Shaheen defeats Sullivan to win Democratic nomination in 1st Congressional District

New Hampshire Bulletin · Maya Mitchell · September 9, 2026

Stefany Shaheen edged Maura Sullivan to win the Democratic nomination in the 1st Congressional District. (Photo by William Skipworth/New Hampshire Bulletin) The once wide-open Democratic primary in New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District has come to its conclusion.

Stefany Shaheen, a former Portsmouth city councilor and the daughter of U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, won the Democratic nomination for New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District. The Associated Press called the race at 12:35 a.m. Wednesday.

In a close battle, Shaheen defeated fellow center-left candidate Maura Sullivan, a veteran and former Obama administration official. With 88% of the vote counted when the race was called, Shaheen led Sullivan 37.2% to 34.9%. Progressive Carleigh Beriont, a union organizer and chair of the Hampton Select Board, placed third in the race with 22% of the vote.

There were six other Democratic candidates in the crowded field, although some left the race ahead of voting day. Christian Urrutia, a human rights attorney and veteran, dropped out and endorsed Shaheen over the weekend. Heath Howard, a state representative, dropped out last month and endorsed Beriont, the remaining progressive candidate.

On the campaign trail, Shaheen battled with Sullivan over campaign finance, healthcare, and corporate and foreign endorsements.

She will try to keep the office blue as current officeholder, four-term U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, passed up a reelection bid to run for U.S. Senate. Shaheen will face Republican Anthony DiLorenzo, a Portsmouth businessman, in November’s general election.

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