View source for Jeanne Shaheen

{{Short description|American politician (born 1947)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name                = Jeanne Shaheen
|image               = Shaheen Senate Portrait.jpg
|caption             = Official portrait, 2021
|jr/sr               = United States Senator
|state               = [[New Hampshire]]
|alongside           = [[Maggie Hassan]]
|term_start          = January 3, 2009
|term_end            = 
|predecessor         = [[John E. Sununu|John Sununu]]
{{Collapsed infobox section begin|Senate positions|titlestyle=border: 1px dashed lightgrey;}}
{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes
|office2             = Ranking Member of the [[United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations|Senate Foreign Relations Committee]]
|term_start2         = January 3, 2025
|term_end2           = 
|predecessor2        = [[Jim Risch]]
|successor2          = 
|office4             = Chair of the [[United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship|Senate Small Business Committee]]
|term_start4         = September 27, 2023
|term_end4           = January 3, 2025
|predecessor4        = [[Ben Cardin]]
|successor4          = [[Joni Ernst]]
|office5             = Ranking Member of the  [[United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship|Senate Small Business Committee]]
|term_start5         = April 2, 2015
|term_end5           = February 6, 2018
|predecessor5        = Ben Cardin
|successor5          = Ben Cardin
}}
{{Collapsed infobox section end}}
|office4             = 78th [[Governor of New Hampshire]]
|term_start4         = January 9, 1997
|term_end4           = January 9, 2003
|predecessor4        = [[Steve Merrill]]
|successor4          = [[Craig Benson]]
|state_senate5       = New Hampshire
|district5           = [[New Hampshire's 21st State Senate district|21st]]
|term_start5         = December 5, 1990
|term_end5           = December 4, 1996
|predecessor5        = Franklin Torr
|successor5          = [[Katie Wheeler]]
|birth_name          = Cynthia Jeanne Bowers
|birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1947|1|28}}
|birth_place         = [[St. Charles, Missouri]], U.S.
|death_date          = 
|death_place         = 
|party               = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|spouse              = {{marriage|William Shaheen|1972}}
|children            = 3
|education           = [[Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania|Shippensburg University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[University of Mississippi]] ([[Master of Social Science|MSS]])
|signature           = SignatureJeanneShaheen.png
|website             = {{url|shaheen.senate.gov|Senate website}}<br>{{url|jeanneshaheen.org|Campaign website}}
|module      = {{Listen
|pos         = center
|embed       = yes
|filename    = Jeanne Shaheen on her support of Julianne Smith to be U.S. Ambassador to NATO.ogg
|title       = Shaheen's voice
|type        = speech
|description = Shaheen supporting [[Julianne Smith]] for [[United States Ambassador to NATO|U.S. Ambassador to NATO]].<br>Recorded November 18, 2021}}
}}
'''Cynthia Jeanne Shaheen''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|dʒ|iː|n|_|ʃ|ə|ˈ|h|iː|n}} {{Respell|JEEN|_|shə|HEEN}}; née '''Bowers''', born January 28, 1947) is an American politician and former educator serving since 2009 as the [[Seniority in the United States Senate|senior]] [[United States Senate|United States senator]] from [[New Hampshire]]. A member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], she served from 1997 to 2003 as the [[List of governors of New Hampshire|78th governor of New Hampshire]]. Shaheen is the first woman elected both [[Governor (United States)|governor]] and a U.S. senator, and was the first female governor of New Hampshire.<ref>{{cite news |author=Katharine Q. Seelye |date=1 January 2013 |title=From Congress to Halls of State, in New Hampshire, Women Rule |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/02/us/politics/from-congress-to-halls-of-state-in-new-hampshire-women-rule.html |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>

After serving two terms in the [[New Hampshire Senate]], Shaheen was elected governor in [[1996 New Hampshire gubernatorial election|1996]] and reelected in [[1998 New Hampshire gubernatorial election|1998]] and [[2000 New Hampshire gubernatorial election|2000]]. In [[2002 United States Senate election in New Hampshire|2002]], she unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate against [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee [[John E. Sununu]]. She served as director of the [[Harvard Institute of Politics]] before resigning to run for the U.S. Senate again in the [[2008 United States Senate election in New Hampshire|2008 election]], defeating Sununu in a rematch. She has been the dean of [[United States congressional delegations from New Hampshire|New Hampshire’s congressional delegation]] since 2011, when Senator [[Judd Gregg]] retired.

Shaheen became the first Democratic senator from New Hampshire since [[John A. Durkin]]. In [[2014 United States Senate election in New Hampshire|2014]], she became the second Democrat from New Hampshire to be reelected to the Senate since [[Thomas J. McIntyre]] in [[1972 United States Senate election in New Hampshire|1972]]. She was reelected in [[2020 United States Senate election in New Hampshire|2020]]. On March 12, 2025, she announced that she would not seek reelection in [[2026 United States Senate election in New Hampshire|2026]].
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==Early life and education==
Jeanne Shaheen was born Cynthia Jeanne Bowers in [[St. Charles, Missouri]], the daughter of Belle Ernestine (Stillings) and Ivan E. Bowers.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/senators/shaheen.htm |title=Shaheen |access-date=January 5, 2012 |archive-date=August 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818165039/http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/senators/shaheen.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=July 2021}}

Shaheen graduated from high school in [[Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania]], and earned a bachelor's degree in English from [[Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania]] and a master's degree in political science from the [[University of Mississippi]].<ref name="10things">{{cite magazine|title=10 Things You Didn't Know About Jeanne Shaheen|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2008/11/04/ten-things-you-didnt-know-about-jeanne-shaheen|access-date=September 8, 2014|magazine=U.S. News & World Report|date=November 8, 2008}}</ref> She taught high school in [[Mississippi]]<ref>{{cite news|last1=McCord|first1=Michael|title=Q&A with attorney/political activist Billy Shaheen|url=http://www.nhbr.com/June-14-2013/Q-A-with-attorney-political-activist-Billy-Shaheen/|access-date=September 8, 2014|work=New Hampshire Business Review|date=June 14, 2013}}</ref> and moved to New Hampshire in 1973, where she also taught school.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Sen. Shaheen Campaign Rips 'Defamatory' Attempt to Link Her to 34-Year-Old Felony |url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/new-hampshire/2014/09/20/sen-shaheen-campaign-rips-defamatory-attempt-link-her-year-old-felony/ACdphCpXMe3Zwqy4UupYZK/story.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20160105180255/http://www.boston.com/news/local/new-hampshire/2014/09/20/sen-shaheen-campaign-rips-defamatory-attempt-link-her-year-old-felony/ACdphCpXMe3Zwqy4UupYZK/story.html |archive-date=2016-01-05 |access-date=2025-03-31 |work=Boston.com}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Shaheen is married to William Shaheen, an attorney and judge. They have three children together. Their daughter Stefany Shaheen is a candidate for [[New Hampshire's 1st congressional district]] in [[2026 United States House of Representatives elections in New Hampshire|2026]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-11-10 |title=Democrats Are So Angry, One Senator Faces Blowback From Her Daughter |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/us/politics/jeanne-shaheen-stefany-shutdown-deal.html |access-date=2025-11-17 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en}}</ref> She publicly opposed her mother's position on the [[2025 United States federal government shutdown|2025 federal government shutdown]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Zac |title=Congress candidate blasts shutdown deal approved by her mom |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/11/10/jeanne-shaheen-stefany-shaheen-shutdown-deal-democrat-divide/87193420007/ |access-date=2025-11-17 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref> 

Jeanne and William Shaheen formerly owned a store in New Hampshire that sold used jewelry.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Sen. Shaheen Campaign Rips 'Defamatory' Attempt to Link Her to 34-Year-Old Felony |url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/new-hampshire/2014/09/20/sen-shaheen-campaign-rips-defamatory-attempt-link-her-year-old-felony/ACdphCpXMe3Zwqy4UupYZK/story.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20160105180255/http://www.boston.com/news/local/new-hampshire/2014/09/20/sen-shaheen-campaign-rips-defamatory-attempt-link-her-year-old-felony/ACdphCpXMe3Zwqy4UupYZK/story.html |archive-date=2016-01-05 |access-date=2025-03-31 |work=Boston.com}}</ref> In June 2025, the [[United States Department of Homeland Security|Department of Homeland Security]] (DHS) published a press release alleging that Senator Shaheen intervened to remove her husband from enhanced [[Transportation Security Administration]] (TSA) scrutiny. After she contacted TSA, he was reportedly removed from the list and exempted from enhanced screening. DHS characterized this as evidence of politicization in the Biden administration's watchlisting process and accused the program of being used to benefit political allies.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 4, 2025 |title=DHS Unearths TSA Corruption: Sitting US Senator’s Husband Received Blanket Exemption from National Security Review After Traveling with Known or Suspected Terrorist |url=https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/06/04/dhs-unearths-tsa-corruption-sitting-us-senators-husband-received-blanket-exemption |access-date=October 25, 2025 |website=Homeland Security}}</ref>

==Early political career==
As a [[United States Democratic Party|Democrat]], she worked on several campaigns, including Jimmy Carter's 1976 presidential campaign, and as the New Hampshire campaign manager for [[Gary Hart]] in 1984,<ref>{{cite web |last=Lyman |first=Rick |date=January 25, 2004 |title=Power Broker Navigates The Currents Of Her State |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/25/us/2004-campaign-kerry-campaign-power-broker-navigates-currents-her-state.html |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=June 6, 2014}}</ref> before running for office in 1990, when she was elected to the [[New Hampshire Senate|state Senate]] for the [[New Hampshire's 21st State Senate District|21st district]]. She was elected [[governor of New Hampshire]] in 1996 and reelected in 1998 and 2000.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jeanne Shaheen (D)|url=http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/S001181|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=September 8, 2014}}</ref>

In April 2005, Shaheen was named director of Harvard's Institute of Politics,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bhayani|first1=Paras|title=Shaheen Resigns from Institute of Politics|url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2007/9/14/shaheen-resigns-from-institute-of-politics/|access-date=September 8, 2014|newspaper=Harvard Crimson|date=September 14, 2007}}</ref> succeeding former U.S. Representative and Secretary of Agriculture [[Dan Glickman]].

==Governor of New Hampshire==
Shaheen's decision to run for New Hampshire governor followed the retirement of Republican Governor [[Steve Merrill]]. Her opponent in 1996 was [[Ovide M. Lamontagne]], then chairman of the State Board of Education. Shaheen presented herself as a moderate. According to a PBS profile, she focused on education funding issues, and pledged to expand kindergarten. She defeated Lamontagne by 57 to 40 percent.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/vote2002/races/nh_shaheen.html |title=Gov. Jeanne Shaheen |website=[[PBS]] |access-date=2003-02-28 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030228114028/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/vote2002/races/nh_shaheen.html |archive-date=February 28, 2003 }}. Retrieved April 16, 2008.</ref>

Shaheen was the first woman to be elected governor of New Hampshire.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Brand|first1=Anna|title='30 in 30': Women candidates to watch in 2014 – Jeanne Shaheen|url=https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/women-candidates-watch-2014-jeanne-shaheen|access-date=September 8, 2014|publisher=MSNBC|date=August 12, 2014}}</ref> (She was not, however, the first woman to serve as New Hampshire's governor; [[Vesta M. Roy]] was acting governor from December 30, 1982, until January 6, 1983.)<ref>{{cite news|title=Vesta Roy, 76, New Hampshire Ex-Governor|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/22/us/vesta-roy-76-new-hampshire-ex-governor.html|access-date=September 8, 2014|newspaper=New York Times|date=February 22, 2002}}</ref>

In 1998, she was reelected by a margin of 66 to 31 percent.<ref>[http://graphics.boston.com/news/politics/campaign2000/news/Shaheen_survives_heated_Humphrey_challenge+.shtml Shaheen survives heated Humphrey challenge]. Retrieved April 16, 2008.</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=THE 1998 ELECTIONS: THE STATES – RESULTS; The Races for Governor|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/05/us/the-1998-elections-the-states-results-the-races-for-governor.html|access-date=September 8, 2014|newspaper=New York Times|date=November 5, 1998}}</ref>

In both 1996 and 1998, Shaheen took a no-new-taxes pledge. After a court decision preventing education from being largely supported by local taxes, "her administration devised a plan that would have increased education spending and set a statewide property tax."<ref>[http://graham.main.nc.us/~alanb/Clips/nyt/NHlaw.txt The 'Live Free or Die' State in a Tough Spot on Taxes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927200456/http://graham.main.nc.us/~alanb/Clips/nyt/NHlaw.txt |date=September 27, 2007 }}. Retrieved April 16, 2008.</ref>

Running for a third term in 2000, Shaheen refused to renew her no-new-taxes pledge, becoming the first New Hampshire governor in 38 years to win an election without making that pledge.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Corwin|first1=Emily|title=A History Of The Pledge|url=http://stateimpact.npr.org/new-hampshire/2012/10/10/a-history-of-the-pledge/|access-date=September 8, 2014|publisher=National Public Radio|date=October 10, 2012}}</ref> Shaheen's preferred solution to the school-funding problem was not a broad-based tax but legalized video-gambling at state racetracks—a solution repeatedly rejected by the state legislature.<ref>[http://graphics.boston.com/news/politics/campaign2000/news/Shaheen_N_H_lawmakers_still_face_school_issue+.shtml Shaheen, N.H. lawmakers still face school issue]. Retrieved April 16, 2008.</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Love|first1=Norma|title=New Hampshire House refuses to take up gambling bill|url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2000/may/04/new-hampshire-house-refuses-to-take-up-gambling-bi/|access-date=September 8, 2014|newspaper=Las Vegas Sun|date=May 4, 2000}}</ref>

In 2001, Shaheen tried to implement a 2.5% sales tax, the first broad-based tariff of its kind in New Hampshire, which has never had a sales tax. The state legislature rejected her proposal.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nhpr.org/node/12285 |work=[[New Hampshire Public Radio]] |access-date=May 23, 2009 |title=Jeanne Shaheen |archive-date=July 24, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724200003/http://www.nhpr.org/node/12285 |url-status=dead }}</ref> She also proposed an increase in the state's cigarette tax and a 4.5% capital gains tax.

