Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire announced Wednesday that she would not seek re-election in 2026, giving Republicans another opportunity to grow their Senate majority.
Shaheen has served in the Senate since 2009, flipping the previously red seat blue. Shaheen had also previously served as governor and in the state Senate.
'New Hampshire has a proud tradition of electing common-sense Republicans—and will do so again in 2026!'
"Today, after careful consideration, I'm announcing that I have made the difficult decision not to seek re-election to the Senate in 2026," Shaheen said in a statement Wednesday. "There are urgent challenges ahead, both here at home and around the world. And while I'm not seeking re-election — believe me — I am not retiring."
Although both Senate seats have been held by Democrats for the last few elections, New Hampshire has elected Republican governors since 2016, and Republicans have held on to a majority in the state Senate. Given the strong Republican voting presence in the state, the GOP has the opportunity to flip another key Senate seat.
"Another one!" Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina said in a statement Wednesday. "Shaheen's retirement is welcome news for Granite Staters eager for new leadership. New Hampshire has a proud tradition of electing common-sense Republicans—and will do so again in 2026!"
Republicans flipped four Democrat-held Senate seats in 2024, electing Republican Sens. Tim Sheehy of Montana, Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania, Bernie Moreno of Ohio, and Jim Justice of West Virginia. This leaves Republicans with a comfortable 53-seat majority to work with.
There has also been some speculation about a potential senatorial run by Republican former Gov. Chris Sununu. Although Sununu has been a past critic of President Donald Trump, he has since warmed up to the party leader and even endorsed him in 2024.
“I have not ruled it out completely, but folks in Washington have asked me to think about it and to consider it, and that is just kind of where I am,” Sununu told the New Hampshire Journal on Tuesday.
“I like getting stuff done,” Sununu said. “I don’t think they could handle me down there. I’d be like a lion in a cage.”
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A New Hampshire police officer — allegedly known as "Officer Sexy" — is facing child porn charges, according to reports.
John Giarrusso — a 48-year-old officer with the Seabrook Police Department — was arrested by cops with the Haverhill Police Department on Monday in Haverhill, Massachusetts.
Giarrusco allegedly claimed he was known as 'Officer Sexy' to the 'girls in town.'
Giarusso was charged with felony counts of possession of child pornography, distributing material of a child in the nude, and disseminating obscene matter to a minor, according to court records reviewed by Boston.com.
Giarrusso was reportedly released after posting $100,000 cash bail.
Giarusso purportedly pleaded not guilty to the charges during his arraignment on Monday.
The Seabrook Police Department placed Giarusso on administrative leave.
The Seabrook Police Department said in a statement, "While the Seabrook Police Department adheres to the principle that those accused of crimes are innocent until proven guilty, given the nature of the accused crimes, the Department immediately placed Ofc. Giarrusso on administrative leave."
"The Seabrook Police Department strives to uphold the highest standards of conduct in our staff both on and off duty," the police department stated. "Allegations of criminal conduct against a law enforcement officer are taken seriously and will be dealt with swiftly and appropriately. We will continue to cooperate with Haverhill Police investigators and monitor this case as it moves forward."
The Seabrook Police Department declined to offer more details on the case.
WCVB-TV reported that the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a tip regarding a potential crime.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reportedly determined that the IP address and social media accounts were linked to Giarrusso.
Citing the criminal complaint, WCVB-TV reported that Giarusso allegedly uploaded "several videos to the messaging app Kik that show children being molested and raped by adults."
The news outlet added that Giarusso's "IP address and social media accounts linked to his name and date of birth were used in sending and receiving graphic messages about having sex with children as young as 6, according to the ICAC's investigation outlined in a criminal complaint."
WCVB-TV also alleged that Giarrusso "engaged in graphic conversations with other Kik users about arranging to have sex with their wives, young daughters, and stepdaughters," ICAC said.
ICAC said its investigation revealed that during his role as a police officer, Giarrusso participated in fundraising for “child-focused facilities that help abused children heal by coordinating the investigation and treatment of child sexual abuse.”
