Dem
47
GOP
53
Democrats got some very bad news yesterday. Sen. Cynthia Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) is retiring. She could easily have won another term, but has had enough. She has been in public office for 35 years now, as a state senator, governor and U.S. senator. She was born in Missouri, raised in Pennsylvania, graduated from Ole Miss and taught high school in Mississippi before moving to New Hampshire in 1973. She worked on Jimmy Carter's 1976 campaign and Gary Hart's 1984 campaign.
Democrats are now going to have fight hard for a seat that should have been easy. The Democrats' best hope is probably Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH), who has won four times in NH-01, one of the state's two congressional districts. NH-01 has a PVI of EVEN, so he could do well in NH-02, which is D+2 and currently represented by Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-NH). If Pappas decides against a run, former representative Annie Kuster might come out of retirement to run. Kuster's successor (Goodlander), might try for a speedy promotion if Pappas doesn't run. None of these people have won statewide.
In contrast, the Republicans have a bevy of potential candidates who have won statewide. Gov. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) is up for reelection and could easily switch to the Senate race. She used to be a senator from 2011 to 2017, until Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) beat her. Former governor Chris Sununu previously said he wouldn't run for the Senate in 2026, but that was on the assumption that Shaheen would run again. Her retirement could change that. He is a potential 2028 presidential candidate and could have a chance if Trumpism is out of fashion then—for example, if Donald Trump wrecks the country. Former senator Scott Brown is another potential candidate who has won statewide—only the state he won was Massachusetts, not New Hampshire. He is unique since he is the only senator to have posed nude for Cosmopolitan magazine. Surely you didn't expect us to run the photo. This is a family blog, after all.
Democrats face open-seat races in three states they now hold—Michigan, Minnesota, and New Hampshire. Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) also faces a tough race, especially if Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA) jumps in. However, Kemp may be focusing on running for president in 2028 and might skip the Senate race, just as another 2028 potential candidate, Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY), did. Kemp hasn't said anything yet about his plans. (V)