==Presidential politics==

===2000===
During the [[Democratic Party (United States) presidential primaries, 2000|2000 Democratic presidential primary]] in New Hampshire, Shaheen supported [[Al Gore]], and her husband served as Gore's New Hampshire campaign manager. According to the ''New York Observer'', the Shaheens were critical in helping Gore win a narrow victory in the New Hampshire primary over [[Bill Bradley]].<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2000/primaries/NH/results.html Dem. & GOP Primaries: New Hampshire]. Retrieved April 16, 2008. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410073351/http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2000/primaries/NH/results.html |date=April 10, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Kornacki|first1=Steve|title=Shaheen Brings Up Obama's Drug Use, Didn't Care Much About Gore's|url=http://observer.com/2007/12/shaheen-brings-up-obamas-drug-use-didnt-care-much-about-gores/|date=December 12, 2007|access-date=September 8, 2014|newspaper=New York Observer}}</ref>

Gore added Shaheen to his short list of potential vice presidential nominees, which also included Indiana Senator [[Evan Bayh]], North Carolina Senator [[John Edwards]], House Minority Leader [[Dick Gephardt]], Massachusetts Senator [[John Kerry]], and Connecticut Senator [[Joe Lieberman]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/08/07/gore.lieberman/index.html |title=Gore, Lieberman prepare for public debut of Democratic ticket |work=CNN|date=August 8, 2000|access-date=2007-08-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070813055539/http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/08/07/gore.lieberman/index.html |archive-date=August 13, 2007 |df=mdy-all }}. Retrieved April 16, 2008.</ref> Shaheen responded to speculation by stating she wasn't interested in the job.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Cullen|first1=Fergus|title=Ayotte for Veep? Ask Vice President Shaheen|url=http://nhjournal.com/ayotte-for-veep-ask-vice-president-shaheen/|access-date=September 8, 2014|work=New Hampshire Journal|date=May 1, 2012}}</ref> There has since been discussion over whether Gore would have won the election had he picked Shaheen as his running mate.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Aseem Shukla |title=Just picking Shapiro probably won't win Pa. for Harris. Or will it? |url=https://www.inquirer.com/politics/shapiro-pennsylvania-harris-vp-impact-20240805.html |website=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] |access-date=30 March 2025 |date=5 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=J. Miles Coleman |title=Notes on the State of Politics: New Hampshire Senate and Change in Virginia |url=https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/notes-on-the-state-of-politics-new-hampshire-senate-and-change-in-virginia/ |website=[[Sabato's Crystal Ball]] |publisher=[[University of Virginia Center for Politics]] |access-date=30 March 2025 |date=20 March 2025|quote=One of the big “what-ifs” of recent presidential politics is whether she would have been able to push Al Gore across the finish line in the 2000 election had he selected her as his running mate. ... Aside from Florida, New Hampshire was the closest Bush-won state in 2000—so it would not be hard to envision a Gore/Shaheen ticket getting New Hampshire’s 4 electoral votes, which would have been sufficient for a narrow majority in the Electoral College overall.}}</ref>

===2004===
After a short time teaching at [[Harvard University]] (and a fellowship in the Institute of Politics with former Massachusetts Governor [[Jane Swift]]), Shaheen was named national chairperson of [[John Kerry]]'s [[John Kerry presidential campaign, 2004|2004 presidential campaign]] in September 2003.

==U.S. Senate==

===Elections===
[[File:SenJeanneShaheen.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Shaheen on the campaign trail at [[Dartmouth College]], July 2008]]

====2002====
{{main|2002 United States Senate election in New Hampshire}}

After three two-year terms as governor, Shaheen declined to run for a fourth, instead choosing to run for the U.S. Senate in [[U.S. Senate election, 2002|2002]]. Republican [[John E. Sununu]] defeated her by a 51 percent to 47 percent margin (19,751 votes). In an interview with the ''[[Concord Monitor]]'', Shaheen attributed her loss in part to "discussion about the job that [she] did as governor." At that time, early Republican advertisements slammed her support for putting a sales tax on the ballot or faulted her for failing schools.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080702/NEWS01/807020308 |title=Shaheen turns incumbent tables |first=Lauren R. |last=Dorgan |date=July 2, 2008 |work=Concord Monitor Online |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140909004854/http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20080702%2FNEWS01%2F807020308 |archive-date=September 9, 2014 }}</ref>

In June 2004, former Republican consultant [[Allen Raymond]] pleaded guilty to [[2002 New Hampshire Senate election phone jamming scandal|jamming Democratic Party lines]] set up to get New Hampshire Democrats to the polls in 2002, which some (most notably former Senator [[Robert C. Smith|Bob Smith]], whom Sununu defeated in the Republican primary) believe contributed to Shaheen's loss.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20041019%2FREPOSITORY%2F410190316%2F1037%2FNEWS04 |title=Phone-jamming was an outrage |author=Smith, Bob|date=October 19, 2004|work=Concord Monitor Online|access-date=2006-06-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060630181945/http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20041019%2FREPOSITORY%2F410190316%2F1037%2FNEWS04 |archive-date=June 30, 2006 }}. Retrieved April 16, 2008.</ref> A judge sentenced Raymond to five months in jail in February 2005. [[Charles McGee (politician)|Charles McGee]], the former state GOP executive director, was sentenced to seven months for his role.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}

Raymond alleged that [[James Tobin (political operative)|James Tobin]], [[Northeastern United States|Northeast]] field director for the [[National Republican Senatorial Committee]], masterminded the plot. In December 2005, Tobin was convicted of two federal felonies arising from the phone-jamming and sentenced to ten months in prison, but that conviction was reversed on appeal. In October 2008, prosecutors filed two new felony indictments charging that Tobin lied to an FBI agent when he was interviewed in 2003 about his role in the phone-jamming case.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081015/FRONTPAGE/810150301 |title=New indictments filed in phone-jamming case |work=Concord Monitor Online|access-date=October 10, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140909005051/http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20081015%2FFRONTPAGE%2F810150301 |archive-date=September 9, 2014 }}</ref> These charges were summarily dismissed in 2009 after the federal judge in Maine's District Court found them motivated by "vindictive prosecution".<ref name="Harrison">{{cite news  | first = Judy  | last = Harrison  | url = http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/99819.html  | title = District judge clears Tobin  | work = [[Bangor Daily News]]  | date = February 18, 2009  | access-date = October 2, 2010  }}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

====2008====
[[File:Jeanne Shaheen, official Senate photo portrait, 2009.jpg|thumb|Official portrait, 2009]]
{{main|2008 United States Senate election in New Hampshire}}

In early July 2007 through UNH, CNN and WMUR put out a poll<ref>[http://www.wmur.com/politics/13717601/detail.html Shaheen Beats Sununu In Latest Poll] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206101203/http://www.wmur.com/politics/13717601/detail.html |date=February 6, 2012 }}. Retrieved April 16, 2008.</ref> showing that Shaheen would beat Sununu in the 2008 Senate race (54–38). Other Democratic candidates did not have this type of lead, which led many to believe Shaheen would be the best choice to beat Sununu.

