New Hampshire Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen announced she will not seek reelection in a video posted to social media Wednesday morning.
The announcement from the 78 years-old senator came after the New Hampshire Democrat faced intense speculation about whether she would retire instead of seeking a fourth term. Shaheen’s retirement announcement will likely put the New Hampshire Senate seat in play during the 2026 midterms.
“Another one!” National Republican Senatorial Committee chairman Tim Scott of South Carolina said following Shaheen’s retirement announcement. “Shaheen’s retirement is welcome news for Granite Staters eager for new leadership. New Hampshire has a proud tradition of electing common-sense Republicans — and will do so again in 2026!”
Shaheen would have been 85 at the end of another six-year term in January 2033, making her older than all but one senator in the upper chamber today.
New Hampshire voters are concerned about how Shaheen’s age would have impacted her ability to continue serving in the upper chamber, according to recent polling.
Roughly 60% of New Hampshire residents say they are concerned that Shaheen’s age would impact her ability to serve for a fourth term, according to a survey of 626 registered voters conducted by Praecones Analytica for NHJournal between Feb. 26 and March 1. Just over 16% of voters told the pollster they were “not concerned at all” about the senator’s age.
MSNBC Host Chris Hayes criticized Shaheen for considering a run for a fourth term in December.
“Democrats are not taking this [age] issue seriously, and they need to,” Hayes said during a Dec. 17 “All In with Chris Hayes” episode. “[T]his is nothing against Shaheen personally. But according to Pew Research Center polling from just last year, 79% of Americans support age limits for politicians in Washington.”
Shaheen’s retirement announcement comes after Democratic Sens. Gary Peters of Michigan and Tina Smith of Minnesota announced they would not seek reelection.
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org
Prop. 40’s one-time 5% wealth tax on billionaires failed about 52.4% to 47.6%. AP said…
With Democrats set to take at least 54 Senate seats in January, Judiciary Chair Chuck…
AP called the race for Nathan Johnson over Mayes Middleton, about 52.4% to 45.9%. Democrats…
New Democratic trifectas in five swing states could push the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact…
Iran’s supreme leader said “the process of the US’s collapse has accelerated” as Tehran cast…
Outgoing Sen. John Cornyn, in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, says unforced political errors, fringe…