Democrat’s Chances of Taking Back Senate in 2026 Take Another Hit As 4-Term Senator Announces Exit

Democrats’ chances of taking back the U.S. Senate took a new hit on Wednesday after New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen announced she won’t be seeking re-election in 2026.

In a video posted on social media, Shaheen said that she made the “difficult decision” after “careful consideration.” “It’s just time,” she added, clarifying that she won’t be retiring.

“I am determined to work every day over the next two years and beyond to make a difference for the people of NH and this country. Thank you, New Hampshire. Listening to your stories and working with you on the tough fights has been the honor of a lifetime,” Shaheen finished.

The announcement comes shortly after a poll by the NH Journal showed that a majority of voters in the state, including about half of Democrats, expressed concern about her age ahead of a potential fourth term. The poll showed that voters also support term limits for members of Congress.

Shaheen turned 78 in February and would have been over 80 at the beginning of a potential fourth term after the 2026 election. Over 60 percent of respondents said they would be either “extremely” or “somewhat” concerned about her ability to serve voters at that age. Just 16 percent said they wouldn’t have been concerned at all. The figure was comprised by 75 percent of Republicans, 55 of undeclared voters and 49 percent of Democrats.

The survey also showed that, should former state Governor Chris Sununu challenge her, he would easily beat her. Sununu declined opportunities to run in the past. She won easily, by 16 points in 2020, but Kamala Harris only beat President Donald Trump by 2.8 percentage points in 2024.

With her decision, Shaheen joins a growing list of U.S. senators who won’t seek re-election in the next election. Mitch McConnell, Gary Peters and Tina Smith have also made such announcements this cycle.

The recent announcements likely make it more difficult for Democrats to gain back control of the Senate during the midterms. Republicans currently hold a 53-to-47 advantage in the Senate, and Democrats are considered to have little opportunity to gain seats beyond those held by Senator Susan Collins of Maine and Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina.