Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire announced she will not run for reelection, concluding her historic political career as the first woman to serve as both governor and senator. Her retirement presents a challenge for Democrats, who are already struggling to gain ground in the Senate. With Republicans holding the majority and favorable conditions for a pickup in key states, Shaheen's departure complicates their strategy. The upcoming midterms will play a pivotal role in determining the balance of power in Congress and the potential impact on President Trump's agenda.
"Today, after careful consideration, I'm announcing that I have made the difficult decision not to seek reelection to the Senate in 2026," she said. "It's just time."
History suggests that the GOP, as the party that controls the White House, would face a challenging political environment in next year's midterm elections.
Republicans now have pickup opportunities in three purple states where Democrats have announced retirements in recent weeks: New Hampshire's Shaheen, Michigan Sen. Gary Peters and Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith.
But even before Shaheen's announcement, the political landscape favored Republicans in the fight for the Senate, where the GOP already holds 53 seats compared with the Democrats' 47.
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