Stefany Shaheen, Sen. Altschiller consider 2026 race to replace Rep. Chris Pappas
The two Democrats confirmed Monday they're both in the process of deciding whether to join the race to replace Rep. Chris Pappas, a Democrat running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated next year by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Stefany's mother.
Stefany Shaheen, a former Portsmouth City Council member and past chairperson of the city's Police Commission, spoke about the reasons behind her exploring a 2026 run.
'I join so many of my fellow citizens in trying to figure out more about what we can do to stop the chaos and uncertainty and bring stability to our small businesses and New Hampshire families,' Stefany Shaheen said. 'That's what I'm committed to working through in the next few weeks.'
Altschiller, a second-term state senator from Stratham, said constituents have been asking her to run for the First District seat. Altschiller, who previously served three terms in the New Hampshire House of Representatives, stated she will come to a decision in a matter of days.
The state senator kept her comments brief as she weighs a possible run.
'I'm honored to have been considered, and my kitchen cabinet is actively looking at the possibility (of) making that decision in the next week or two,' she said Monday afternoon.
Altschiller represents District 24 in the New Hampshire Senate, which includes Exeter, Greenland, Hampton, Hampton Falls, North Hampton, Stratham and Rye. She serves on the chamber's education, judiciary, and executive departments and administration committees.
Last month, Jeanne Shaheen announced she would not seek a fourth Senate term in 2026, opening the door for Pappas, a third-term congressman, to become the Democratic frontrunner for the seat.
Pappas has served in the U.S. House since 2019. He succeeded former Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, a Democrat, following a competitive 2018 primary.
A former member of New Hampshire's Executive Council, Pappas formally launched his U.S. Senate campaign this month at his family's Manchester restaurant.
Stefany Shaheen endorsed Pappas on Monday, according to an announcement by his team, which noted she will join him on the campaign trail.
Shaheen will reach out to First District stakeholders and residents in the coming weeks to hear what issues matter most. Her decision will come later in the spring.
'I'm humbled by the number of people I've heard from asking me to look carefully at the race,' Shaheen said.
The former city elected official named possible threats to the Obama-era Affordable Care Act, concerns over the status of Medicare and Medicaid and rising costs of prescriptions as areas of concern.
After her eldest child was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, in 2010 Shaheen co-founded Good Measures, a Boston-based nutrition and health services company.
'Ultimately, this is about what voters are experiencing, connecting to voters and listening to concerns people have and making it clear that your experiences, your perspective, and support can be the right set of skills to get the job done,' Stefany Shaheen said. 'That's what's at stake here is really connecting with voters and understanding what fears and concerns they have and applying the experiences I've had to represent them.'
'I expect people will (soon) be getting into the race,' she added. 'If I get in, it is because I'm confident that the experiences I have are uniquely suited to take on the challenges facing the district right now.'
Similar to the 2018 election, the pool for the Democratic and Republican nominations for Pappas' seat looks to be competitive.
Democrat Maura Sullivan, a Marine Corps Iraq war veteran and former Obama administration official, became the first candidate to declare a run for Pappas' seat in an announcement last week. In the 2018 primary, she came in second to Pappas for the nomination to the seat.
'I am stepping up to serve because the issues we are facing aren't Democrat or Republican issues, they're American issues,' Sullivan said in a statement. 'The First Congressional District needs a member of Congress who will help usher in a new generation of leadership focused on lowering costs, investing in economic innovation, and helping to create a sense of security and stability.'
A handful of other locals are in the mix. Both former state senator and 2022 Democratic gubernatorial nominee Tom Sherman, a Rye resident, and Novel Iron Works chief executive officer Hollie Noveletsky, a Republican challenger in the primary last fall, are looking at running.
No Republicans have officially declared candidacy yet for the U.S. Senate seat held by Jeanne Shaheen. Former New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu ruled out a run this month, while former Massachusetts U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, who later served as a Trump administration ambassador, has expressed interest in the Republican nomination.
Editor's note: State Sen. Debra Altschiller, D-Stratham, is the wife of Howard Altschiller, Seacoast Media Group's executive editor.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Stefany Shaheen, Sen. Altschiller explore 2026 race to replace Pappas
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