Citing the Seabrook Police Department's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, People magazine reported that Giarrusco allegedly claimed he was known as “Officer Sexy” to the “girls in town."
Giarrusso's wife reportedly declined to give a comment on the situation.
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New Hampshire 2nd Congressional District candidate Lily Tang Williams delivered a blistering assault on Thursday against her opponent, Maggie Goodlander.
Goodlander is a former Biden administration Department of Justice official. She is married to national security adviser Jake Sullivan.
During a Thursday debate, Goodlander accused Tang Williams of catering to the wealthiest Americans by supporting tax breaks.
'You pretend you are poor.'
"She believes that we should give a break to the wealthiest and the biggest corporations and hope for the best, hope that the results will trickle down to hardworking people," Goodlander stated.
"I take a very different approach. I believe that the middle class deserves a tax cut, and I believe that we will do a lot for this country by ensuring that we don't continue this disastrous tax policy," she added.
Without missing a beat, Tang Williams fired back, accusing Goodlander of being a multimillionaire herself who is out of touch with the struggles of everyday Americans.
"You are wealthy. You're worth $20 million to $30 million. How do you know about regular people's suffering? Do you go shopping? Go to Walmart? Buy food? I talk to those people. And you pretend to be a renter in Nashua a few months ago, move back to run for this open seat with millions of dollars from Washington, D.C., insiders," Tang Williams told Goodlander.
Goodlander rents an apartment in Nashua. If she wins the election, she has stated she will purchase property in the district, according to the New Hampshire Center for Public Interest Journalism.
"I don't have money to run a TV ad, and you pretend you are poor, complain rent is so high," Tang Williams continued. "You do not understand regular people's concerns."
"Just go back to your $2 million home in Portsmouth," she remarked. "You do not understand regular people's concerns."
Tang Williams' fiery rebuttal went viral on social media.
According to the Daily Beast and the New York Times, Goodlander and Sullivan purchased a $1.2 million home in Portsmouth in 2018.
Earlier this year, Goodlander was torched for complaining that rent costs are "too damn high" while holding millions of dollars in real estate.
Tang Williams was raised in China during Mao Zedong's cultural revolution. She came to the United States with only $100 and became a citizen in 1994.
Following the viral debate moment, Tang Williams posted on X, "I have the fire in my belly to fight for the people in #NH02. I will always tell the truth."
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Former President Donald Trump has pulled ahead of Vice President Kamala Harris in New Hampshire, according to a New Hampshire Journal/Praecones Analytica poll released Sunday. The last time a Republican presidential candidate won New Hampshire was over two decades ago, when George W. Bush was running in 2000.
Trump has managed to gain momentum in the longtime blue state, polling at 50.2% while Harris trails at 49.8%, according to the poll. Although Trump's lead is slim, this poll may sound the alarm for Democrats who have otherwise dominated the state in seven of the last eight presidential elections.
'She's on defense and knows President Trump is on the path to victory.'
Trump previously lost the state to President Joe Biden in 2020 by 7.3% and to Hillary Clinton in 2016 by 0.3%. In 2012 and 2008, former President Barack Obama won the state by 5.6% and 9.6%, respectively.
"There's a reason Kamala Harris has been spending money in New Hampshire," Karoline Leavitt, a Trump campaign spokeswoman and New Hampshire native, told the New Hampshire Journal. "She's on defense and knows President Trump is on the path to victory."
Nearly half of adults in New Hampshire, 44%, self-identify as Democratic or Democratic-leaning voters, while just 35% self-identify as Republican or Republican-leaning and 20% self-identify as having no partisan leaning, according to a Pew Research study. Despite having more Democratic-leaning voters, Trump is pulling ahead of Harris, likely due to a growing favorability among independents.
"To my fellow Granite Staters who want to keep our beautiful state safe, business-friendly, and free — get out and vote for President Trump," Leavitt told the New Hampshire Journal. "Kamala is a radical liberal who would destroy New Hampshire and America forever."
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New Hampshire Republicans are projected to maintain trifecta control of state government heading into 2025.
Republicans scored significant wins in state legislative races last week imperative to implementing a conservative agenda.
thefederalist.com