Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H. is not going to search reelection subsequent yr, a choice that can finish the longtime senator’s historic political profession and offers a major blow to Democrats who had been already dealing with a troublesome path to reclaiming the Senate majority.
Shaheen was the primary girl elected to function each governor and senator in america. She turned 78 in January.
A spokesperson confirmed her choice by e-mail.
Even earlier than Shaheen’s transfer, Democrats had been dealing with a difficult political map in subsequent yr’s midterm elections — particularly within the Senate, the place Republicans now maintain 53 Senate seats in comparison with the Democrats’ 47, together with two independents who caucus with Democrats.
The get together that controls the Senate majority additionally controls President Donald Trump’s most necessary political and judicial nominations — and his legislative agenda.
No less than for now, Maine represents the Democrats’ greatest pickup alternative in 2026. Republican Sen. Susan Collins, the only GOP senator remaining in New England, is the one Republican serving in a state Trump misplaced who’s up for reelection.
However with a four-seat benefit in Congress’ higher chamber already, Republicans have professional pickup alternatives in Georgia, Michigan and now New Hampshire.
Shaheen has been a political drive in New Hampshire for many years and climbed by the ranks of Senate management to function the highest Democrat on the highly effective Senate International Relations Committee.
She possible would have been simply reelected had she sought one other time period.
Former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown, who served as ambassador to New Zealand within the first Trump administration, was contemplating a New Hampshire Senate bid even earlier than Shaheen’s announcement. Brown challenged Shaheen unsuccessfully in 2014.
New Hampshire has narrowly favored Democrats in current presidential elections, however the state has a protracted historical past of electing leaders from each events. Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte was elected final fall, when Trump misplaced the state by lower than 3 share factors.
Shaheen grew to become the primary girl elected New Hampshire governor in 1996. She served for 3 phrases and was later elected to the Senate in 2008.
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