2026 United States Senate election in New Hampshire
The 2026 United States Senate election in New Hampshire will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of New Hampshire. Primary elections will be held on September 8, 2026. Incumbent three-term Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen declined to seek a fourth term.
Article
2026 United States Senate election in New Hampshire
The 2026 United States Senate election in New Hampshire will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of New Hampshire. Primary elections will be held on September 8, 2026. Incumbent three-term Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen declined to seek a fourth term.
This will be the first open Senate election in New Hampshire since (/wiki/2010UnitedStatesSenateelectioninNewHampshire), and the first for this seat since (/wiki/1990UnitedStatesSenateelectioninNewHampshire).
Background
2026 United States Senate election in New Hampshire
New Hampshire is considered to be a slightly to moderately blue state at the federal level, with Kamala Harris carrying the state by roughly 3 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election. The state's congressional delegation has been entirely Democratic since 2017. However, Republicans control the governorship, both state legislative chambers, and a majority in the executive council.
Shaheen was first elected in (/wiki/2008UnitedStatesSenateelectioninNewHampshire), defeating then-incumbent senator John Sununu in a rematch of (/wiki/2002UnitedStatesSenateelectioninNewHampshire), and was re-elected in (/wiki/2014UnitedStatesSenateelectioninNewHampshire) and (/wiki/2020UnitedStatesSenateelectioninNewHampshire). Republicans have not won a U.S. Senate race in New Hampshire since (/wiki/2010UnitedStatesSenateelectioninNewHampshire).
Democratic primary
Declared
• Karishma Manzur, member of the New Hampshire Democratic Party Rules Committee • Chris Pappas, U.S. representative for New Hampshire's 1st congressional district (2019–present) • Jared Sullivan, state representative from the Grafton 2nd district (2022–present)
Declined
• Maggie Goodlander, U.S. representative for New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district (2025–present) (running for re-election, endorsed Pappas) • Annie Kuster, former U.S. representative for New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district (2013–2025) (endorsed Pappas) • Jeanne Shaheen, incumbent U.S. Senator (2009–present) (endorsed Pappas) • Andru Volinsky, former Executive Councilor (2017–2021) and candidate for governor in (/wiki/2020NewHampshiregubernatorialelection)
Fundraising
<table><thead><tr><th>Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Candidate</td><td>Raised</td><td>Spent</td><td>Cash on hand</td></tr><tr><td>Chris Pappas (D)</td><td>$6,552,817</td><td>$3,722,790</td><td>$3,237,611</td></tr><tr><td>Jared Sullivan (D)</td><td>$93,914</td><td>$28,448</td><td>$65,565</td></tr><tr><td>Karishma Manzur (D)</td><td>$70,157</td><td>$56,475</td><td>$13,681</td></tr><tr><td>Source: Federal Election Commission</td></tr></tbody></table>
Polling
<table><thead><tr><th>Source of poll aggregation</th><th>Dates administered</th><th>Dates updated</th><th>Karishma Manzur</th><th>Chris Pappas</th><th>Jared Sullivan</th><th>Undecided</th><th>Margin</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>270toWin</td><td>November 13–19, 2025</td><td>January 1, 2026</td><td>8.0%</td><td>60.5%</td><td>3.5%</td><td>29.0%</td><td>Pappas +52.5%</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table><thead><tr><th>Poll source</th><th>Date(s) administered</th><th>Sample size</th><th>Margin of error</th><th>Karishma