Five candidates are running in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate in New Hampshire on Sept. 8, 2026. Incumbent U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) is retiring from public office. Karishma Manzur (D) and Chris Pappas (D) lead in polls, fundraising, and media attention.
According to Spectrum News 1 Worcester's Donovan Lynch, there is an ideological divide between Manzur and Pappas. Lynch described Manzur as a progressive and Pappas as a moderate.
As of Aug. 19, 2026, Pappas has raised $15,384,657, and Manzur has raised $415,081. Lynch wrote that "Even so, progressive Democrats have recently notched primary victories over better-funded establishment candidates in places like Florida, where state Rep. Angie Nixon pulled off a stunning upset over a moderate and former national security official Alex Vindman earlier this month."
