ](<mailto:?subject=New Hampshire voters pick midterm nominees as Sen. Shaheen's exit sparks scramble for key seats&body=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/new-hampshire-voters-pick-midterm-nominees-as-sen-shaheens-exit-sparks-scramble-for-key-seats>) * [ Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/new-hampshire-voters-pick-midterm-nominees-as-sen-shaheens-exit-sparks-scramble-for-key-seats) * [ Twitter ]( ) * [ Pinterest ]() * [ Tumblr ]( ) # New Hampshire voters pick midterm nominees as Sen. Shaheen's exit sparks scramble for key seats [Politics](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics) Sep 8, 2026 10:30 AM EDT CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — New Hampshire primary voters are choosing candidates for Congress, governor and the 424-seat state Legislature on Tuesday, and incumbents aren't the only familiar names on the ballot. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen's [decision to not seek reelection](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/in-blow-to-senate-democrats-shaheen-decides-not-to-seek-reelection-in-new-hampshire) created a cascade of competitive races. Two of the eight Republicans hoping to replace the three-term Democrat are former U.S. senators she previously defeated: John E. Sununu and [Scott Brown](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/former-gop-sen-scott-brown-of-massachusetts-will-seek-new-hampshire-seat). The five-way race for the Democratic nomination includes Rep. Chris Pappas, whose departure from his 1st Congressional District seat in turn attracted a crowd of candidates. [**READ MORE:** New Hampshire's GOP primary features two familiar names from the past, and voters are fine with that](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/new-hampshires-gop-primary-features-two-familiar-names-from-the-past-and-voters-are-fine-with-that) Shaheen's daughter, Stefany Shaheen, is among those seeking the Democratic nomination for Pappas' seat, along with former candidate Maura Sullivan. Several other candidates in top races also are making repeat appearances. ## Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. ## Ex-GOP senators seek a return to Congress, while House member wants promotion Sununu, who spent six years in the U.S. House and one term in the Senate before being ousted by Shaheen in 2008, has this time focused on themes including affordability for housing, healthcare and energy, holding Congress accountable and constituent service. "I've been out of politics for 17 years. I'm not worried about reelection," he said during a campaign stop last month. "I don't need an appointment or a job. I don't need to make anyone happy. I need to do one thing: Stand up for the people of New Hampshire." [**READ MORE:** Judge says New Hampshire must loosen proof-of-citizenship rules for voter registration](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/judge-says-new-hampshire-must-loosen-proof-of-citizenship-rules-for-voter-registration) Brown previously represented Massachusetts, where he won a special election in 2010 after the death of Sen. Ted Kennedy before losing in 2012. He unsuccessfully challenged Shaheen in 2014 and served as ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa during President Donald Trump's first term. In a July interview, he said he decided to run again because New Hampshire Republicans have no representation in Congress and because, in his view, his experience as a veteran, lawmaker, ambassador and grandfather is unmatched. He accuses Sununu — whose father and younger brother are former governors — of coasting on his name. Sununu also has the backing of Trump, despite having called him "a loser" in 2024, but Brown said that will just make him beholden to the president and other special interests. "I'm the only truly independent candidate here who can actually vote on anything with a clear conscience and with New Hampshire's best interests at heart," Brown said. Pappas, who is giving up his House seat after four terms, raised twice as much money as Sununu and Brown combined and dwarfed his Democratic primary opponents, as well. He also enjoyed a wide lead in polls, though recently lost some ground to scientist and democratic socialist Karishma Manzur. Open seat in 1st District attracts a crowd, while 2nd District is quieter Stefany Shaheen and Sullivan are the leading candidates among seven seeking the Democratic nomination in the 1st District. Shaheen is a former city councilor in Portsmouth. She founded a business to help people with chronic medical conditions after one of her daughters was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. She also is part of a bio-tech initiative in New Hampshire to advance regenerative medicine. Sullivan is a former Marine and Iraq War veteran who served as an assistant secretary at the Department of Veterans Affairs under President Barack Obama. A vice chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, Sullivan ran for the 1st District seat in 2018, losing in an 11-candidate primary to Pappas in his first congressional bid. The Republican field of four candidates includes political newcomer Anthony DiLorenzo, who owns a chain of car dealerships and has been endorsed by Trump, and Hollie Noveletsky, a veteran and nurse practitioner who runs a steel fabrication company and ran for the same seat two years ago. In the 2nd District, first-term Democratic incumbent Rep. Maggie Goodl