Manzur</th><th>Chris Pappas</th><th>Jared Sullivan</th><th>Other</th><th>Undecided</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Saint Anselm College</td><td>March 16–18, 2026</td><td>691 (RV)</td><td>± 3.7%</td><td>9%</td><td>71%</td><td>3%</td><td>–</td><td>18%</td></tr><tr><td>University of New Hampshire</td><td>January 15–19, 2026</td><td>893 (LV)</td><td>± 3.3%</td><td>11%</td><td>65%</td><td>2%</td><td>–</td><td>22%</td></tr><tr><td>Saint Anselm College</td><td>November 18–19, 2025</td><td>1,015 (RV)</td><td>± 3.1%</td><td>8%</td><td>64%</td><td>2%</td><td>–</td><td>26%</td></tr><tr><td>University of New Hampshire</td><td>November 13–17, 2025</td><td>521 (LV)</td><td>± 4.3%</td><td>8%</td><td>57%</td><td>5%</td><td>–</td><td>30%</td></tr><tr><td>University of New Hampshire</td><td>September 17–23, 2025</td><td>508 (LV)</td><td>± 4.3%</td><td>14%</td><td>65%</td><td>–</td><td>1%</td><td>20%</td></tr></tbody></table>
Republican primary
Declared
• Scott Brown, former U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa (2017–2020), former U.S. Senator from Massachusetts (2010–2013), and nominee for this seat in (/wiki/2014UnitedStatesSenateelectioninNewHampshire) • Charlie Hough, businessman • Tejasinha Sivalingam, landlord and perennial candidate • John E. Sununu, former U.S. Senator from this seat (2003–2009)
Withdrawn
• Dan Innis, state senator (2016–2018, 2022–present) and candidate for New Hampshire's 1st congressional district in (/wiki/UnitedStatesHouseofRepresentativeselectionsinNewHampshire,2014#District1) (running for re-election, endorsed Sununu)
Declined
• Kelly Ayotte, Governor of New Hampshire (2025–present) and former U.S. senator (2011–2017) • Chris Sununu, former governor of New Hampshire (2017–2025) and brother of former U.S. Senator John E. Sununu • Lily Tang Williams, former chair of the Colorado Libertarian Party, nominee for New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district in (/wiki/2024UnitedStatesHouseofRepresentativeselectionsinNewHampshire#District2) and candidate in (/wiki/2022UnitedStatesHouseofRepresentativeselectionsinNewHampshire#District2), and Libertarian nominee for U.S. Senate in Colorado in (/wiki/2016UnitedStatesSenateelectioninColorado) (running for U.S. House)
Fundraising
<table><thead><tr><th>Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Candidate</td><td>Raised</td><td>Spent</td><td>Cash on hand</td></tr><tr><td>Scott Brown (R)</td><td>$1,342,972</td><td>$435,137</td><td>$907,834</td></tr><tr><td>John Sununu (R)</td><td>$1,356,653</td><td>$233,736</td><td>$1,122,917</td></tr><tr><td>Source: Federal Election Commission</td></tr></tbody></table>
Polling
<table><thead><tr><th>Source of poll aggregation</th><th>Dates administered</th><th>Dates updated</th><th>Scott Brown</th><th>John Sununu</th><th>Other/Undecided</th><th>Margin</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>RealClearPolitics</td><td>January 15 – March 23, 2026</td><td>March 26, 2026</td><td>24.0%</td><td>48.3%</td><td>27.7%</td><td>Sununu +24.3%</td></tr><tr><td>270toWin</td><td>March 23 – 26, 2026</td><td>March 26, 2026</td><td>23.5%</td><td>48.5%</td><td>28.0%</td><td>Sununu +25.0%</td></tr><tr><td>Race to the WH</td><td>through March 23, 2026</td><td>March 26, 2026</td><td>23.8%</td><td>47.4%</td><td>28.8%</td><td>Sununu +23.6%</td></tr><tr><td>Average</td><td>23.8%</td><td>48.1%</td><td>28.1%</td><td>Sununu +24.3%</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table><thead><tr><th>Poll source</th><th>Date(s) administered</th><th>Sample size</th><th>Margin of error</th><th>Scott Brown</th><th>Dan Innis</th><th>John Sununu</th><th>Other</th><th>Undecided</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Emerson