The New Hampshire Democrats’ hand-picked candidate for Manchester mayor isn’t supporting the Democrats’ establishment pick for Congress.
Jess Spillers, her party’s last-minute choice to run for mayor of the state’s largest city, has endorsed Maura Sullivan over the other candidates in the (currently) five-way NH-01 primary — including Stefany Shaheen, daughter of U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.
“Happy to see Maura Sullivan doing so well! Can’t wait to vote for this amazing candidate!” Spillers posted on July 9, in response to reports that the Marine veteran and former Obama administration official had raised nearly $800,000 in the second quarter.
Sullivan outpaced the $525,000 reported by Stefany Shaheen — much of which came from donors to her mother’s campaign — and includes more than $50,000 from family members, including $7,000 from each of Shaheen’s four children: Ellen, Annah, Caraline, and Will. The latter was still in high school when he contributed.
Sullivan told NHJournal she’s pleased to have Spillers’ support.
“Jessica is a working mom with young children who is fighting hard to give her and Manchester’s kids the world-class education they deserve. I am honored to have Jessica’s endorsement and will do whatever I can to help her get elected. I am excited to partner with her to move Manchester forward when she’s mayor and I am in Congress.”
With only two candidates running in what is nominally a nonpartisan race for mayor, Spillers won’t face the voters until she squares off with incumbent GOP Mayor Jay Ruais in November. Sullivan has indicated a willingness to hit the campaign trail for Spillers in the Queen City.
Will Stefany Shaheen do the same?
Shaheen’s campaign declined to respond to requests for comment about either Spillers’ endorsement of Sullivan or Shaheen’s plans — or lack thereof — to campaign for the Democratic nominee in the Manchester mayoral race.
Spillers was a last-minute entry into the field. In fact, she still doesn’t have a campaign website. Her current website is still soliciting support to “re-elect Jessica Spillers for school board.”
Nevertheless, Manchester is expected to play a key role in the Democrats’ congressional primary, and the mayor’s race is the most high-profile campaign of 2025. In 2018, the last time there was an open Democratic primary in the 1st Congressional District, nearly 15 percent of the entire 64,443 vote total came from Manchester alone.
Stumping for Spillers provides a valuable opportunity to connect with NH-01 primary voters.
It’s also important for the Democratic Party as a whole, which continues to struggle at the state level and is hoping to build momentum going into the 2026 midterm elections. A competitive mayor’s race would benefit the Democratic Party.
At the same time, the Shaheen political machine is known for playing hardball, and it can’t be happy about Spillers’ decision.
Then there’s the fact that Ruais has a solid warchest and positive poll numbers, making him the frontrunner in the race. How much political capital will any Democrat want to invest in what is likely a long-shot campaign?
In addition to Shaheen and Sullivan, there are three other Democrats in the NH-01 primary:
- Carleigh Beriont, a Harvard Kennedy School professor and Hampton select board member
- Heath Howard, a two-term House member from Strafford who describes himself as “a member of the disability community”
- Christian Urrutia, an attorney, former Pentagon special counsel, and captain in the National Guard
Often viewed as a Democratic enclave, Manchester has been trending red. In last November’s gubernatorial race, city voters backed Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte over their own former mayor, Joyce Craig.
A year earlier, Republican Ruais — a first-time candidate — defeated well-known Democratic Alderman Kevin Cavanaugh to replace Craig.
Even Donald Trump, whose polling is dismal in New Hampshire, won 45 percent of the Manchester vote in November.
