In what appears to be a significant setback for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer as he endeavors to forge a Democratic coalition capable of challenging President Trump following the 2026 midterms, one of the more at-risk sitting Democratic senators who is up for re-election in 2026 has declared her intention to retire.
This senator is Jeanne Shaheen, one of New Hampshire’s United States Senators, who made the announcement in a video shared online on Wednesday, March 12. In the video, the incumbent senator, who is concluding her second term, stated that she would not pursue a third term in the United States Senate when she is up for re-election in 2026.
This presents a significant challenge for Senate Minority Leader Schumer for two reasons. Firstly, New Hampshire was quite close to leaning Republican in the 2024 election, and given the popularity of President Trump and his agenda thus far, it is entirely plausible that New Hampshire could shift to a Republican majority in the 2026 midterms, especially if the incumbent decides to step down.
Compounding this issue, the second major concern for Democrats in 2026 is that freshman Senator Jon Ossoff will also be facing re-election in 2026, and it seems unlikely that he will secure victory. Georgia is predominantly a Republican state, and his win appears to be an anomaly at this point, as he has become quite unpopular even among Democrats due to his ability to alienate potential supporters.
Regardless, in her retirement video, Senator Shaheen addressed her constituents, stating, “I ran for public office to make a difference for the people of New Hampshire,” she said. “That purpose has never, and will never, change. But today, after careful consideration, I’m announcing that I have made the difficult decision not to seek reelection to the Senate in 2026.” Regarding her rationale for stepping down before what is likely to be a closely contested midterm, she remarked, “It’s just time.”
She subsequently asserted that she was not stepping back from her advocacy for Democratic initiatives, although she did not clarify how her role as a private citizen supporting Democratic causes would benefit her Democratic constituents more effectively than her continued presence in the Senate. She stated, “Believe me, I am not retiring. I am committed to working every day over the next two years and beyond to strive to make a difference for the people of New Hampshire and this nation.” Watch her here:
Former Senator Scott Brown, addressing the issue on X, remarked, “I appreciate @jeanneshaheen’s service to our state and her support and vote for me as NH’s Ambassador to NZ and Samoa. Now it is time for New Hampshire to have someone in the delegation who advocates for our priorities and aligns with, rather than opposes, the Trump agenda. #nhpolitics ”
Scott, a Republican, has been observed meeting with Senate Republicans and informed Semafor, a media outlet, that he is contemplating a run for the seat and is currently considering it. Former New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, also a Republican, has similarly suggested that he may pursue the Senate seat, as reported by NBC News.