Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire announced Wednesday that she will not run for another term, making her the third sitting Senate Democrat to opt for retirement rather than running in 2026.

Shaheen, 78, released a video announcing her decision not to run, ending speculation about her uncertain political future and capping off a decades-long career that saw her become the first woman elected governor and senator of a state.

“Today, after careful consideration, I’m announcing that I have made the difficult decision not to seek reelection to the Senate in 2026,” Shaheen said. “It’s just time.”

Shaheen insisted she is not retiring from politics and will continue to fight for her constituents for the remainder of her term.

“I am determined to work every day over the next two years and beyond, to continue to try and make a difference for the people of New Hampshire and this country,” Shaheen said.

Given her seat in a key New England swing state, Shaheen’s retirement will complicate Democrats’ efforts to retake the Senate in the upcoming midterm elections.

Serving in her third term, Shaheen is ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and sits on the Armed Services Committee. She is also a member of the Appropriations Committee and Small Business Committee.

Before joining the Senate, Shaheen served three terms as New Hampshire governor from 1996-2002, until she ran for Senate and lost to Republican John Sununu. Shaheen challenged John Sununu again six years later, defeating him in 2008 to flip the state’s Senate seat on the heels of former President Barack Obama’s resounding electoral victory.

Shaheen began her career as a Democratic campaign operative and New Hampshire state senator. She worked at the Harvard Institute of Politics between her gubernatorial and Senate tenures. Shaheen and her husband have three children and seven grandchildren.

Shaheen was considered one of the most vulnerable Democratic incumbents in 2026, a midterm cycle that includes competitive Senate battles in Michigan, North Carolina, and Georgia. She is the third Senate Democrat to vacate their Senate seat after Michigan Democrat Gary Peters and Minnesota Democrat Tina Smith. Peters and Smith each announced earlier this year that they will not be running for reelection.

A poll taken earlier this month by the New Hampshire Journal found former four-term GOP New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu was leading Shaheen by 9 points, with 60 percent of respondents expressing concerns about Shaheen’s age.

It is unclear if Chris Sununu, a moderate Republican who previously weighed a presidential bid, will run for the open Senate seat. Sununu said Tuesday he has not ruled out running for the Senate as Washington Republicans urge him to throw his hat into the ring, the Washington Times reported.

If Sununu decides to run, he would immediately make New Hampshire’s Senate seat one of the most competitive nationwide. His consistently high approval ratings and well-established family name would instantly compel Democrats to spend much more resources fighting to keep Shaheen’s seat blue.

Republicans currently hold a 53-47 Senate majority and Senate Democrats will likely remain in the minority after the 2026 midterms. The GOP reclaimed the Senate in 2024 alongside President Donald Trump’s decisive win over former Vice President Kamala Harris.