College</td><td>March 21–23, 2026</td><td>524 (LV)</td><td>± 4.2%</td><td>19%</td><td>–</td><td>48%</td><td>1%</td><td>32%</td></tr><tr><td>Saint Anselm College</td><td>March 16–18, 2026</td><td>673 (RV)</td><td>± 3.8%</td><td>28%</td><td>–</td><td>49%</td><td>–</td><td>23%</td></tr><tr><td>University of New Hampshire</td><td>January 15–19, 2026</td><td>967 (LV)</td><td>± 3.2%</td><td>25%</td><td>–</td><td>48%</td><td>1%</td><td>26%</td></tr><tr><td>Guidant Polling and Strategy (R)</td><td>December 9–11, 2025</td><td>353 (LV)</td><td>–</td><td>30%</td><td>–</td><td>49%</td><td>–</td><td>21%</td></tr><tr><td>Saint Anselm College</td><td>November 18–19, 2025</td><td>1,000 (RV)</td><td>± 3.1%</td><td>30%</td><td>–</td><td>39%</td><td>–</td><td>31%</td></tr><tr><td>University of New Hampshire</td><td>November 13–17, 2025</td><td>593 (LV)</td><td>± 4.0%</td><td>27%</td><td>–</td><td>40%</td><td>1%</td><td>31%</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>September 25, 2025</td><td>Innis withdraws from the race</td></tr><tr><td>University of New Hampshire</td><td>September 17–23, 2025</td><td>555 (LV)</td><td>± 4.2%</td><td>19%</td><td>7%</td><td>42%</td><td>4%</td><td>28%</td></tr><tr><td>co/efficient (R)</td><td>September 10–12, 2025</td><td>346 (LV)</td><td>–</td><td>23%</td><td>8%</td><td>40%</td><td>5%</td><td>24%</td></tr><tr><td>Saint Anselm College</td><td>August 26–27, 2025</td><td>791 (RV)</td><td>± 3.5%</td><td>48%</td><td>13%</td><td>–</td><td>–</td><td>39%</td></tr></tbody></table>
Independents
Potential
• Aaron Day, former chairman of the Free State Project and candidate for U.S. Senate in (/wiki/2016UnitedStatesSenateelectioninNewHampshire)
General election
Predictions
<table><thead><tr><th>Source</th><th>Ranking</th><th>As of</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Inside Elections</td><td>Tilt D</td><td>March 24, 2026</td></tr><tr><td>The Cook Political Report</td><td>Lean D</td><td>March 24, 2026</td></tr><tr><td>Sabato's Crystal Ball</td><td>Lean D</td><td>March 24, 2026</td></tr><tr><td>Race To The WH</td><td>Lean D</td><td>March 24, 2026</td></tr></tbody></table>
Polling
<table><thead><tr><th>Source of poll aggregation</th><th>Dates administered</th><th>Dates updated</th><th>Chris Pappas</th><th>Scott Brown</th><th>Other/Undecided</th><th>Margin</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>RealClearPolitics</td><td>January 15, 2026 – March 23, 2026</td><td>March 26, 2026</td><td>49.0%</td><td>39.7%</td><td>11.3%</td><td>Pappas +9.3%</td></tr><tr><td>270toWin</td><td>March 23 – 26, 2026</td><td>March 26, 2026</td><td>47.5%</td><td>38.5%</td><td>14.0%</td><td>Pappas +9.0%</td></tr><tr><td>Race to the WH</td><td>through March 23, 2026</td><td>March 26, 2026</td><td>47.8%</td><td>38.5%</td><td>13.7%</td><td>Pappas +9.3%</td></tr><tr><td>Average</td><td>48.1%</td><td>38.9%</td><td>13.0%</td><td>Pappas +9.2%</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table><thead><tr><th>Poll source</th><th>Date(s) administered</th><th>Sample size</th><th>Margin of error</th><th>Chris Pappas (D)</th><th>Scott Brown (R)</th><th>Other</th><th>Undecided</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Emerson College</td><td>March 21–23, 2026</td><td>1,000 (LV)</td><td>± 2.9%</td><td>48%</td><td>39%</td><td>6%</td><td>7%</td></tr><tr><td>Saint Anselm College</td><td>March 16–18, 2026</td><td>1,491 (RV)</td><td>± 2.5%</td><td>47%</td><td>38%</td><td>–</td><td>15%</td></tr><tr><td>University of New Hampshire</td><td>January 15–19, 2026</td><td>2,053 (LV)</td><td>± 2.1%</td><td>52%</td><td>42%</td><td>1%</td><td>5%</td></tr><tr><td>NHJournal/Praecones