2026 United States Senate election in New Hampshire

For related races, see 2026 United States Senate elections.

The 2026 United States Senate election in New Hampshire will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of New Hampshire. Incumbent three-term Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen declined to seek re-election to a fourth term.^[1]

2026 United States Senate election in New Hampshire

← 2020 November 3, 2026 2032 →

Party Democratic Republican

Incumbent U.S. senator Jeanne Shaheen Democratic

This will be the first open Senate election in New Hampshire since 2010, and the first for this seat in which there is no incumbent running since 1990.^[a]

Background

New Hampshire is considered to be a slightly to moderately blue state at the federal level, with Kamala Harris carrying the state by roughly 3 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election. The state’s congressional delegation has been entirely Democratic since 2017. However, Republicans control the governorship, both state legislative chambers, and a majority in the executive council.^[2][3]

Shaheen was first elected in 2008, defeating then-incumbent senator John Sununu, and was re-elected in 2014 and 2020.^[4]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Publicly expressed interest

• Maggie Goodlander, U.S. representative for New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district (2025–present)^[5]
• Annie Kuster, former U.S. representative for New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district (2013–2025) (if Pappas doesn't run)^[6]
• Chris Pappas, U.S. representative for New Hampshire's 1st congressional district (2019–present)^[7]

Potential

• Stefany Shaheen, former Portsmouth city councilor and daughter of incumbent Jeanne Shaheen^[8]

Declined

• Jeanne Shaheen, incumbent U.S. Senator (2009–present)^[1]

Republican primary

Candidates

Publicly expressed interest

• Scott Brown, former U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa (2017–2020), former U.S. Senator from Massachusetts (2010–2013), and nominee for this seat in 2014^[9]
• Jack Franks, real estate developer^[10]
• Chris Sununu, former governor of New Hampshire (2017–2025) and brother of former U.S. Senator John Sununu^[11]
• Lily Tang Williams, former chair of the Colorado Libertarian Party, nominee for New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district in 2024 and candidate in 2022, and Libertarian nominee for U.S. Senate in Colorado in 2016 (decision expected in April 2025)^[12]

Potential

• Lou Gargiulo, former state representative (1992–1996)^[13]
• Corey Lewandowski, political strategist and former campaign manager for the Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign^[13]
• Matt Mowers, former chair of the New Hampshire Republican Party, nominee for New Hampshire's 1st congressional district in 2020 and candidate in 2022^[13]
• Stephen Stepanek, former chair of the New Hampshire Republican Party (2019–2023) and former state representative (2014–2016)^[13]

Declined

• Kelly Ayotte, Governor of New Hampshire (2025–present) and former U.S. Senator (2011–2017)^[14]

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
Inside Elections[15]	Battleground	January 17, 2025
The Cook Political Report[16]	Lean D	February 11, 2025
Sabato's Crystal Ball[17]	Lean D	March 12, 2025

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[b]	Margin of error	Chris Pappas (D)	Chris Sununu (R)	Undecided
Quantus Insights (R)[18][A]	March 17–19, 2025	650 (RV)	± 3.8%	44%	53%	3%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[b]	Margin of error	Jeanne Shaheen (D)	Chris Sununu (R)	Undecided
Praecones Analytica[19][B]	February 26 – March 1, 2025	626 (RV)	± 4.5%	46%	54%	–

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[b]	Margin of error	Jeanne Shaheen (D)	Frank Edelblut (R)	Undecided
Praecones Analytica[19][B]	February 26 – March 1, 2025	626 (RV)	± 4.5%	59%	41%	–

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[b]	Margin of error	Jeanne Shaheen (D)	Scott Brown (R)	Undecided
Praecones Analytica[19][B]	February 26 – March 1, 2025	626 (RV)	± 4.5%	55%	45%	–

Hypothetical polling

Chris Pappas vs. Chris Sununu

Jeanne Shaheen vs. Chris Sununu

Jeanne Shaheen vs. Frank Edelblut

Jeanne Shaheen vs. Scott Brown

Notes

1. Bob Smith, the incumbent Senator at the time, ran for re-election to a third term in 2002, but lost in the Republican primary to John E. Sununu.
2. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear

Partisan clients

1. Poll sponsored by Trending Politics, a conservative news website
2. Poll conducted for the NHJournal