Stefany Shaheen, a health technology entrepreneur and daughter of retiring U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), is projected to edge out state Democratic Party Vice Chair Maura Sullivan in the fiercely contested primary for New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District. With 90% of precincts reporting, Decision Desk HQ calls the race for Shaheen, who will advance to the November general election for the seat being vacated by Rep. Chris Pappas.
The contest, which featured nine Democratic hopefuls, turned increasingly personal in its final weeks. Sullivan ran an ad labeling Shaheen a "fancy last name" and accused her of feeling "entitled" to voters' support, while Shaheen hit back by highlighting Sullivan's campaign contributions from donors linked to Palantir, a major contractor for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Both issues have proven divisive in Democratic primaries this cycle, as the party grapples with the Trump administration's immigration crackdown and internal disagreements over U.S. policy toward Israel.
Pappas vacated the seat to run for the Senate, setting up a high-profile matchup against former GOP Governor Chris Sununu. That race, along with the gubernatorial contest, has drawn national attention to the Granite State. The Pappas-Sununu face-off is expected to be one of the most competitive Senate races in the country.
On the Republican side, car dealership owner Anthony DiLorenzo and businesswoman Hollie Noveletsky have led in polling for the GOP nomination. DiLorenzo, who has Trump's endorsement, faces an uphill battle in a district that DDHQ rates as "likely" to remain Democratic in November.
Shaheen's victory adds her to a growing list of candidates this year who have followed a family member into politics. In Texas, Republican Trever Nehls won a primary for his brother's seat, and Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-Texas) won a special election to succeed her late father. Michael Alfonso, son-in-law of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, is also running for a House seat in Wisconsin.
However, not all "nepo" candidates have succeeded. Jack Schlossberg, grandson of President John F. Kennedy, lost his House bid in New York. Jonathan Bush, nephew of the late President George H.W. Bush, and Angus King III, son of Senator Angus King (I-Maine), both failed in their primary bids for Maine governor.
Shaheen's win sets up a general election battle that could shape the balance of power in the narrowly divided House. With the primary race now settled, attention shifts to the fall campaign, where Democrats hope to hold onto a seat that has become a bellwether for suburban voters.
The New Hampshire primary results also underscore the broader national trends within the Democratic Party, as progressive and establishment factions continue to clash over key issues. The outcome in NH-01 could offer clues about the party's direction heading into the 2026 midterms.
