Senator Jeanne Shaheen is facing accusations of using her political influence to boost her daughter Stefany's campaign in a fiercely contested New Hampshire Democratic primary, ahead of Tuesday's vote to choose a successor to Congressman Chris Pappas. According to Punchbowl News, Shaheen has pressed lobbyists and donors to back her daughter and personally lobbied the veterans' group VoteVets to withdraw its support for rival candidate Maura Sullivan, a Marine veteran, prompting criticism over political dynasties and nepotism.

The contest has turned increasingly bitter, with Sullivan's campaign running adverts accusing the 52-year-old Shaheen of being "born on third base" and feeling entitled to win, while Shaheen has attacked Sullivan over ties to AIPAC donors and corporate interests. Polling shows Sullivan has surged past Shaheen in the race's closing stages, leading by margins ranging from two to six points across three recent surveys, with VoteVets having spent $2.6 million backing her campaign. A rival candidate's last-minute withdrawal and endorsement of Shaheen, plus a large pool of undecided voters, has added further uncertainty ahead of polling day, in a district Kamala Harris won by just two points in 2024.