Analytica</td><td>December 26–28, 2025</td><td>603 (RV)</td><td>± 4.0%</td><td>46%</td><td>28%</td><td>–</td><td>26%</td></tr><tr><td>Guidant Polling and Strategy (R)</td><td>December 9–11, 2025</td><td>600 (LV)</td><td>± 4.0%</td><td>49%</td><td>38%</td><td>–</td><td>13%</td></tr><tr><td>Saint Anselm College</td><td>November 18–19, 2025</td><td>2,212 (RV)</td><td>–</td><td>44%</td><td>36%</td><td>–</td><td>20%</td></tr><tr><td>co/efficient (R)</td><td>October 9–13, 2025</td><td>1,034 (LV)</td><td>± 3.1%</td><td>49%</td><td>39%</td><td>–</td><td>13%</td></tr><tr><td>University of New Hampshire</td><td>September 17–23, 2025</td><td>1,235 (LV)</td><td>± 2.8%</td><td>52%</td><td>37%</td><td>2%</td><td>8%</td></tr><tr><td>co/efficient (R)</td><td>September 10–12, 2025</td><td>904 (LV)</td><td>± 3.3%</td><td>50%</td><td>40%</td><td>–</td><td>10%</td></tr><tr><td>Saint Anselm College</td><td>August 26–27, 2025</td><td>1,776 (RV)</td><td>± 2.3%</td><td>48%</td><td>37%</td><td>–</td><td>15%</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table><thead><tr><th>Source of poll aggregation</th><th>Dates administered</th><th>Dates updated</th><th>Chris Pappas</th><th>John Sununu</th><th>Other/Undecided</th><th>Margin</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>RealClearPolitics</td><td>January 15, 2026 – March 23, 2026</td><td>March 26, 2026</td><td>47.0%</td><td>44.0%</td><td>9.0%</td><td>Pappas +3.0%</td></tr><tr><td>270toWin</td><td>March 23 – 26, 2026</td><td>March 26, 2026</td><td>45.5%</td><td>43.5%</td><td>11.0%</td><td>Pappas +2.0%</td></tr><tr><td>Race to the WH</td><td>through March 23, 2026</td><td>March 26, 2026</td><td>45.8%</td><td>40.1%</td><td>14.1%</td><td>Pappas +4.7%</td></tr><tr><td>Average</td><td>46.2%</td><td>42.5%</td><td>11.3%</td><td>Pappas +3.3%</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table><thead><tr><th>Poll source</th><th>Date(s) administered</th><th>Sample size</th><th>Margin of error</th><th>Chris Pappas (D)</th><th>John E. Sununu (R)</th><th>Other</th><th>Undecided</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Emerson College</td><td>March 21–23, 2026</td><td>1,000 (LV)</td><td>± 2.9%</td><td>45%</td><td>44%</td><td>5%</td><td>6%</td></tr><tr><td>Saint Anselm College</td><td>March 16–18, 2026</td><td>1,491 (RV)</td><td>± 2.5%</td><td>46%</td><td>43%</td><td>–</td><td>11%</td></tr><tr><td>yes. every kid.</td><td>January 28–29, 2026</td><td>563 (LV)</td><td>± 4.1%</td><td>45%</td><td>41%</td><td>–</td><td>14%</td></tr><tr><td>University of New Hampshire</td><td>January 15–19, 2026</td><td>2,053 (LV)</td><td>± 2.1%</td><td>50%</td><td>45%</td><td>1%</td><td>5%</td></tr><tr><td>NHJournal/Praecones Analytica</td><td>December 26–28, 2025</td><td>603 (RV)</td><td>± 4.0%</td><td>42%</td><td>36%</td><td>–</td><td>22%</td></tr><tr><td>Guidant Polling and Strategy (R)</td><td>December 9–11, 2025</td><td>600 (LV)</td><td>± 4.0%</td><td>47%</td><td>44%</td><td>–</td><td>9%</td></tr><tr><td>Saint Anselm College</td><td>November 18–19, 2025</td><td>2,212 (RV)</td><td>–</td><td>44%</td><td>41%</td><td>–</td><td>16%</td></tr><tr><td>co/efficient (R)</td><td>October 9–13, 2025</td><td>1,034 (LV)</td><td>± 3.1%</td><td>45%</td><td>42%</td><td>–</td><td>12%</td></tr><tr><td>University of New Hampshire</td><td>September 17–23, 2025</td><td>1,235 (LV)</td><td>± 2.8%</td><td>49%</td><td>43%</td><td>1%</td><td>7%</td></tr><tr><td>co/efficient (R)</td><td>September 10–12, 2025</td><td>904 (LV)</td><td>± 3.3%</td><td>46%</td><td>43%</td><td>–</td><td>11%</td></tr><tr><td>1892 Polling (R)</td><td>September 2–4, 2025</td><td>500 (LV)</td><td>± 4.4%</td><td>45%</td><td>43%</td><td>–</td><td>12%</td></tr></tbody></table>