Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire announced she will not seek reelection in 2026, marking the end of a historic political career and delivering a major setback to Democrats as they struggle to regain control of the Senate.
Shaheen, who turned 78 in January, was the first woman in U.S. history to be elected as both governor and senator. She made her announcement in a video posted to social media.
“Today, after careful consideration, I’m announcing that I have made the difficult decision not to seek reelection to the Senate in 2026,” Shaheen said. “It’s just time.”
Her retirement comes as Democrats already face an uphill battle in next year’s midterms. Republicans currently hold a 53-47 Senate majority, including two independents who caucus with Democrats. Control of the chamber is critical, as it determines President Donald Trump‘s ability to advance his legislative agenda and confirm judicial and political nominees.
In addition to Shaheen, Michigan Sen. Gary Peters and Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith have also announced their retirement, giving the GOP a chance to flip three key battleground states where Trump remained competitive in 2024.
This is a developing news story and will be updated as more information is available.
Reporting by The Associated Press contributed to this story.