Attend a Democratic forum in New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District right now and you will hear one word repeated with almost metronomic regularity: fight.
Seven Democratic candidates are competing for their party’s nomination in the open race to represent the district, which stretches across the eastern part of the state and includes Manchester, the state’s largest city. They come from different backgrounds, hold different positions on a range of policy questions, and bring different levels of name recognition to the race. But according to New Hampshire Public Radio, they share one thing almost entirely: a message built around fighting the Trump administration and fighting for working people.
At two forums held Wednesday, the word “fight” or “fighter” was used 55 times over the course of a 90-minute session in Exeter alone.
The Candidates
The field is among the most crowded and competitive Democratic primaries in the state in years. The race opened up as an opportunity for Democrats to retake a seat that has historically been competitive territory.
Stefany Shaheen is among the higher-profile candidates, drawing attention both for her own record as a former Portsmouth city councilor and for the name recognition that comes with being the daughter of former U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen. She has framed her candidacy around sustained engagement with working-class communities and has been direct about the stakes she sees in the race. “There’s no shortage of motivation for me in fighting this fight,” she said at a recent forum.
Carleigh Beriont, the chair of the Hampton Selectboard and a former union organizer, has leaned heavily into her labor background as a marker of authenticity on economic issues. Her pitch is built on the argument that the district needs someone who has actually organized workers and understands what it takes to build power from the ground up. “We need people who can fight for people,” Beriont said.
State Rep. Heath Howard has used his time in the Legislature to build a progressive policy record and has been vocal at forums about specific policy goals. At the Exeter forum, Howard argued that congressional Democrats need to be “fighting for things like universal health care, fighting for tuition-free public universities, fighting for tuition-free public trade schools, pushing to raise the minimum wage.” His platform positions him among the more progressive candidates in the field.
Christian Urrutia, a former Pentagon lawyer and Army National Guard officer, has tried to differentiate himself with a national security and military service profile that no other candidate in the field can match. In a general election, that background could appeal to moderate and independent voters in a swing district. In a Democratic primary, it gives Urrutia a distinctive lane.
The field also includes candidates who have built their profiles through nonprofit and community work. Sarah Chadzynski, a nonprofit director and former teacher, has made education and community investment central to her message. The remaining candidates bring a mix of local government experience and civic backgrounds.
The Problem with “Fighter” as a Strategy
The remarkable uniformity of the “fighter” message reflects broader Democratic Party dynamics in 2026. With the Trump administration as a constant foil, Democratic candidates across the country have gravitated toward a resistance-oriented frame that polls well with the party’s base. In New Hampshire’s CD-1, where Democrats are energized and the seat is genuinely in play, that dynamic is particularly pronounced.
But the saturation of the fighter message creates a strategic problem: if everyone is a fighter, no one is distinguished as a fighter. Voters in the September 8 primary, which is months away, will need to make choices based on something other than who says “fight” most convincingly. The candidates who find ways to differentiate themselves on either policy specifics, electability arguments, or personal biography are likely to emerge with stronger positioning as the primary nears.
Fundraising has become one early differentiator. A NHPR report from April noted that candidates were stepping up fundraising as the open race attracted significant outside interest, with some candidates demonstrating a clear ability to build donor networks that others have not matched. The first round of Federal Election Commission filing data to fully capture the 2026 cycle will give voters and operatives a clearer picture of who has the financial infrastructure to compete through the summer.
The District and the General Election
New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District has been competitive ground for decades. Seats in the district have changed party hands multiple times, reflecting the district’s mix of urban Manchester voters, suburban Seacoast communities, and more rural areas. In 2026, Democrats see a genuine opportunity to flip the seat in a favorable political environment.
The Republican primary in the district is also contested, meaning whoever emerges from the Democratic field will face an opponent still being determined. The general election dynamics, including how a candidate performs with independents, which make up a large share of New Hampshire’s electorate, will weigh heavily on which Democratic candidate represents the strongest general election option.
Some candidates have made electability an explicit part of their pitch, arguing that their particular profile, whether that means Urrutia’s military background, Beriont’s union organizing record, or Shaheen’s name recognition in the Seacoast, makes them better positioned to win in November. Others have pushed back on the electability frame, arguing that the party has too often talked itself out of running boldly progressive candidates.
A Race Still Taking Shape
With the primary not until September 8, the race has plenty of time to develop. Candidate forums will continue through the summer, giving voters repeated opportunities to compare the field. Endorsements from labor unions, advocacy groups, and elected officials will begin to signal which candidates have built the institutional relationships necessary for a serious campaign.
The national environment remains fluid. Democratic enthusiasm is high, but the specific policy issues that animate voters can shift quickly. Candidates who have built the strongest grassroots organizations and most compelling personal narratives heading into the final two months will have the best chance to convert that energy into primary votes.
For context on how NH Democrats are thinking about the broader 2026 election cycle, see our coverage of the DNC’s 2024 autopsy and its harsh assessment of the NH governor’s race and the latest UNH polling on the NH Senate race.