In April 2007, Shaheen met with Senate Majority Leader [[Harry Reid]] and [[Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee]] Chairman [[Chuck Schumer]] about a Senate run. Both said she would have strong support from the DSCC if she ran. On September 14, 2007, Shaheen announced her candidacy.<ref>[http://unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Shaheen+to+run+for+Senate&articleId=e3162b5f-37de-4af9-9c5f-3f013b55e891 Shaheen to run for Senate] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624170210/http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Shaheen+to+run+for+Senate&articleId=e3162b5f-37de-4af9-9c5f-3f013b55e891 |date=June 24, 2018 }}. Retrieved April 16, 2008.</ref> On September 15, she formally launched her campaign at her home in [[Madbury, New Hampshire]]. On September 21, [[EMILY's List]] endorsed her campaign.

Shaheen defeated Sununu 52% to 45% (44,535 votes).

====2014====
{{main|2014 United States Senate election in New Hampshire}}

[[File:Shaheen, Hillary, Hassan (15509344839).jpg|thumb|Shaheen, [[Hillary Clinton]] and [[Maggie Hassan]] in November 2014]]
Shaheen ran for reelection in 2014, facing former Massachusetts Senator [[Scott Brown (politician)|Scott Brown]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/11/04/brown-shaheen-await-results-tight-senate-race/TjMPWy4WxTrUflXNZhvoDJ/story.html |title=Shaheen defeats Brown in N.H. |newspaper=The Boston Globe |author=Miller, Joshua|date=November 5, 2014 |access-date=November 15, 2014}}</ref>

In March 2014, Brown announced he was forming an exploratory committee to run against Shaheen. According to the [[Boston Herald]], "Granite State Republicans are calling U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen a hypocrite for asking potential GOP challenger and former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown to keep "outside" money out of the campaign while she fills the Democratic war chest on the West Coast".<ref>{{cite news |last=McGovern|first=Bob|title=Scott Brown calls out Jeanne Shaheen |url=http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_politics/2014/03/scott_brown_calls_out_jeanne_shaheen |access-date=March 18, 2014|newspaper=Boston Herald|date=March 16, 2014}}</ref>

In June 2014, WMUR reported that Shaheen had never released her tax returns in her 18 years of public service in New Hampshire. Shaheen said she would not rule out releasing her returns, but would like to see her opponent do so first.<ref>{{cite web |last=Pindell |first=James |date=June 6, 2014 |title=U.S. Senate candidates reluctant to share tax records with voters |url=http://www.wmur.com/political-scoop/us-senate-candidates-reluctant-to-share-tax-records-with-voters/26356828?absolute=true#!VtMZG |newspaper=WMUR |access-date=June 6, 2014}}</ref>

She was endorsed again by Emily's List.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Falcone|first1=Michael|title=Scott Brown: Laugh Line Or 'Serious' Threat To Jeanne Shaheen In New Hampshire?|url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/04/scott-brown-laugh-line-or-serious-threat-to-jeanne-shaheen-in-new-hampshire/|access-date=September 8, 2014|work=ABC News|date=April 5, 2013}}</ref>
[[File:Ivanka Trump Roundtable on W-GDP Initiative (47053323152).jpg|thumb|Shaheen, [[Ivanka Trump]] and [[Jim Risch]] in February 2019]]
On election night, even as her party lost control of the Senate, Shaheen won reelection with 51% of the vote to Brown's 48%. As a measure of how Republican New Hampshire once was, Shaheen is only the second Democrat in the state's history to win two terms in the Senate.

==== 2020 ====
{{main|2020 United States Senate election in New Hampshire}}

Shaheen was reelected in 2020 with 57% of the vote to Republican nominee Bryant “Corky” Messner's 41%. She is the first New Hampshire Democrat elected to three full terms in the Senate. The only other Democrat to be popularly elected more than once from New Hampshire, [[Thomas J. McIntyre]] (who held the seat Shaheen currently holds), served the remainder of [[Styles Bridges]]'s last term before being elected to two terms in his own right.

===Tenure===
[[File:Jeanne Shaheen Elena Kagan.jpg|thumb|Senator Shaheen with [[Elena Kagan|Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan]], 2010]]

On January 3, 2009, Shaheen was sworn in to the [[United States Senate]]. As a senator, she has sponsored 288 bills, five of which have become law.<ref>{{cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Senator Shaheen's Legislation|url=https://www.congress.gov/member/jeanne-shaheen/1901?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22Shaheen%22%5D%2C%22sponsorship%22%3A%22sponsored%22%2C%22type%22%3A%22bills%22%7D|access-date=December 19, 2020|website=|publisher=Library of Congress}}</ref>

On January 6, 2021, Shaheen was participating in the certification of the [[2021 United States Electoral College vote count]] when protesters [[January 6 United States Capitol attack|attacked the U.S. Capitol]]. She tweeted during the attack that she and her staff were safe and that "We will not be stopped from doing our Constitutional duty".<ref name="West">{{cite news |last1=West |first1=Nancy |title=Protesters storm U.S. Capitol, local delegation safe |url=https://www.conwaydailysun.com/news/local/protesters-storm-u-s-capitol-local-delegation-safe/article_257b9bec-5080-11eb-9795-d323a3e049ad.html |access-date=14 January 2021 |work=The Conway Daily Sun |date=6 January 2021 |language=en}}</ref> The day after the attack, Shaheen called Trump "unfit for office" and said that she supported impeaching him and removing him from office.<ref name="Brewer">{{cite news |last1=Brewer |first1=Ray |title=Pappas, Kuster, Hassan, Shaheen call for Trump to be removed from power under 25th Amendment |url=https://www.wmur.com/article/kuster-joins-calls-to-consider-25th-amendment-to-remove-trump-from-power/35152692# |access-date=14 January 2021 |work=WMUR |date=7 January 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

In 2024, Shaheen was ranked among the top 10 most bipartisan senators.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Keller |first1=John |title=New Hampshire Sen. Hassan named most bipartisan member of Congress. Here's who else made the list |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/senator-maggie-hassan-bipartisanship-common-ground-committee/ |website=CBS News |date=May 8, 2024 |access-date=17 October 2024}}</ref>

===Committee assignments===
[[File:Jeanne Shaheen Tom Vilsack and Lorraine Merrill New Hampshire August 2014.jpg|thumb|right|225px|alt=Jeanne Shaheen with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and New Hampshire Agriculture Commissioner Lorraine Merrill announcing a grant that helps local farms turn commodities into value-added products.|Jeanne Shaheen with U.S. Agriculture Secretary [[Tom Vilsack]] and New Hampshire Agriculture Commissioner Lorraine Merrill announcing a farm grant, 2014]]
[[File:President Joe Biden and Senator Jeanne Shaheen.jpg|thumb|right|225px|Shaheen and President [[Joe Biden]] at the [[2022 Madrid summit|2022 NATO summit]], June 2022]]

