Jeanne Shaheen Joins Growing List of Democrats Leaving Their Long-Held Senate Seats Vulnerable to Republicans

New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen joined on Wednesday the growing list of those who won't be seeking re-election in 2026.

Of the four senators who made such announcements, three are Democrats, the others being Gary Peters of Michigan and Tina Smith of Minnesota. Mitch McConnell is so far the only Republican who won't pursue staying in his seat next year.

Shaheen made the announcement through a social media post: "It's just time," she said during a passage of the video, in which she clarified she won't be retiring.

"I am determined to work every day over the next two years and beyond to make a difference for the people of NH and this country. Thank you, New Hampshire. Listening to your stories and working with you on the tough fights has been the honor of a lifetime," Shaheen finished.

The announcement comes shortly after a poll by the NH Journal showed that a majority of voters in the state, including about half of Democrats, expressed concern about her age ahead of a potential fourth term. The poll showed that voters also support term limits for members of Congress.

Shaheen turned 78 in February and would have been over 80 at the beginning of a potential fourth term after the 2026 election. Over 60 percent of respondents said they would be either "extremely" or "somewhat" concerned about her ability to serve voters at that age. Just 16 percent said they wouldn't have been concerned at all.

Gary Peters made his announcement in January, a surprise for colleagues and pundits. The 66-year-old's unexpected decision came after just two terms in the Senate and is set to pose a challenge for Democrats in Michigan during a turbulent period.

Likewise, Democratic Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota shared in February she would not seek reelection despite being an early-favorite for the contest. In a video on social media, Smith noted that while she enjoyed her role, she is "ready to spend more time with my family," adding that her grandchildren and children moved to Minneapolis and that her father is turning 95 years old this summer.

The recent announcements likely make it more difficult for Democrats to gain back control of the Senate during the midterms. Republicans currently hold a 53-to-47 advantage in the Senate, and Democrats are considered to have little opportunity to gain seats beyond those held by Senator Susan Collins of Maine and Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina.

The number of senators who have announced their retirements is now higher than where it was at this point in the 2024 and 2020 election cycles, according to Ballotpedia. However, this number is less than it was at this point in the 2022 cycle and more than it was at this point in the 2018 cycle.