New Hampshire voters choose midterm nominees as Shaheen’s exit triggers scramble for key seats

Jeanne Shaheen’s decision to leave the Senate has opened the door to a scramble among familiar New Hampshire political names. Voters on Tuesday are choosing nominees for Congress, governor and all 424 seats in the state Legislature.

Two of the eight Republicans seeking to replace the three-term Democrat are former U.S. senators Shaheen previously defeated: John E. Sununu and Scott Brown. Sununu spent six years in the House and one Senate term before Shaheen defeated him in 2008. He has campaigned on housing, health care and energy affordability, congressional accountability and constituent service.

“

I’ve been out of politics for 17 years. I’m not worried about reelection.

“I’ve been out of politics for 17 years. I’m not worried about reelection,” Sununu said at 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.”

“

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.

Brown previously represented Massachusetts. He won a 2010 special election after Sen. Ted Kennedy’s death, lost in 2012, unsuccessfully challenged Shaheen in 2014 and later served as ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa during Donald Trump’s first term. Brown said his experience as a veteran, lawmaker, ambassador and grandfather set him apart. He accused Sununu of relying on his family name, while Sununu has Trump’s backing despite having called Trump “a loser” in 2024.

The Democratic race is also competitive. Pappas is giving up his House seat after four terms, and his departure has produced a five-way primary. His opponents include scientist and democratic socialist Karishma Manzur and Stefany Shaheen, as well as former candidate Maura Sullivan. Pappas has raised twice as much money as Sununu and Brown combined and led polls, although Manzur has recently narrowed the gap.

“

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.