*[[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Committee on Appropriations]]
**[[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies]] (Chair)
**[[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense|Subcommittee on Defense]]
**[[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development]]
**[[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Subcommittee on Homeland Security]]
**[[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies]]
**[[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Subcommittee on the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs]]
*[[United States Senate Committee on Armed Services|Committee on Armed Services]]
**[[United States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities|Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities]]
**[[United States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support|Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support]]
**[[United States Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower|Subcommittee on Seapower]]
*[[United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations|Committee on Foreign Relations]]
**[[United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations|Subcommittee on European Affairs]]
**[[United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations|Subcommittee on International Operations and Organizations, Human Rights, Democracy and Global Women's Issues]]
**[[United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations|Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs]]
*[[United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship|Committee on Small Business]] (chair)
*[[United States Senate Select Committee on Ethics|Select Committee on Ethics]]
*[[Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe]]

===Caucus memberships===
* [[Afterschool Caucuses]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Members|url=http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/policyCongressionalCaucuses.cfm|publisher=Afterschool Alliance|access-date=18 April 2018}}</ref>
* [[Senate Taiwan Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Senate Taiwan Caucus 118th Congress (2023-2024)|author=|url=https://fapa.org/senate-taiwan-caucus/|format=|publisher=Formosan Association for Public Affairs|date=February 5, 2004|accessdate=10 October 2024}}</ref>
* Senate National Guard Caucus (co-chair)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shaheen.senate.gov/news/press/shaheen-and-graham-announce-bipartisan-resolution-honoring-30-years-of-national-guard-state-partner-program|title=Shaheen & Graham Announce Bipartisan Resolution Honoring 30 Years of National Guard State Partner Program|date=26 May 2023|website=shaheen.senate.gov}}</ref>
* [[Rare Disease Caucus]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Rare Disease Congressional Caucus|author=|url=https://everylifefoundation.org/rare-advocates/rarecaucus/rarecaucus-members/|format=|publisher=Every Life Foundation for Rare Diseases|date=|accessdate=21 March 2025}}</ref>

==Political positions==
===Healthcare===
[[File:Healthcare Presser Gallery 073119 (99 of 117) (48424636752).jpg|thumb|Shaheen speaks on health care, 2019]]
In 2009, Shaheen partnered with U.S. Senator [[Susan Collins (politician)|Susan Collins]] to introduce the Medicare Transitional Care Act, which provides follow-up care for discharged hospital patients to reduce re-hospitalizations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100219/GJCOMMUNITY_01/702199913 |title=Dover NH, Rochester NH, Portsmouth NH, Laconia NH, Sanford ME |publisher=Fosters.com |date=February 19, 2010 |access-date=August 29, 2010}}</ref> The bill passed in 2010,<ref>{{cite web|author=Ramer, Holly |url=http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20100323-NEWS-3230398 |title=Transitional care part of overhaul |work=SeacoastOnline.com |date=March 23, 2010|access-date=August 29, 2010}}</ref> and research at the [[University of Pennsylvania]] predicted the measure would lower the cost of healthcare by as much as $5,000 per Medicare beneficiary while also improving healthcare quality and reducing re-hospitalizations.<ref>{{cite web|last=Reichard |first=John |url=http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=hbnews-000003146329 |title=Bill Aims to Ease Transition From Hospital to Home |publisher=CQ Politics |date=June 17, 2009 |access-date=August 29, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090623063258/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=hbnews-000003146329 |archive-date=June 23, 2009 }}</ref>

In December 2009, Shaheen voted for the [[Affordable Care Act]] (Obamacare).<ref>{{cite news | author=John DiStaso | title=Conservative HG group airs first TV ad of '14 US Senate election | url=http://www.unionleader.com/article/20130605/NEWS0602/130609915 | access-date=October 23, 2013 | work=New Hampshire Union Leader | date=June 5, 2013 | archive-date=March 19, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140319020636/http://www.unionleader.com/article/20130605/NEWS0602/130609915 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Rubin|first=Jennifer|title=Why Jeanne Shaheen should be nervous|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2014/01/15/why-jeanne-shaheen-should-be-nervous/|access-date=March 18, 2014|newspaper=Washington Post|date=January 15, 2014}}</ref>

Before the rollout of the ACA, Shaheen said that people who liked their current healthcare plans could keep them.<ref>{{cite news|last=Miller|first=Joseph|title=Scott Brown, Jeanne Shaheen go on offense in N.H. Senate race|url=https://www.boston.com/politicalintelligence/2014/03/18/scott-brown-jeanne-shaheen-offense-senate-race/zRgV21H1mwKEhrvZmeUwfP/story.html|access-date=March 18, 2014|newspaper=Boston Globe|date=March 18, 2014}}</ref> When asked about people who were losing their healthcare plans due to the ACA, Shaheen said they could keep their plans if they were "willing to pay more".<ref>{{cite news |last=Hynes |first=Patrick |title=Shaheen: "Pay more' to keep your doc,' won't say if she'd vote for O-Care again |url=http://nhjournal.com/2014/02/03/shaheen-pay-more-to-keep-your-doc-wont-say-if-shed-vote-for-o-care-again/ |newspaper=New Hampshire Journal |date=February 3, 2014 |archive-date=February 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140204053512/http://nhjournal.com/2014/02/03/shaheen-pay-more-to-keep-your-doc-wont-say-if-shed-vote-for-o-care-again/ |url-status=dead |access-date=June 25, 2014}}</ref>
[[File:U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, U.S. Congressman Joe Wilson, U.S. envoy to Syria Tom Barrack, and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa (2025).jpg|thumb|Shaheen, U.S. Congressman [[Joe Wilson]], and U.S. envoy to Syria [[Tom Barrack]] met with Syrian President [[Ahmed al-Sharaa]], August 2025]]
In August 2019, Shaheen was one of 19 senators to sign a letter to [[United States Secretary of the Treasury|Treasury Secretary]] [[Steven Mnuchin]] and [[United States Secretary of Health and Human Services|Health and Human Services Secretary]] [[Alex Azar]] requesting data from the Trump administration to help states and Congress understand the potential consequences of the ''Texas v. United States Affordable Care Act'' lawsuit, writing that an overhaul of the present health care system would form "an enormous hole in the pocketbooks of the people we serve as well as wreck state budgets".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/u-s-senator-tammy-baldwin-requests-data-from-trump-administration-on-consequences-of-texas-v-united-states-prevailing/|title=U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Requests Data from Trump Administration on Consequences of Texas V. United States Prevailing|date=August 1, 2019|publisher=Urban Milwaukee}}</ref>

In October 2019, Shaheen was one of 27 senators to sign a letter to Senate Majority Leader [[Mitch McConnell]] and Senate Minority Leader [[Chuck Schumer]] advocating the passage of the Community Health Investment, Modernization, and Excellence (CHIME) Act, which was set to expire the following month. The senators warned that if the funding for the Community Health Center Fund (CHCF) was allowed to expire, it "would cause an estimated 2,400 site closures, 47,000 lost jobs, and threaten the health care of approximately 9 million Americans."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/u-s-senator-tammy-baldwin-working-to-extend-long-term-funding-for-community-health-centers/|title=U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Working to Extend Long Term Funding for Community Health Centers|date=October 23, 2019|publisher=Urban Milwaukee}}</ref>

