Stefany Shaheen And Anthony DiLorenzo Advance To New Hampshire 1st District General Election
Stefany Shaheen and Anthony DiLorenzo won their primaries on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, in New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District, setting up a general-election matchup for the open seat.[1]
Shaheen narrowly prevailed in a seven-candidate Democratic field, defeating Maura Sullivan and others.[2] She is a Portsmouth city councilor who founded a business to help people with chronic medical conditions after her daughter's Type 1 diabetes diagnosis and helped lead a state regenerative-medicine initiative.[2] DiLorenzo won the Republican primary over Hollie Noveletsky and other rivals while running as a Trump-backed auto executive and owner of a chain of car dealerships.[3] He said his campaign is "about prosperity" and urged more pragmatic businesspeople in Washington.[2] At a WMUR debate earlier in September he defended past comments saying deportation should prioritize "dangerous people" such as criminals and human traffickers.[3]
The district is rated D+2 by the Cook Partisan Voting Index and is considered moderately blue but competitive.[3] The National Republican Congressional Committee lists the 1st District as a top target, and the seat has flipped party control five times since 2006 despite Democratic control since 2017.[1] Incumbent Rep. Chris Pappas is leaving the seat after four House terms, making the November contest an open-race pickup opportunity for both parties.[2]
Many outlets had identified Hollie Noveletsky as a GOP frontrunner, but recent polling showed DiLorenzo and Noveletsky statistically tied even as DiLorenzo entered the race with a substantial fundraising lead.[1] DiLorenzo also carried a July endorsement from Donald Trump and additional backing from House GOP leaders that helped nationalize the primary fight.[3]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Tuesday, September 8, 2026, Stefany Shaheen won the Democratic primary in New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District and Anthony DiLorenzo won the Republican primary, setting up the general-election matchup.
- The 1st District is rated D+2 by the Cook Partisan Voting Index and is described as moderately blue but competitive, meaning a 'right Republican candidate' could potentially flip the seat.
- The National Republican Congressional Committee considers the 1st District a top target, and the seat has changed party control five times since the 2006 election despite Democrats holding it since 2017.
- Stefany Shaheen is a Portsmouth city councilor who founded a business to help people with chronic medical conditions after her daughter's Type 1 diabetes diagnosis and has been involved in a New Hampshire regenerative-medicine biotech initiative.
- On primary night Shaheen pledged to 'take on Donald Trump,' criticized his 'endless war' and tariffs, and called for Medicare for All while saying she must give voters reasons to turn out beyond opposing the president.
- Anthony DiLorenzo, who owns a chain of car dealerships, was endorsed by Donald Trump in July 2026 and by House GOP leaders including Speaker Mike Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Majority Whip Tom Emmer.
- In a WMUR debate earlier in September, DiLorenzo was attacked over past comments on deportation priorities, and he defended his position by saying deportation should prioritize 'dangerous people, the criminals, the drug dealers, the human traffickers.'
- DiLorenzo entered the GOP primary with a substantial fundraising lead over Hollie Noveletsky even as recent polling showed the two candidates statistically tied.
- In his victory speech DiLorenzo said, 'Our campaign is about prosperity. I believe that Washington, D.C., needs more pragmatic businesspeople,' underscoring his business-oriented message.
📰 Source Timeline (4)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- The article confirms that on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, Stefany Shaheen narrowly won the Democratic primary in New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District over Maura Sullivan in a seven-candidate field, and that Anthony DiLorenzo won the GOP primary over three rivals including Hollie Noveletsky.
- It provides new biographical and issue-focus details on Stefany Shaheen, including her service as a Portsmouth city councilor, her founding of a business to help people with chronic medical conditions after her daughter's Type 1 diabetes diagnosis, and her role in a New Hampshire regenerative-medicine biotech initiative.
- It quotes Shaheen's primary-night remarks pledging to "take on Donald Trump," criticizing his "endless war" and tariffs, and calling for Medicare for all, while stressing she must give voters reasons to turn out beyond opposing the president.
- It adds an on-the-record quote from DiLorenzo's victory speech saying, "Our campaign is about prosperity. I believe that Washington, D.C., needs more pragmatic businesspeople," and reiterates that he owns a chain of car dealerships and holds Trump's endorsement.
- It clarifies that Pappas is leaving the 1st District seat after four House terms, further underscoring why the race is open in 2026.
- CBS News reports that on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, Stefany Shaheen won the Democratic primary in New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District while Anthony DiLorenzo secured the Republican nomination in the same district, confirming the general-election matchup.
- The network highlights that the National Republican Congressional Committee regards the 1st District as a top target, and that the seat has changed party control five times since the 2006 election despite being held by Democrats since 2017.
- CBS adds that nonpartisan race-raters classify the district as lean Democrat (UVA Center for Politics) and likely Democrat (Cook Political Report), signaling perceived Democratic advantage despite its swing history.
- The article notes that DiLorenzo's main Republican rival, Hollie Noveletsky, was considered a frontrunner and that the most recent polling showed DiLorenzo and Noveletsky statistically tied, even though DiLorenzo had a substantial fundraising lead.
- Article confirms the September 8, 2026 GOP primary result in New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District, with businessman Anthony DiLorenzo defeating Hollie Noveletsky and state Rep. Brian Cole.
- It notes the seat is rated D+2 by the Cook Partisan Voting Index and describes it as a moderately blue but competitive district that a 'right Republican candidate' could potentially flip.
- The piece adds detail that the three GOP candidates largely overlapped on issues, but a WMUR debate earlier in September featured attacks on DiLorenzo over past comments suggesting deportation priorities should focus first on felons and violent criminals.
- The article quotes DiLorenzo in that debate reaffirming support for deporting people in the U.S. illegally while prioritizing 'dangerous people, the criminals, the drug dealers, the human traffickers.'
- It reiterates Trump's July 2026 Truth Social endorsement and cites additional endorsements from House Speaker Mike Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, and Majority Whip Tom Emmer.