Stefany Shaheen holds the lead in New Hampshire’s First Congressional District Democratic primary due to strong name recognition from her family’s political legacy and consistent early polling advantages in an open race created by the incumbent’s Senate bid. Maura Sullivan remains competitive through superior fundraising totals and cash reserves, along with her background as a Marine Corps veteran and former Defense Department official. Recent candidate forums in Manchester have allowed all contenders—including Carleigh Beriont and Heath Howard—to address shared priorities such as housing costs, healthcare access, and immigration policy, though these events have not shifted the established ordering. The September 8 primary date leaves room for further developments in spending and endorsements to influence the outcome.