===Fiscal===
On October 11, 2011, Shaheen voted to proceed with a proposed bill that included $446 billion in spending on infrastructure and schools and provided funding for state and local governments, as well as an extension of the payroll tax deduction. The spending would have been paid for by a 5.6% surtax on incomes above $1 million. The bill failed to obtain cloture.<ref>{{cite news | author=Napp Nazworth | title=Obama's Jobs Bill Fails to Pass in Senate | url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/obamas-jobs-bill-fails-to-pass-in-senate-57902/ | access-date=October 23, 2013 | work=Christian Post | date=October 11, 2011}}</ref>

Shaheen used an earmark in a large appropriations bill to restore funding for a federal prison in Berlin, NH, despite a $276 million recommended cut.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Buckland|first1=Tim|title=Berlin prison gets OK in Senate|url=http://www.unionleader.com/article/20111102/NEWS06/711029973|access-date=August 16, 2014|newspaper=New Hampshire Union Leader|date=November 1, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819090843/http://www.unionleader.com/article/20111102/NEWS06/711029973|archive-date=August 19, 2014|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Sen. Jeanne Shaeen|url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/member/458|website=National Journal Almanac|access-date=August 16, 2014}}</ref>

===Gun policy===
Shaheen supports making it illegal for individuals on the terrorist watchlist to buy guns<ref name="Brindley1005g">{{cite web|last1=Brindley|first1=Michael|title=Senators Ayotte and Shaheen Detail Positions on Gun Sale Ban, ISIS|url=http://nhpr.org/post/senators-ayotte-and-shaheen-detail-positions-gun-sale-ban-isis#stream/0|website=New Hampshire Public Radio|date=December 8, 2015 |access-date=5 October 2017|language=en}}</ref> and voted in favor of a bill proposing to expand background checks for gun purchases.<ref>{{cite news|author=Ben Leubsdorf |title=Ayotte's 'no' vote helps defeat background check legislation |url=http://www.concordmonitor.com/news/politics/5750730-95/ayottes-no-vote-helps-defeat-background-check-legislation-in-us-senate |access-date=October 23, 2013 |work=Concord Monitor |date=April 18, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130624132907/http://www.concordmonitor.com/news/politics/5750730-95/ayottes-no-vote-helps-defeat-background-check-legislation-in-us-senate |archive-date=June 24, 2013 }}</ref> She also voted to ban magazines of over 10 bullets.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ontheissues.org/domestic/Jeanne_Shaheen_Gun_Control.htm|title=Jeanne Shaheen on Gun Control|website=www.ontheissues.org|access-date=2019-03-04}}</ref> In 2016, she participated in the [[Chris Murphy gun control filibuster]] in the wake of the [[Orlando nightclub shooting]]. Shaheen said that "moments of sympathy are not enough" and that common-sense gun laws must be enacted.<ref name="Mallon1005g">{{cite web|last1=Mallon|first1=Maggie|title=Democrats Hold Senate Floor to Push for Gun Control Legislation (UPDATED)|url=https://www.glamour.com/story/democrats-hold-senate-floor-to-push-for-gun-control-legislation|website=Glamour|date=June 15, 2016|access-date=5 October 2017|language=en}}</ref>

===Energy===
Following the [[Deepwater Horizon oil spill|BP oil spill]] in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, Shaheen proposed abolishing the [[Minerals Management Service]], the U.S. government agency tasked with regulating offshore drilling, arguing that reform had been insufficient and that a new agency was needed.<ref>{{cite web|author=Sherman, Jake|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/05/dem-senator-abolish-mms-037802|title=Sen. Jeanne Shaheen: Abolish MMS|work=[[Politico (newspaper)|Politico]]|date=May 26, 2010|access-date=September 19, 2020}}</ref> Shaheen also proposed legislation giving the president's bipartisan [[National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling|BP Oil Spill Commission]] subpoena power in its investigation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GZD6BQuik4  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/9GZD6BQuik4| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=GOP Objects to Giving Subpoena Power to BP Oil Spill Commission |date=June 17, 2010 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=August 29, 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref> She argued that subpoena power was necessary to avoid another such disaster, emphasizing the spill's economic costs to the Gulf Coast region and the economy as a whole.<ref>{{cite web|author=SenatorShaheen |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ic6OXAjYo1w  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/ic6OXAjYo1w| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Senator Shaheen Discusses Subpoena Power for the BP Oil Spill Commission on Hardball | date=September 30, 2010 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=October 10, 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

On April 28, 2014, Shaheen introduced the [[Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2014 (S. 2262; 113th Congress)]], a bill intended to improve [[efficient energy use]].<ref name=NYTdavenport>{{cite news|last=Davenport|first=Coral|title=Amid Pipeline and Climate Debate, Energy-Efficiency Bill is Derailed|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/13/us/politics/bill-to-encourage-energy-efficiency-fails-in-senate.html?_r=1|access-date=May 13, 2014|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 12, 2014}}</ref>

In March 2019 Shaheen was an original cosponsor of a bipartisan bill intended to mandate that the Environmental Protection Agency declare per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances as hazardous substances that can be addressed with cleanup funds via the EPA Superfund law and require that polluters undertake or pay for remediation within a year of the bill's enaction.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.journal-news.net/journal-news/u-s-senators-shelley-moore-capito-joe-manchin-introduce-pfas/article_2db0a870-08e6-50bc-8743-3aecd425e22b.html|title=U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito, Joe Manchin introduce PFAS action plan legislation |date=March 4, 2019|publisher=The Journal}}</ref>

Shaheen opposed the [[Nord Stream 2]], a pipeline for delivering [[Russia in the European energy sector|natural gas from Russia]] to Germany.<ref>{{cite news |title=U.S. senators offer bill targeting Russia-Germany pipeline |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-gazprom-nordstream-usa/u-s-senators-offer-bill-targeting-russia-germany-pipeline-idUSKCN1SK24A |author=Zengerle, Patricia|work=Reuters |date=14 May 2019|access-date=September 19, 2020}}</ref>

===Iraq War===
In 2002, when Shaheen narrowly lost to Sununu, she supported both the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]] and "regime change" for Iraq.<ref name="supported war">[http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070712/REPOSITORY/707120331/1043/NEWS01 Shaheen supported war, too] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221631/http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20070712%2FREPOSITORY%2F707120331%2F1043%2FNEWS01 |date=March 3, 2016 }}. Retrieved April 16, 2008.</ref> Shaheen said that she came to supporting the policy of removing Saddam Hussein from power after meeting with former Clinton-administration National Security Advisor [[Sandy Berger]]. According to the ''Concord Monitor'' and Associated Press, the issue was a minor one in the race.

