Copyright The Boston Globe
Some close allies are breaking with Senator Jeanne Shaheen over a deal she helped to broker to end the federal government shutdown, as her upcoming retirement has triggered two closely watched 2026 contests in New Hampshire. Representative Chris Pappas, who is running for Shaheen’s seat and has been endorsed by the outgoing senator, said on Monday he disagrees with the deal involving Republicans and moderate Democrats, since it doesn’t guarantee an extension to enhanced health insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. “The deal reached in the Senate on government funding fails to prevent a massive increase in health insurance costs for families and small businesses,” Pappas said, “and for that reason I can’t support it.” Pappas said he will keep pushing for legislation to extend the ACA premium tax credits in the House. But just hoping Speaker Mike Johnson goes along with that effort “isn’t good enough for New Hampshire,” he said. Shaheen, who has been advocating for the ACA credits, said the time for a compromise has come. Advertisement “There is no one in the Senate who wants to see these tax credits extended more than me,” she said. “But weeks of negotiations with Republicans have made clear that they will not address health care as part of shutdown talks — and that waiting longer will only prolong the pain Americans are feeling because of the shutdown.” But even her own daughter, Stefany Shaheen, who is campaigning to fill Pappas’ shoes in New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District, said she cannot support the deal her mother helped to negotiate. “Too many people will see health care costs that are already too high skyrocket even further starting in January,” she said. “This means more people will be uninsured, unable to see a doctor in times of need and risk bankruptcy because of a diagnosis.” Advertisement Maura Sullivan, who is also among those seeking the Democratic nomination to succeed Pappas, similarly said now isn’t the time for Democrats to “cave” on what had been the cornerstone of their demands amid the shutdown. “Reopening the government can’t come at the cost of people’s access to the care they need,” Sullivan said. “Democrats should be standing firm, not surrendering when Americans’ health is at stake.” Pappas, who has touted his status as one of the most bipartisan members of Congress, is the Democratic frontrunner in New Hampshire’s 2026 Senate race. Two lesser-known candidates, Karishma Manzur and Jared Sullivan, are also seeking the Democratic nomination. But his major competitors are the two former US senators competing for the Republican nomination: Scott Brown and John E. Sununu. The way Pappas navigates this potential resolution to the shutdown — and how New Hampshire voters make sense of all that has transpired since the shutdown began six weeks ago, including the furloughs of federal workers, disruptions to air travel, and uncertainty over food assistance — could influence his odds in the 2026 election. Sununu released a statement earlier Monday calling on Pappas to “put New Hampshire first” and support an end to the federal government shutdown. “For too long, he has put partisanship ahead of what’s best for Granite Staters, but now he is out of excuses,” Sununu said. “Support reopening the government right now instead of siding with Chuck Schumer.” In backing a procedural vote on the bipartisan deal Sunday night, Senator Shaheen was joined by fellow Democratic Senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire and six other moderate members of their caucus. The group included Senator Angus King, an independent from Maine, but every other Democratic senator across New England voted against it, citing concerns about health care affordability. Advertisement Steven Porter can be reached at steven.porter@globe.com. Follow him @reporterporter.
