Democrats’ Senate woes are intensifying as yet another senior member abandons ship ahead of crucial 2026 midterms. The Democrats are losing talent very quickly, lately.
At a glance:
• Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) announced she will not seek reelection in 2026, ending her 30-year career in elected office
• Her retirement adds to a growing list of Democratic senators stepping down, including Sens. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.)
• Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate with Democrats now defending open seats in Michigan, Minnesota, and New Hampshire
• Former Massachusetts GOP Sen. Scott Brown and former New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu are potential Republican candidates for the seat
• Shaheen cited President Trump and “the current environment in the country” as factors in her difficult decision
Democrats Lose Major Player
Senator Jeanne Shaheen’s announcement Wednesday that she won’t seek reelection in 2026 deals another devastating blow to Democrats’ already dwindling hopes of reclaiming Senate control. The veteran Democrat’s departure creates yet another open seat Republicans are eager to flip as their momentum continues building across the country.
Shaheen’s decision came via a video announcement where she claimed it was simply “time” to step aside after serving three terms as Governor and three terms in the Senate. Her retirement forces Democrats to invest significant resources in a state that would have been virtually guaranteed had she chosen to run again.
3rd term New Hampshire Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the first woman elected to serve as both state governor & U.S. senator, announced today she won't seek reelection in 2026: "It's just time." She currently serves as the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Cmte. https://t.co/m6z4SbSrex
— Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) March 12, 2025
Democrats’ Senate Map Collapses
Shaheen’s retirement adds to an already devastating 2026 map for Senate Democrats, who are now defending open seats in Michigan, Minnesota, and New Hampshire. Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, with opportunities to expand their advantage significantly as more Democratic incumbents face difficult reelection battles.
“Another one! Shaheen’s retirement is welcome news for Granite Staters eager for new leadership,” tweeted Senator Tim Scott. “New Hampshire has a proud tradition of electing common-sense Republicans — and will do so again in 2026!”
Florida went from swing state to Republican…so who knows what might happen in New Hampshire, now?
Trump Effect Drives Another Democrat Out
In a revealing admission, Shaheen specifically cited President Trump as a factor in her decision to step down.
“It was a difficult decision, made more difficult by the current environment in the country — by President Trump and what he’s doing right now,” Shaheen told reporters, seemingly acknowledging the growing Republican momentum under Trump’s leadership. She knows, then, that she could lose…
New Hampshire’s political environment has shifted dramatically in Republicans’ favor in recent years. GOP candidate Kelly Ayotte won the governorship in 2024, succeeding popular Republican Governor Chris Sununu, who is now considered a potential candidate for Shaheen’s Senate seat.
Former Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown has also indicated he’s “thinking about” a run for the seat, which would give Republicans a strong contender with name recognition and previous campaign experience in the state. Democrats’ only potential pickup opportunity appears to be in Maine, which pales in comparison to Republicans’ multiple paths to expand their majority. If their party doesn’t find new talent, they could be in real trouble…
