10 to watch in 2026

The top news stories of the year are already unfolding

This is the last 2025 column. Looking forward to 2026, here are 10 stories to watch:

1. The NH legislative session. The annual session of the Legislature in even-numbered years does not have the state budget to contend with. The newsworthy action will be what kind of interesting laws they pass and whether the results show a consistent trend in any political direction.

2. New Hampshire Supreme Court appointment. Gov. Ayotte gets a second Supreme Court appointment in February when Justice Hantz-Marconi reaches the constitutional retirement age. Ayotte appointed Concord attorney Brian Gould to replace James Bassett, upon Bassett’s retirement in 2025, and whether the next appointment goes to a woman, and the age and thus potential tenure the new justice has will be newsworthy. The resulting court, like the present one, will be entirely comprised of justices appointed by Republican governors.

3. The economy. How the state and national economies fare in the first half of 2026 will be important for several reasons. Good economic performance generally means higher tax revenue for the state. Bad economic performance, or perceived weakness in the economy, sours voters on the party in executive power both in the state and nationally. Whether inflation continues or moderates, prices of everyday goods and services, and the price of health care and medical insurance, will affect most of the remaining items on this list.

4. The congressional election. First District Congressman Chris Pappas is not running for reelection but is seeking to succeed Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who is retiring. Whether the open seal remains in Democratic hands, and whether the Republican Party can find a candidate with stature and funding sufficient to make a competitive race or even win, will be a big story, no matter the result. On the Democratic side, whether there is a looming Shaheen dynasty (think Bass, Gregg or Sununu) about to be established with the election of Stephanie Shaheen to the seat, or if another Democrat emerges as the nominee will also be interesting to watch.

5. U.S. Senate Election. With an open U.S. Senate seat, and the announced candidacies of two former GOP Senators (Brown and Sununu) seeking to get the nomination to oppose Pappas (assuming he wins his primary), a very well-funded and hotly contested election is a sure thing. The prize may be control of the U.S. Senate by the party of the winner. What position Sununu will take regarding support of President Trump, who he has opposed in the past, and whether Trump voters will prefer him to Brown regardless of who Trump endorses, may be important. In any event, it is a sure thing that we all shall grow tired of the incessant ads to which we are about to be subjected. Finally, whether independents and anti-Trump Republicans will vote for any GOP nominee if it means a Senate which supports the president may be a determining factor.

6. Gubernatorial election. Having just completed her first year as governor, Kelly Ayotte has to run again as well as run the state in her second year. Traditionally, governors have been elected to a second term, and both parties know it. Whether the Democrats can attract and fund a viable candidate to oppose Ayotte may be important not only in that race, but in all the state races farther down the ballot in November. With the Senate and House elections also on the ballot, voters will have a lot to think about in the voting booth.

7. State legislative, Executive Council and county elections. Nonpresidential election years often see the party out of power do better in legislative elections, both nationally and in-state. The Republicans have strong majorities in both houses of the New Hampshire Legislature and a 4-1 advantage on the Executive Council. The story will be how the party balance is after the November election, and whether the Democrats can eat into the GOP dominance. Also, a subplot will be to see how many so-called “free staters” are elected among the Republican representatives, who now are credited with being able to enact some of the more extreme and controversial measures that came out of the 2025 legislative session. With 400 state representatives and 24 senators, voters need to do a lot of homework to determine what all those candidates on the ballot believe.

8. U.S. Supreme Court decisions. What the U.S. Supreme Court does with the many cases coming to it concerning the actions of the executive branch next year may shape the form of the government fundamentally. Presidential power to dismiss regulators assumed to be independent, the power over state national guards, the meaning of “birthright citizenship,” limits on unilateral international action, and a host of other constitutional questions will be addressed, and will affect us for years.

9. Congressional power. Congress has not been assertive in 2025. Whether it will assert itself in 2026 will be a major story.

10. President Trump. It is safe to say he will remain a major story and impossible to predict.

We live in interesting times. Happy New Year!

Brad Cook is a Manchester attorney. The views expressed in this column are his own. He can be reached at bradfordcook01@gmail.com.