State of play: Retiring Dem senator’s daughter holds slight lead in closely watched race
New Hampshire 1st‑District Democratic Primary Races on a Knife‑Edge
The Democratic primary for New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District, held on the morning of Wednesday, ended with no clear victor. Stefany Shaheen, the daughter of retiring State Senator Jeanne Shaheen, and former Obama‑era health‑care official Maura Sullivan were the two front‑ranters, each hoping to secure the seat while the incumbent, Representative Chris Pappas, eyes a U.S. Senate run.
Pappas, who has represented the district since 2019, announced his Senate campaign last year and noted, in a press release, that “I’m honored that the people of New Hampshire have entrusted me to fight for them; I’m proud of what we have accomplished together and I’m going to continue this fight in the U.S. Senate.” His 2022 re‑election was a 54‑to‑46 percent victory over Republican Russell Prescott, underscoring the importance of the seat for both parties.
The open congressional seat attracted a crowded field of Democratic candidates, eight in all, including state representative Carleigh Beriont. While Beriont garnered roughly 20 percent of the vote, she trailed the two leading contenders by nearly ten points. As of Tuesday evening, Shaheen maintained a slim approximately two‑percent edge over Sullivan, even though Sullivan’s campaign had raised more money—$3.6 million versus Shaheen’s $2.4 million, according to Federal Election Commission data.
Shaheen, who has worked on the Portsmouth City Council and runs a local business, is backed by her mother, Jeanne Shaheen, a long‑time state senator who will retire at the end of the term. “I’m so proud that Stefany is answering the call to serve the district she was born and raised in,” Jeanne Shaheen said in a statement. “She’s working hard to earn voters’ support in her own right and on her own merits — and I couldn’t be prouder to support her candidacy.” On her campaign platform, Shaheen emphasizes Medicare for All, tax breaks for first‑time homebuyers, and an overhaul of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Sullivan, a former Marine and former assistant secretary at the Department of Veterans Affairs during the Obama administration, positions herself as an experienced veteran. “I joined the Obama administration. I was proud to work on matters of national security, healthcare, and reform to help fellow military families like mine,” she explained in a campaign video. Her platform focuses on curbing price gouging, bolstering the VA, opposing Trump‑era tariffs, and increasing federal investments in housing development. In late‑night remarks, Sullivan declared, “I feel incredibly proud of the campaign that we ran — which is far from over, by the way. There are still a lot of results to come in.”
The race remains too close to call as both candidates seek to keep the district in Democratic hands. Whoever wins the primary will face the general election on November 3. In the meantime, the primary’s tight margins reflect the broader competitiveness of the district as the incumbent shifts focus to the Senate, leaving a pivotal seat on the line for the party.