New Hampshire Primary Race Updates

The Democratic primary race in New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District remains too close to call, with two prominent candidates: Stefany Shaheen, daughter of retiring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, and Maura Sullivan, who served during the Obama administration. As of early Wednesday morning, both are in a tight contest to succeed current Rep. Chris Pappas, who has opted to run for the U.S. Senate.

Pappas has held the district since 2019 and announced his Senate campaign last year. Historically, incumbents provide a strong chance for their parties to win in competitive districts. Pappas won his last election by a margin of 54% to 46%.

The primary has drawn several Democratic challengers besides Shaheen and Sullivan, with eight candidates total, including state legislator Carleigh Beriont, who finished with around 20% of the vote despite being about ten points behind the frontrunners.

Even though Sullivan raised more money—$3.6 million against Shaheen’s $2.4 million, Shaheen maintained a slight edge for much of the night, finishing Tuesday with a 2% lead.

Sullivan has touted her extensive military background and her experience in the Obama administration in her campaign. In a video statement, she expressed pride in her work on national security, healthcare, and reforms beneficial to military families.

Meanwhile, Shaheen emphasized her commitment to causes such as Medicare for All and increasing tax breaks for first-time homebuyers, with support from her mother, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who expressed pride in her daughter’s candidacy and experience working in their community.

As the results continue to roll in, Sullivan remains optimistic about her campaign. She indicated there’s still a significant amount of counting yet to be done, which could influence the final outcome.

Regardless of who wins the primary, the successful candidate will move on to the general election set for November 3.