Update: Races Set, Stefany Shaheen Wins 1st District Democratic Primary

InDepthNH · Nancy West · September 9, 2026

At 12:35 am Wednesday, AP called the race for Stefany Shaheen in the Democratic nomination for U.S. House in New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District. Shaheen had 37 percent of the vote to Maura Sullivan’s 35 percent in the nailbiter race of the 2026 primaries.

Above U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, D-NH, is pictured speaking Tuesday about his victory running in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen. Pappas will face Republican John E. Sununu in the general election Nov. 3. C-SPAN photo

Republican U.S. Senate nominee John E. Sununu gesturing while addressing supporters in Manchester, N.H., on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, shortly after winning his party’s primary election. (AP Photo/Rodrique Ngowi)

See all of the New Hampshire Primary Election results here : https://indepthnh.org/2026/09/08/2026-nh-primary-results/

By GARRY RAYNO, InDepthNH.org

CONCORD —- The winning candidates in all but one of the all important Congressional seats were known before 9 p.m. Tuesday evening, while the Democratic race for the 1st Congressional District nomination went late into the evening.

The US Senate races, the 2nd Congressional races, and the Republican nomination for the 1st District were set and ready to engage for November’s general election which one of the victors, 1st District Congressman Chris Pappas, who won the Democratic US Senate nomination, called “the most important mid-term (election) in our lifetime.” Control of both the US House and US Senate will run through New Hampshire in the 2026 mid-term election as Democrats try to defend all three seats. A change of five seats in the US House would flip the majority to Democrats and Democrats need to pick up four seats in the Senate.

The winner of the Republican nomination for the US Senate seat being vacated by US Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, John E. Sununu, who she defeated 18 years ago, held a commanding lead over another former US Sen. Scott Brown, who won a special election for the Massachusetts seat after long-time US Sen. Ted Kennedy died.

Sununu had about 70 percent of the votes, while Brown picked up about 25 percent.

Brown’s concession speech was interrupted by a phone call from Sununu, who wasted little time trying to tie Pappas to Washington calling him a career politician who is ineffective, a partisan and out of touch with New Hampshire.

Pappas in turn called Sununu a failed politician who spent the last 20 years making $35 million working for the corporations and billionaires he represented when he was in the US Senate before.

He also implied that Sununu was the hand picked choice of President Trump and his billionaire associates.

Both swore their only concerns would be the people of New Hampshire.

Sununu who passed up a WMUR debate with Brown challenged Pappas to 10 debates in the next eight weeks, which would be more than one a week.

“This race is about the future, the next six years,” Sununu said. “Where does the country go and do we take it to a place that is right for New Hampshire.” But Pappas said Washington needs to change.

“While New Hampshire families are struggling to make ends meet, John Sununu has thrown his lot in with Donald Trump and supports the policies that cater to big corporations and billionaires while they make life harder for Granite Staters,” Pappas said. “We’ve got to turn the page on Donald Trump’s reckless leadership, on corruption, on the rigged economy and on costs, and this is not the time to turn it back to a failed politician from the past.”

“Today voters in New Hampshire are fed up with what is happening in our politics.” Pappas said, “and they are ready for change.” Pappas was leading progressive Karishma Manzur with about 64 percent of the votes to her 35 percent.

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Maggie Goodlander, is pictured speaking at her celebration at Feathered Friend Brewing in Concord Tuesday night. She will face Lily Tang Williams who won the Republican primary Tuesday PAULA TRACY photo

2nd Congressional District

It will be a rematch for the 2nd District seat between incumbent Democratic congresswoman Maggie Goodlander and her Republican challenger Lily Tang Williams.

Two years ago Goodlander received 53 percent of the vote to Williams 47 percent.

Ray Buckley, the chair of the Democratic State Committee was at Goodlander’s victory party at Feather Friend Brewing in Concord, and said the climate is much better for Democrats and particularly for Goodlander.

“I think Maggie was completely unknown two years ago and she really has a strong record in Congress. . . so I think you are going to see a big difference,” in the results.

After thanking her family and supporters, Goodlander also thanked everyone who put their name on a ballot “for giving us real choices because there is no freedom without choice.”

“What I hear in every corner of this state is people are working harder than ever and they are getting squeezed harder than ever,” she said.

Goodlander had an easy time defeating her progressive challenger, state Rep. Paige Beauchemin, leading with 81 percent of the vote with Beauchemin receiving 19 percent.

On the Republican side Williams collected 65 percent of the vote, while Victor Orlando collected 14 percent and Dan Nicholson collected 12 percent.

A Free Stater, Williams is running to give back to the country she loves and to keep the American dream alive.

Seacoast businessman Anthony DiLorenzo won the GOP Primary in NH-01. The race for the Democratic challenger was too close to call Tuesday night. WMUR screenshot

1st Congressional District

The Republican side of the ticket was set last night, as Seacoast businessman Anthony DiLorenzo, 62, collected better than 51 percent of the vote in a crowded field. DiLorenzo had the backing of President Trymp.

He was followed by business woman and healthcare professional Hollie Noveletsk with 26 percent of the vote, and state Rep. Brian Cole with 14 percent.

At 10 p.m. only 700 votes separated health care advocate and entrepreneur Stefany Shaheen and former Obama administration official Maura Sullivan Portsmouth at the top of the Democratic fight for the nomination.

With about 60 percent of the votes counted Shaheen had 37 percent and Sullivan had 35 percent. Progressive Carleigh Beriont had 22.5 percent of the vote.

Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte easily beat two primary challengers. She will face attorney Cinde Warmington, a former Executive Councilor, in the Nov. 3 general election. Warmington was unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Paula Tracy contributed to this article.

Garry Rayno may be reached at garry.rayno@yahoo.com .

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