New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen will not seek a fourth term next year, opening up a competitive seat for Democrats to defend in the midterm elections.

“Today, after careful consideration, I’m announcing that I have made the difficult decision not to seek reelection to the Senate in 2026,” Shaheen, 78, said in a video posted Wednesday on social media. “It’s just time.”

Her decision not to run again brings to a close a long career representing the Granite State, where she previously served in the state Senate and as governor. She is the first woman in U.S. history to be elected as both a governor and a U.S. senator. 

But it’s also a loss for Senate Democrats, who face a challenging 2026 map and are already defending open seats in Michigan and Minnesota and preparing for a competitive race in Georgia. Shaheen is the third Democratic senator to retire this cycle, joining Michigan’s Gary Peters and Minnesota’s Tina Smith. Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates all four seats as Senate battlegrounds.   

This year, Shaheen became the first woman to serve as ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. She’s used her perch on the panel to become a leading voice for global women’s issues. 

“There are urgent challenges ahead, both here at home and around the world. And while I’m not seeking reelection, believe me, I am not retiring,” she said in the video. “I am determined to work every day over the next two years and beyond to continue to try and make a difference for the people of New Hampshire and this country.”

Shaheen drew plaudits Wednesday from colleagues on the Foreign Relations panel. Committee Chair Jim Risch, R-Idaho, called her “a delight to work with” while Delaware Democrat Chris Coons said “her commitment to her nation has been unparalleled.”

In addition to her work on foreign affairs, Shaheen has developed a reputation as a dealmaker over her three terms in the Senate. She has been a member of several so-called gangs of bipartisan lawmakers looking for legislative solutions. In 2021, she was instrumental in helping craft a major transportation and infrastructure law.

Shaheen first began working in New Hampshire politics as a regional organizer for Jimmy Carter’s 1976 presidential campaign and went on to serve as Gary Hart’s state director in the 1984 presidential race. 

After six years in the New Hampshire Senate, she was elected governor in 1996, becoming the first Democrat to do so in nearly two decades. She served three two-year terms as the state’s top executive and was briefly on Al Gore’s running mate shortlist in 2000.

Shaheen first ran for Senate in 2002, losing to Republican John E. Sununu by 4 points. Six years later, she defeated Sununu by 6 points in what was a tough year for Republicans across the country. In her most recent election, in 2020, she defeated GOP nominee Corky Messner by double digits.

Republicans had already begun targeting Shaheen as they awaited her decision on whether to run again. The state hasn’t elected a Republican to the Senate since 2010, when Kelly Ayotte won a lone term. But Republicans have full control of state government, with Ayotte now in the governor’s mansion and majorities in both chambers of the state legislature.  

Former Massachusetts Republican Sen. Scott P. Brown, who unsuccessfully challenged Shaheen in 2014, was spotted in the Capitol this week and is considered a potential candidate for the seat again. Former Gov. Chris Sununu, who declined to run for Senate in 2022 after he was heavily courted by Republicans in Washington, told The Washington Times that he’s considering a run.  

“Shaheen’s retirement is welcome news for Granite Staters eager for new leadership,” South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said in a statement Wednesday. “New Hampshire has a proud tradition of electing common-sense Republicans — and will do so again in 2026!”

Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas, currently in his fourth term representing New Hampshire’s 1st District, is strongly considering running for Shaheen’s seat, a source familiar with his thinking said Wednesday. The state’s other House member, freshman Democrat Maggie Goodlander of the 2nd District, is also weighing a bid, according to a separate source familiar with her thinking. 

Democratic former Rep. Ann McLane Kuster, who retired last year and was succeeded by Goodlander, said she would take a serious look at the race if Pappas opts against running. 

Rachel Oswald and Paul V. Fontelo contributed to this report.