Stefany Shaheen Seeks to Reverse Tax Cuts in Congressional Bid
Stefany Shaheen, a Democratic candidate for Congress in New Hampshire and the daughter of U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, expressed her desire this week to undo recent tax reductions put forth by Republicans. This stance comes after her record as a Portsmouth city councilor, where she previously supported increases in taxes and fees, and received backing tied to her mother’s political connections.
She stated, “I believe it’s a matter of electing people who have the will to fight for the issues that matter most to the majority of people, and we’ve got to roll back these tax breaks. And again, let’s be clear: my opponent supports them.”
This rollback would likely mean a 20 percent tax hike for families in New Hampshire, reinstating taxes on areas such as tips, overtime, and Social Security, which is quite a lot.
NRCC spokeswoman Maureen O’Toole criticized Shaheen’s comments, saying, “Silver Spoon Stefany Shaheen just told voters everything they need to know: In Congress, she’d ‘roll back’ tax cuts that have made life better and more affordable for New Hampshire families. It doesn’t get any more out of touch than that. Granite Staters deserve a fighter, not a nepo baby.”
During her time as a councilor, Shaheen made moves to hike city parking fees by 25 percent and voted for Portsmouth’s first budget exceeding $100 million, which included a property tax increase and another rise in parking fees.
Additionally, Stefany has enjoyed political and financial support closely linked to her mother. A report in September took a not-so-subtle jab at her candidacy, saying, “Stefany Shaheen Has Been Handed Everything by Her Mom. Now She Wants a Promotion to Congress.”
In a partnership with the Manchester nonprofit Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing, where Shaheen served as chief strategy officer, the city of Manchester secured $44 million in economic development funding this year from the Department of Commerce. Former Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo noted that their application stood out due to the “persistent advocacy” of Sen. Shaheen.
In 2020, when her mother was still in office, Stefany’s company, Good Measures, received an $890,000 Paycheck Protection Program loan, which was later forgiven.
Her congressional campaign has also received more than $600,000 from her mother’s network of donors, while Sen. Shaheen has actively championed Stefany’s campaign.
Interestingly, Stefany has faced questions regarding her stance on political violence but has not condemned it directly. In an exchange in October 2025, instead of addressing the issue, she responded to the questioner with a wish for a great night while walking away. This happened just weeks after notable incidents involving political violence.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, for her part, has also been noted for her views on political rhetoric, having previously defended Hillary Clinton’s reaction to a violent comment about a political opponent, stating she saw no problem with it.
In 2019, Stefany’s mother received backlash from a coalition of pro-life leaders concerning an amendment to a spending bill that included significant funding for family planning, with critics alleging it undermined the Trump administration’s policies.
Moreover, during her reelection campaign in 2014, Sen. Shaheen’s team removed a then-Breitbart News reporter from a supposed press conference, raising questions about press access, as other journalists remained present. The campaign had not provided any explanation following the incident.
