The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rated New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s (D) Senate seat as “lean Democrat” following the senator’s announcement she would not seek reelection in 2026.
While the seat may lean toward Democrats, Republicans have expressed optimism they can flip the seat. Last month, National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Tim Scott (R-S.C.) named New Hampshire as one of the committee’s six battleground states, along with Georgia, Michigan, Maine, North Carolina and Ohio.
Shaheen’s retirement follows Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith’s (D) announcement last month that she would not seek reelection and a retirement announcement in January from Michigan Sen. Gary Peters (D).
Scott celebrated news of the Democratic retirement in a statement Thursday.
“Another one! Shaheen’s retirement is welcome news for Granite Staters eager for new leadership,” Scott said. “New Hampshire has a proud tradition of electing common-sense Republicans—and will do so again in 2026!”
Republicans are hoping to recruit former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown (R) to run for the seat. Brown was spotted at the Capitol Tuesday afternoon visiting with Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.).
The former Massachusetts senator, who unsuccessfully challenged Shaheen for her Senate seat in 2014, told The Hill that he’s thinking about running again.
Brown said in a post on social platform X that it’s time to have someone in the state’s delegation that supports President Trump.
“I appreciate [Shaheen]’s service to our state and for her support and vote for me as NH’s Ambassador to NZ and Samoa. Now it’s time for New Hampshire to have someone in the delegation who fights for our priorities and stands with, not against, the Trump agenda,” Brown said in the post.
Former New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) has also been a target of Republican recruiting efforts and has said he does not have interest in running for Senate. However, he told The Washington Times this week he hasn’t “ruled it out completely.”