Stefany Shaheen won the Democratic primary in New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District early Wednesday morning, putting her in line to carry Democrats into the race for an open House seat that could help decide control of the House of Representatives.
The win settles a crowded contest that drew eight contenders beyond Shaheen and gives Democrats a nominee in a district they have treated as one of their clearest pickup opportunities. Chris Pappas, who has represented the seat since 2019, is leaving the House to run for the U.S. Senate, creating the opening that made this primary so closely watched.
For Shaheen, the victory also lands in the middle of a family name that has shaped New Hampshire politics for years. Jeanne Shaheen announced last March that she would not seek reelection and later endorsed her daughter, but Stefany Shaheen has tried to make the campaign about her own record, pointing to the business she started, her work on the Portsmouth City Council and her focus on affordable health care and clean water.
That balance mattered because the field was not built around one clear front-runner. Maura Sullivan brought military and federal experience, Carleigh Beriont ran as a progressive organizer, and Christian Urrutia entered as an Army National Guard officer and international law attorney before dropping out and backing Shaheen. The result showed that personal biography and local ties mattered as much as the broader Democratic brand in a race with a lot of name recognition and not much room for error.
The next test is the general election, where Shaheen will try to hold the seat for Democrats without the benefit of an open primary anymore. Pappas won reelection last time by defeating Russell Prescott 54.0% to 45.9%, a reminder that this district can be competitive even when Democrats are favored. What is not yet clear is how much the primary winner can expand beyond the party base now that the campaign shifts from choosing a nominee to defending a seat Democrats cannot afford to lose.
