NH Journal

A year after entering the race as the presumed favorite, Stefany Shaheen won a narrow victory over Maura Sullivan in the NH-01 Democratic primary. The Associated Press called the race at 12:35 a.m. Wednesday for Shaheen, the daughter of retiring U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen. With more than 95 percent of the vote counted, returns showed Stefany Shaheen with 37 percent, compared to Sullivan’s 35 percent.

New Hampshire Democrats avoided the sort of socialist-candidate shocker that’s shaken Senate races in Michigan and Florida, but the party is far from unified after Chris Pappas’ win Tuesday night. After losing to the four-term congressman 65-33 percent, first-time candidate Karishma Manzur declined to endorse Pappas in the general election. Instead, she told supporters it was up to Pappas to earn their support. “We cannot let John Sununu win in November, and we cannot empower Donald Trump.

American politicians often quote Lincoln, Reagan or FDR in their campaign speeches. But when John E. Sununu addressed his supporters after Tuesday night’s decisive win in the GOP U.S. Senate primary, he quoted an often-overlooked political philosopher: Mike Tyson. “The famous Mike Tyson said, ‘Any time, any place,’” Sununu said. “We’ve got ten counties in New Hampshire. I say ten debates. Chris — I’m ready.” That was Sununu’s challenge to Democratic nominee U.S. Rep.

The Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed, reaped the benefits of his months-long bromance with Hasan Piker, the extremist social media influencer with more than 1 million Twitch followers, when he won the Democratic nomination last month. After months of joint campaign events, there has finally been pressure on El-Sayed to distance himself from Piker in the general election.

With three recent polls showing her daughter trailing in Tuesday’s NH-01 Democratic primary, U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen appeared to make light of the “nepo baby” criticism of Stefany Shaheen’s candidacy with a joke. Speaking at the New Hampshire AFL-CIO Labor Day Breakfast on Monday, Shaheen made some introductions. “My husband Billy is here, and so is our daughter Stefany. We’re so proud of her. You know, I’ve got the whole dynasty with me this morning.” The room remained silent after the remark.

Nina Turner came to New Hampshire Monday to campaign for U.S. Senate candidate Karishma Manzur — and left the door open to returning as a presidential candidate herself. “First of all, me,” the former national co-chair of Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign told NHJournal when asked who should carry the progressive banner in 2028. Turner also blasted the Democratic National Committee for stripping New Hampshire of its first-in-the-nation status.

A lifelong New Hampshire resident, heir to the famous Puritan Backroom and already worth $4.4 million, Congressman Chris Pappas has invited the Democratic Socialists into our state. In a last-minute effort to secure his primary victory, Pappas welcomed some of the most radical members of the left, calling this an “existential moment.” Instead of supporting our Constitution, he called on Democrats to unite and stand up against President Donald Trump.

The New Hampshire AFL-CIO’s annual Labor Day Breakfast in Manchester was a bipartisan affair, but the political rhetoric served alongside the bacon and eggs came from the progressive side of the political menu. From single-payer Medicare for All and taxing the rich to passing the federal PRO Act, which would override state right-to-work laws, the Democrats at the microphone celebrating Labor Day sometimes made it sound more like May Day.

The Monday Memo is a mix of reporting, rumors, analysis, and unkind comments compiled from various sources and provided for your entertainment and enlightenment each Monday. Reader discretion is advised. To paraphrase the 2008 film “Tropic Thunder,” never go full Darline Graham. But that’s just what New Hampshire’s Democratic Party did this weekend in the NH-01 primary. U.S. Sen.

One started with a paper route. Another spent a summer cutting up cod in a fish market. All say they’re the best candidates to represent Granite State workers in Washington. With the Sept. 8 primary almost here, NHJournal asked candidates in New Hampshire’s congressional races two Labor Day questions: Why are you the best candidate for workers, and what was the toughest job you ever had? Their answers revealed sharp ideological differences over what Granite State workers need from Washington.