New Hampshire CD1 Guide: Meet the 2026 Congressional Candidates

New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District race is statistically tied ahead of the Nov. 3, 2026 midterm elections, according to polling from the University of New Hampshire. With longtime Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas running for U.S. Senate, Republican Anthony DiLorenzo and Democrat Stefany Shaheen are locked in a high-stakes contest that could help determine the balance of power in Washington.

Granite Staters are staring down a critical choice in New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District, a sprawling swath of the state that includes Manchester, the Seacoast, parts of the Lakes Region, and the Mount Washington Valley. Republicans currently hold a slim 218-214 majority in Congress, making this open seat a premier battleground. While the district historically bounced between parties, Rep. Pappas kept it safely blue during his tenure. Now, with Pappas vacating the seat for a Senate bid, both parties sense an opening.

New Hampshire Public Radio reported on the matchup in a special edition of its daily newsletter, breaking down a contest defined by sharp contrasts in candidate backgrounds and persistent questions over personal wealth and public service.

Republican Anthony DiLorenzo and Democrat Stefany Shaheen on affordability

Meet the Candidates: Business Roots Versus Public Legacy

The Republican nominee is 62-year-old Anthony DiLorenzo, a Portsmouth business owner and political newcomer. DiLorenzo coasted to a comfortable victory in his primary, buoyed by an endorsement from President Trump. On the campaign trail, he leans heavily on his corporate track record, pointing to a sprawling portfolio that includes Key Auto Group, Planet Fitness franchises, and real estate development.

Across the aisle stands 52-year-old Democrat Stefany Shaheen, also from Portsmouth. A biotech consultant and former city councilor, Shaheen carries one of the most recognizable political surnames in the state as the daughter of U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen. That built-in name recognition helped her manage a crowded, competitive Democratic primary, allowing her to center her general election pitch on healthcare policy and a lengthy local resume.

Official portrait of president donald j trump

The Central Clash Over Inflation and Tariffs

Voters tuning into the race are getting two radically different diagnoses for the ongoing affordability crisis. DiLorenzo argues that his commercial background gives him the practical tools needed to tamp down inflation, which he lays squarely at the feet of the current administration. To encourage domestic manufacturing, he has called for an end to Canadian tariffs and an overhaul of existing trade policies.

Shaheen reads the economic ledger differently. She points the finger at President Trump’s past trade policies, including tariffs against Canada, as a core driver of consumer price hikes. Her stated platform includes voting to sunset those specific tariffs, scale back tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans, and wind down U.S. involvement in the war with Iran.

New Hampshire 1st Congressional District Debate

Financial transparency and outside records have also drawn heavy fire from opposing camps. Democrats have repeatedly pressed DiLorenzo on his financial disclosures, alleging they vastly understate his actual wealth. Critics point out that his island estate home alone is valued at $12.5 million, while his official filings place his total net worth at no more than $6 million. DiLorenzo’s campaign has faced questions over how he is funding his run.

At the same time, Shaheen has fended off accusations of nepotism tied to her consulting work at the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute, commonly known as ARMI. Opponents have scrutinized her role in the government-funded research project, noting that her mother, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, has helped steer millions of federal dollars toward the institution.

The Road to Nov. 3

Voters can inspect the candidates’ full platforms, watch a debate hosted in Meredith by New Hampshire Public Radio that covered artificial intelligence, immigration, and affordability, or review campaign fundraising data directly through federal filings. Eligible residents planning to cast a ballot in CD1 can consult the official New Hampshire Secretary of State district map and review town-by-town boundaries to ensure proper polling place attendance as the race enters its final stretch.

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