Shaheen later questioned [[George W. Bush]]'s handling of the situation in Iraq. In a September 2004 televised interview as Kerry presidential campaign chair she said:<ref>Wallace, Kelly, CNN Anchor. (September 7, 2004). "Television broadcast:American Morning" Transcript. [http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0409/07/ltm.02.html CNN website] Retrieved 30 November 2018.</ref>

<blockquote>George [W.] Bush has taken us in the wrong direction. He misled us into war in Iraq. That war has not made us safer and more secure at home ... You know, we have not stabilized Afghanistan. We have not stabilized Iraq. There is no plan to win the peace.
</blockquote>

On July 28, 2004, while serving as Chair of the Kerry-Edwards Campaign, Shaheen answered questions about her prior support of the Iraq war during an interview on C-SPAN.<ref>[http://12.170.145.161/search/basic.asp?ResultStart=1&ResultCount=10&BasicQueryText=jeanne+shaheen&image1.x=0&image1.y=0&image1=Submit Jeanne Shaheen, National Chair, Kerry-Edwards Campaign]  {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927104520/http://12.170.145.161/search/basic.asp?ResultStart=1&ResultCount=10&BasicQueryText=jeanne+shaheen&image1.x=0&image1.y=0&image1=Submit |date=September 27, 2007 }}</ref>

{{blockquote|George [W.] Bush said that the reason we needed to go to war in Iraq, the reason we needed to remove Saddam Hussein, was because he had weapons of mass destruction, weapons that could be used against this country, because he had ties to al-Qaeda and the terrorists who were responsible for the September 11 tragedy.

What we know now and what George Bush and Dick Cheney have admitted is that in fact Saddam Hussein did not have weapons of mass destruction. (...) The links to al-Qaeda that the president talked about were not there. (...) While I appreciate that there was an effort to make people in this country think that [there was a connection] (...) the fact is that's not true.<ref>Slen, Peter. C-Span Anchor. (July 29, 2004) "Washington Journal-Kerry Acceptance Speech" 9 mins. in. [https://www.c-span.org/video/?182925-6/kerry-acceptance-speech&start=588 C-Span website] Retrieved 30 November 2018.</ref>}}

===War in Afghanistan===
[[File:Senators Shaheen and Ernst meet with Afghan Women.jpg|thumb|Shaheen and Senator [[Joni Ernst]] in a meeting with [[Afghans|Afghan]] women, 2021]]
Shaheen opposed the [[Withdrawal of United States troops from Afghanistan (2020–2021)|2021 withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan]] under President [[Joe Biden]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wmur.com/article/shaheen-says-she-has-reservations-about-us-withdrawal-from-afghanistan/37052515|title=Shaheen says she has reservations about U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan|website=WMUR TV|date=July 16, 2021}}</ref>

===LGBT rights===
Shaheen initially opposed [[same-sex marriage]] as Governor of New Hampshire, but in 2009 she came out in favor of [[same-sex marriage in New Hampshire|marriage for same-sex couples]] and sponsored the [[Respect for Marriage Act]].<ref>{{cite web|title = Jeanne Shaheen on Marriage Equality, Military Benefits|url = http://www.advocate.com/Politics/Marriage_Equality/Jeanne_Shaheen_on_DOMA_Repeal_Military_Benefits/|author = Andrew Harmon|publisher = The Advocate|date = November 1, 2011<!-- 12:17:29 PM ET-->}}</ref> She also voted in favor of the [[Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010|repeal of]] [[Don't ask, don't tell]], and supports government recognition of same-sex spouses of military and other government personnel.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://shaheen.senate.gov/news/press/release/?id=49138827-0a53-474a-811d-c2a5dd8a5a7d|title = SHAHEEN: GAY SOLDIER'S FAMILY SHOULD GET SAME RIGHTS AS OTHER FAMILIES|publisher = Senate site of Jeanne Shaheen|date= October 18, 2011}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=September 2014}}

===Minimum wage===
On March 5, 2021, Shaheen voted against [[Bernie Sanders]]'s amendment to include a $15/hour [[Minimum wage in the United States|minimum wage]] in the [[American Rescue Plan Act of 2021]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Jake |title=Here Are the 8 Democrats Who Just Joined GOP to Vote Down Sanders' $15 Minimum Wage Amendment |url=https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/03/05/here-are-8-democrats-who-just-joined-gop-vote-down-sanders-15-minimum-wage-amendment |access-date=March 5, 2021 |work=Common Dreams |date=March 5, 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

===Immigration===
In 2025, Shaheen was one of 12 Senate Democrats who joined all Republicans to vote for the [[Laken Riley Act]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5095996-senate-passes-laken-riley-act/|title=Senate passes Laken Riley Act in first move after Trump inauguration|work=The Hill|first=Al|last=Weaver|date=January 20, 2025|accessdate=January 20, 2025}}</ref>

===Sudanese civil war===
{{main|Sudanese civil war (2023–present)}}

In October 2025, after the [[Rapid Support Forces]] (RSF) [[Siege of al-Fashir|captured al-Fashir]] in [[Sudan]], Shaheen denounced the RSF [[Al-Fashir massacre|massacre of local civilians]], urged that the RSF be designated a terrorist organization, and harshly criticized the [[United Arab Emirates]] for its support of the RSF.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Zengerle |first1=Patricia |title=US lawmakers want response after Sudan 'horrors' by paramilitaries |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/us-lawmakers-want-response-after-sudan-horrors-by-paramilitaries-2025-10-29/ |access-date=30 October 2025 |work=[[Reuters]] |date=30 October 2025}}</ref>

