New Hampshire voters pick nominees as Sen. Shaheen’s exit sparks a scramble for key seats

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — New Hampshire primary voters are choosing candidates for Congress, governor and the 424-seat state Legislature on Tuesday, and incumbents aren’t the only familiar names on the ballot.

U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s decision to not seek reelection created a cascade of competitive races. Two of the eight Republicans hoping to replace the three-term Democrat are former U.S. senators she previously defeated: John E. Sununu and Scott Brown. The five-way race for the Democratic nomination includes U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, whose departure from his 1st Congressional District seat in turn attracted a crowd of candidates.

Shaheen’s daughter, Stefany Shaheen, is among those seeking the Democratic nomination for Pappas' seat, along with former candidate Maura Sullivan. Several other candidates in top races also are making repeat appearances.

Sununu, who spent six years in the U.S. House and one term in the Senate before being ousted by Shaheen in 2008, has this time focused on themes including affordability for housing, healthcare and energy, holding Congress accountable and constituent service.

“I’ve been out of politics for 17 years. I’m not worried about reelection,” he said during a campaign stop last month. “I don’t need an appointment or a job. I don’t need to make anyone happy. I need to do one thing: Stand up for the people of New Hampshire.”

Brown previously represented Massachusetts, where he won a special election in 2010 after the death of Sen. Ted Kennedy before losing in 2012. He unsuccessfully challenged Shaheen in 2014 and served as ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa during President Donald Trump's first term.

In a July interview, he said he decided to run again because New Hampshire Republicans have no representation in Congress and because, in his view, his experience as a veteran, lawmaker, ambassador and grandfather is unmatched.

He accuses Sununu — whose father and younger brother are former governors — of coasting on his name. Sununu also has the backing of Trump, despite having called him “a loser” in 2024, but Brown said that will just make him beholden to the president and other special interests.

“I’m the only truly independent candidate here who can actually vote on anything with a clear conscience and with New Hampshire’s best interests at heart,” Brown said.

Pappas, who is giving up his House seat after four terms, raised twice as much money as Sununu and Brown combined and dwarfed his Democratic primary opponents, as well. He also enjoyed a wide lead in polls, though recently lost some ground to scientist and democratic socialist Karishma Manzur.

Stefany Shaheen and Sullivan are the leading candidates among seven seeking the Democratic nomination in the 1st District.

Shaheen is a former city councilor in Portsmouth. She founded a business to help people with chronic medical conditions after one of her daughters was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. She also is part of a bio-tech initiative in New Hampshire to advance regenerative medicine.

Sullivan is a former Marine and Iraq War veteran who served as an assistant secretary at the Department of Veterans Affairs under President Barack Obama. A vice chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, Sullivan ran for the 1st District seat in 2018, losing in an 11-candidate primary to Pappas in his first congressional bid.

The Republican field of four candidates includes political newcomer Anthony DiLorenzo, who owns a chain of car dealerships and has been endorsed by Trump, and Hollie Noveletsky, a veteran and nurse practitioner who runs a steel fabrication company and ran for the same seat two years ago.

In the 2nd District, first-term Democratic incumbent Rep. Maggie Goodlander faces a primary challenge from Paige Beachemin, a progressive state lawmaker and nurse. The four-person Republican primary field includes Lily Tang Williams, who was the nominee two years ago and is making her third attempt at the seat.

In contrast to the all-Democratic congressional delegation, Republicans dominate state government.

Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte faces two little-known opponents in her primary as she seeks a second two-year term. Cinde Warmington, a healthcare attorney, is unopposed for the Democratic nomination.

Voters also will be nominating candidates for the entire state Legislature, where Republicans hold a roughly 40-vote majority in the 400-member House and outnumber Democrats in the Senate 16-8.

Accustomed to going first when it comes to presidential primaries, New Hampshire is among the last states to hold state-level primary elections, leaving the winners just eight weeks to woo voters before Nov. 3. But that will change in 2026. Legislation passed this year moves future state primaries to the second Tuesday in June.

Former Sen. John E. Sununu, who is seeking the GOP nomination for his old seat, takes a selfie with supporter Sudie Francouer, in Berlin, N.H., Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Holly Ramer)

Former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, a Republican who previously represented Massachusetts and is making his second run for Senate in New Hampshire, addresses voters at an American Legion hall in Londonderry, New Hampshire, on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Holly Ramer)

FILE - Rep. Chris Pappas, D-N.H., speaks during a news conference at the Capitol, April 29, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr., File)

Former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown listens to a voter in Londonderry, New Hampshire, on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, as he campaigns for the GOP nomination for the state’s open Senate seat. (AP Photo/Holly Ramer)

Former Sen. John E. Sununu, who is running for his old seat nearly 18 years after being ousted, mingles with voters at the Coos County Republican Committee BBQ in Berlin, N.H., Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Holly Ramer)

ENSENADA, Mexico (AP) — Three men charged with murder in the 2024 killings of two Australian brothers and an American friend went on trial Monday in Mexico’s Baja California state, court officials said.

The three men are charged with murder and aggravated robbery in the killing of the three people who went missing while camping and surfing at a remote beach in Baja.

Jesús Gerardo García, known as “El Kekas,” and two others identified as Irineo Francisco N. and Ángel Jesús N. appeared in court in the coastal city of Ensenada over the deaths of Callum Ryan Robinson, 33, Jake Martin Robinson, 30 and Jack Carter Rhoad, 30. The surnames of the latter two defendants were withheld in according with Mexican criminal procedure.

Their bodies were found several days later, dumped in a cliff-top shaft with gunshot wounds to their heads.

Martin Robinson, the father of the Australian brothers, attended the hearing with his wife.

“I know they would want us to be here; they would do the same for us,” he told reporters before entering the courthouse.

Prosecutors say the men were killed during an attempt to steal their pickup truck, which was later found burned near their bodies.

García former partner, Silva Raya, was sentenced to 20 years in prison last year after admitting she instigated the robbery to steal the pickup’s tires.

The trial is due to continue Tuesday.

Martin Robinson, the father of Australian brothers Callum and Jake Robinson, leaves a courthouse in Ensenada, Mexico after the trial of men accused of murder in connection with the deaths of two Australians and a U.S. citizen, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Tashiro Malekium)