Jeanne Shaheen is a Democratic senator from New Hampshire. She was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2008 after serving three terms as the state’s governor from 1997 to 2003 — the first woman in U.S. history to be elected both governor and U.S. senator of the same state.
Born January 28, 1947, in St. Charles, Missouri, Shaheen earned her bachelor’s from Shippensburg University and a master’s from the University of Mississippi. She moved to New Hampshire in the 1970s, worked as a teacher, ran a small business with her husband, and became active in state and national politics.
In Washington, Shaheen is known as an deal-maker Democrat: center-left on economics and climate, pro-choice, fairly hawkish on national security, and focused on pragmatic deliverables for New Hampshire — especially veterans’ services, small business support, and energy costs.
Establishment Democrat
Achievements
- First woman elected governor of New Hampshire (1996) and first woman elected U.S. senator from New Hampshire (2008)
- Worked on clean energy incentives and energy efficiency to lower costs for homeowners and small businesses
- Expanded export assistance and small business support programs to help New Hampshire manufacturers compete globally
- Consistent advocate for reproductive rights, veterans' healthcare access, and protecting the Affordable Care Act
Controversies
- Criticized by progressives for backing more incremental, bipartisan compromises on health care and spending
- Faced pushback for supporting certain trade and defense positions seen as too aligned with establishment foreign policy
- Sometimes walks a line between environmental protections and business competitiveness in an energy-price-sensitive state
Top Donors
| Donor | Total | Individuals | PACs |
|---|---|---|---|
| EMILY's List | $1,388,205 | $1,363,853 | $24,352 |
| State of New Hampshire | $153,136 | $153,136 | $0 |
| JStreetPAC | $148,422 | $147,277 | $1,145 |
| League of Conservation Voters | $148,191 | $131,484 | $16,707 |
| Harvard University | $135,876 | $135,876 | $0 |
Numbers reflect donor-linked giving. Includes issue/advocacy PACs, unions, and university-affiliated donors.
Recent Elections
2008 Margin D +6%
2014 Margin D +3%
2020 Margin D +15%