==Electoral history==
'''Governor elections in New Hampshire: Results 1996–2000'''
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!
!Democratic
!Votes
!Pct
!
!Republican
!Votes
!Pct
!
!3rd Party
!Party
!Votes
!Pct
!
!3rd Party
!Party
!Votes
!Pct
!
|-
|1996
|
|'''Jeanne Shaheen'''
|'''284,175'''
|'''57%'''
|
|Ovide Lamontagne
|196,321
|40%
|
|Fred Bramante
|Independent Reform
|10,316
|2%
|
|Robert Kingsbury
|Libertarian
|5,974
|1%
|
|-
|1998
|
|'''Jeanne Shaheen (inc.)'''
|'''210,769'''
|'''66%'''
|
|Jay Lucas
|98,473
|31%
|
|Ken Blevens
|Libertarian
|8,655
|3%
|
|Write-ins
|Write-ins
|503
|<1%
|
|-
|2000
|
|'''Jeanne Shaheen (inc.)'''
|'''275,038'''
|'''49%'''
|
|Gordon Humphrey
|246,952
|44%
|
|Mary Brown
|Independent
|35,904
|6%
|
|John Babiarz
|Libertarian
|6,446
|1%
|
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
|+ [[List of United States senators from New Hampshire|U.S. Senate (Class II) elections in New Hampshire]]: Results 2002–2020<ref name="clerkresults">{{cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html |title=Election Statistics |access-date=August 8, 2007 |publisher=Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070725184700/http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html |archive-date=July 25, 2007 }}</ref>
!|Year
!
!|Democratic
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Republican
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|3rd Party
!|Party
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|3rd Party
!|Party
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
|-
|[[United States Senate election in New Hampshire, 2002|2002]]
|
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |Jeanne Shaheen
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |207,478
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |46%
|
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|'''[[John E. Sununu]]'''}} 
| {{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |'''227,229'''
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |'''51%'''
|
| {{Party shading/Libertarian}} |Ken Blevens
| {{Party shading/Libertarian}} |[[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
| {{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |9,835
| {{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |2%
|
| {{Party shading/Independent}} |Bob Smith
| {{Party shading/Independent}} |Write-in
| {{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |2,396
| {{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |1%
| |'''*'''
|-
|[[United States Senate election in New Hampshire, 2008|2008]]
|
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{nowrap|'''Jeanne Shaheen'''}}
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |'''358,947'''
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''52%'''
|
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |[[John E. Sununu]] (inc.)
| {{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |314,412
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |45%
|
| {{Party shading/Libertarian}} |Ken Blevens
| {{Party shading/Libertarian}} |[[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
| {{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |21,381 	
| {{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |3%
|-
|[[United States Senate election in New Hampshire, 2014|2014]]
|
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{nowrap|'''Jeanne Shaheen'''}} '''(inc.)'''
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |'''251,184'''
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''51%'''
|
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |[[Scott Brown (politician)|Scott Brown]]
| {{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |235,347
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |48%
|-
|[[United States Senate election in New Hampshire, 2020|2020]]
|
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{nowrap|'''Jeanne Shaheen (inc.)'''}} 
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |'''450,771'''
| {{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''57%'''
|
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |Corky Messner 
| {{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |326,229
| {{Party shading/Republican}} |41%
|
| {{Party shading/Libertarian}} |Justin O'Donnell
| {{Party shading/Libertarian}} |[[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
| {{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |18,421 	
| {{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |2%
|}
{{refbegin}}
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Write-in and minor candidate notes:  In 2002, write-ins received 197 votes.
{{refend}}'''Primaries'''
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4" |New Hampshire Governor Democratic primary election, 1996
|-
|'''Party'''
|'''Candidate'''
|'''Votes'''
|'''%'''
|-
|'''Democratic'''
|'''Jeanne Shaheen'''
|'''52,238'''
|'''88%'''
|-
|Democratic
|Lovett
|4,286
|7%
|-
|Democratic
|Woodworth
|2,609
|4%
|}
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4" |New Hampshire Governor Democratic primary election, 2000
|-
|'''Party'''
|'''Candidate'''
|'''Votes'''
|'''%'''
|-
|'''Democratic'''
|'''Jeanne Shaheen (inc.)'''
|'''45,249'''
|'''60%'''
|-
|Democratic
|[[Mark Fernald]]
|28,488
|38%
|}
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4" |U.S. Senate Democratic primary election in New Hampshire, 2008
|-
|'''Party'''
|'''Candidate'''
|'''Votes'''
|'''%'''
|-
|'''Democratic'''
|'''Jeanne Shaheen'''
|'''43,968'''
|'''89%'''
|-
|Democratic
|Raymond Stebbins
|5,281
|11%
|}

==See also==
* [[List of female governors in the United States]]
* [[Women in the United States Senate]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons category|Jeanne Shaheen}}
{{wikisource|works=or}}
*[https://shaheen.senate.gov/ Senator Jeanne Shaheen] official U.S. Senate website
*[https://www.jeanneshaheen.org/ Jeanne Shaheen for Senate] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106113121/https://jeanneshaheen.org/ |date=January 6, 2021 }}
*{{C-SPAN|14248}}
{{CongLinks | congbio=S001181 | votesmart=1663 | fec=S0NH00219 | congress=jeanne-shaheen/1901 }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080309192839/http://www.hks.harvard.edu/about/faculty-staff-directory/jeanne-shaheen Profile] at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government

{{s-start}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Wayne King (politician)|Wayne King]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[Governor of New Hampshire]]|years=[[1996 New Hampshire gubernatorial election|1996]], [[1998 New Hampshire gubernatorial election|1998]], [[2000 New Hampshire gubernatorial election|2000]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Mark Fernald]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Richard Swett|Dick Swett]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[List of United States senators from New Hampshire|U.S. Senator]] from [[New Hampshire]]<br>([[Classes of United States senators|Class 2]])|years=[[2002 United States Senate election in New Hampshire|2002]], [[2008 United States Senate election in New Hampshire|2008]], [[2014 United States Senate election in New Hampshire|2014]], [[2020 United States Senate election in New Hampshire|2020]]}}
{{s-inc|recent}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Steve Merrill]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Governor of New Hampshire]]|years=1997–2003}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Craig Benson]]}}
|-
{{s-par|us-sen}}
{{s-bef|before=[[John E. Sununu|John Sununu]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of United States senators from New Hampshire|U.S. Senator (Class 2) from New Hampshire]]|years=2009–present|alongside=[[Judd Gregg]], [[Kelly Ayotte]], [[Maggie Hassan]]}}
{{s-inc}}
|-
{{s-bef|rows=2|before=[[Ben Cardin]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Ranking Member of the [[United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship|Senate Small Business Committee]]|years=2015–2018}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Ben Cardin]]}}
|-
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship|Senate Small Business  Committee]]|years=2023–2025}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Joni Ernst]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Jim Risch]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Ranking Member of the [[United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations|Senate Foreign Relations Committee]]|years=2025–present}}
{{s-inc}}
|-
{{s-prec|usa}}
{{s-bef|rows=2|before=[[Roger Wicker]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[United States order of precedence|Order of precedence of the United States]]<br>''{{small|as United States Senator}}''|years=}}
{{s-aft|rows=2|after=[[Mark Warner]]}}
|-
{{s-ttl|title=[[Seniority in the United States Senate|United States senators by seniority]]|years=20th}}
{{s-end}}

{{US Senate chairs}}
{{NH-FedRep}}
{{Current U.S. Senators}}
{{US Senate Small Business chairs}}
{{USSenNH}}
{{Governors of New Hampshire}}
{{United States Semiquincentennial Commission}}
{{USCongRep-start |congresses=111th–present<!-- 119th --> [[United States Congress]]es |state=[[United States congressional delegations from New Hampshire|New Hampshire]]}}
{{USCongRep/NH/111}}
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{{USCongRep/NH/115}}
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{{USCongRep/NH/118}}
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{{USCongRep-end}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shaheen, Jeanne}}
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:2004 United States presidential electors]]
[[Category:20th-century American women politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the New Hampshire General Court]]
[[Category:21st-century American women politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century New Hampshire politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century United States senators]]
[[Category:American Protestants]]
[[Category:American women academics]]
[[Category:Democratic Party governors of New Hampshire]]
[[Category:Democratic Party New Hampshire state senators]]
[[Category:Democratic Party United States senators from New Hampshire]]
[[Category:Female United States senators]]
[[Category:First women governors]]
[[Category:Harvard University faculty]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:New Hampshire Democrats]]
[[Category:People from Mississippi]]
[[Category:People from St. Charles, Missouri]]
[[Category:People from Strafford County, New Hampshire]]
[[Category:Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania alumni]]
[[Category:University of Mississippi alumni]]
[[Category:Women in New Hampshire politics]]
[[Category:Women state governors of the United States]]