New Hampshire Holds Primary Elections for Governor, U.S. Senate and House Races
New Hampshire held primary elections on September 8, 2026, with voters selecting party nominees for governor, U.S. Senate, and two congressional districts. The primaries set the stage for competitive general election contests in November across multiple statewide races.
Gubernatorial Race
In the Republican gubernatorial primary, incumbent Governor Kelly Ayotte faced challenges from Shaun Fife, Bob McClory, and write-in candidates as she sought her party's nomination for a second two-year term. Ayotte, who won the 2024 gubernatorial election by 9.34%, previously served as U.S. Senator from New Hampshire from 2011 to 2017 and as the state's Attorney General from 2004 to 2009 before becoming governor in 2025.
The Democratic primary featured Cinde Warmington running uncontested for her party's nomination. Warmington previously served on the New Hampshire Executive Council from 2021 to 2025 and ran unsuccessfully in the 2024 Democratic gubernatorial primary, losing to Joyce Craig. New Hampshire governors serve two-year terms with no term limits, explaining why this election occurs just two years after Ayotte's initial victory.
U.S. Senate Contest
The U.S. Senate race drew significant attention as incumbent Senator Jeanne Shaheen announced her retirement after three terms, making this the first open Senate seat in New Hampshire since 2010. The Democratic primary featured a crowded field including U.S. Representative Chris Pappas, David Jarvis, Karishma Manzur, Maxwell Saal, and John Vail.
Pappas has represented New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House since 2018 and was the first openly gay member of Congress elected from New Hampshire. If elected to the Senate, he would be the first openly gay male U.S. senator.
The Republican Senate primary included former Senator John Sununu, former Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown, Tom Alciere, Sky Danley, Andy Martin, Mary Maxwell, Richard McMenamon, and Sabrina Smith. Sununu previously represented New Hampshire in the Senate from 2003 to 2009, losing his re-election bid to Shaheen in 2008.
Brown served as U.S. Senator from Massachusetts from 2010 to 2013 and as U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa during President Trump's first administration. He lost to Shaheen in the 2014 New Hampshire Senate race after relocating to the state.
Republicans have not won a U.S. Senate election in New Hampshire since 2010, when Kelly Ayotte won her Senate seat, underscoring the challenge facing GOP candidates in November's general election.
Congressional Races
In New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District, the Democratic primary included Carleigh Beriont, Sarah Chadzynski, Bill Conlin, Matthew Emerson, Heath Howard, Stefany Shaheen, Sarah Spinosa, Maura Sullivan, and Christian Urrutia. The Republican primary featured Lindsey Anderson, Melissa Bailey, Brian Cole, Anthony DiLorenzo, and Hollie Noveletsky.
For the 2nd Congressional District, Democrats chose between Paige Beauchemin and Maggie Goodlander, while Republicans selected from Michael Callis, Dan Nicholson, Victor Orlando, and Lily Tang Williams.
Polls closed at varying times across New Hampshire counties, with election officials beginning to report results as vote counting progressed throughout the evening of September 8.
