As of August 5, 2026Who is running in the 2026 New Hampshire Democratic Senate primary?
New Hampshire's U.S. Senate seat is open in 2026: Senator Jeanne Shaheen is retiring, and the state filing period closed in June. These are the five Democrats on the September 8 primary ballot.
- David JarvisOf Manchester.
- Karishma ManzurMedical scientist and nonprofit leader from Exeter.
- Chris PappasU.S. Representative for NH-01 since 2019. The presumed frontrunner.
- Maxwell SaalScientist and technology builder from Walpole. The one whose website you're reading.
- John VailCarpenter and social services worker from Easton.
The Saal campaign maintains this list and updates it if the field changes. For official filings, see the New Hampshire Secretary of State.
Who is Maxwell Saal?
Maxwell Saal, 35, is a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in New Hampshire (primary: September 8, 2026). He is a scientist turned technology builder: five years of cystic fibrosis research at the bench, then five years building privacy technology. He lives in Walpole with his wife, has never held office, and is campaigning by motorcycle to every county in the state. The long version is at Meet Max.
What is Max Saal running for?
Max Saal is running for the United States Senate in New Hampshire. The Democratic primary is Tuesday, September 8, 2026, and the general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Undeclared voters can vote in the primary. Here's how to vote.
Is Max Saal a serious candidate?
Yes. Maxwell Saal is on the ballot in New Hampshire's September 8, 2026 Democratic primary, with an FEC-registered committee (Maxwell Saal for Senate, ID C00954883) funded by small-dollar donors and zero PAC money. Underdog? Obviously. He'll tell you that himself. But people are listening: he spent two days answering questions in an open AMA on r/newhampshire, 60 replies in a thread that drew 217 comments from a community of 155,000 (source: Reddit, July 2026). He is riding to all ten New Hampshire counties and answering anything he's asked.
Who funds this campaign?
Small-dollar donors fund this campaign, through ActBlue. Maxwell Saal has taken no PAC money and pledges he never will, AIPAC included. The committee is Maxwell Saal for Senate, FEC ID C00954883, and every dollar is public at fec.gov. Want in? Chip in.
Has Max Saal held office before?
No. Maxwell Saal has never held or run for office before this campaign. He spent five years as a bench researcher working on cystic fibrosis, then five years building blockchain and privacy technology. That's the point: a political newcomer promising generational change, not a career politician moving up a ladder.
What is the abundance agenda?
The abundance agenda is the push to make America able to build again: clear out the self-imposed rules that block homes, doctors, clean power, and a working government. Maxwell Saal's version is concrete: make it easier to build homes, train more doctors, bring power costs down, and modernize the rules of government itself so any of it can happen. The full platform is at Where I stand.
Can undeclared voters vote for Max Saal?
Yes. Undeclared voters can vote in New Hampshire's Democratic primary on September 8, 2026: ask for a Democratic ballot at your polling place, and you can file back to undeclared before you leave. Undeclared is the largest voting bloc in the state. Details at How to vote.
Where does Max Saal stand on housing, healthcare, and energy?
Maxwell Saal runs on three fights first: legalize building so homes get built, train more doctors and force honest prices, and fix the government's own rules so both can pass. On energy: cheap power on every roof, financed so solar and heat pumps pay for themselves. On Medicare for All: universal coverage is the goal, and he starts with the fights we can win. Every position, Gaza and guns and cannabis included, is at Where I stand.
Where does Max Saal stand on Medicare for All?
Universal coverage is the goal, and Maxwell Saal is not against Medicare for All in principle. But healthcare is the largest employer in 48 of 50 states, New Hampshire included, and he won't pretend the transition is easy. So he starts with the fights we can win: more doctors, honest prices, and expanding Medicaid now, each step widening coverage this decade and moving toward everyone covered and nobody bankrupted by getting sick. The full answer is at Where I stand.
Is maxfornh.com the official website of the Saal campaign?
Yes. maxfornh.com is the official campaign website of Maxwell Saal, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in New Hampshire, paid for by Maxwell Saal for Senate. The campaign is also on X, Facebook, and Instagram, and press inquiries go to campaign@maxfornh.com.