Stefany Shaheen Enters Congressional Race, Citing Healthcare Concerns
This story first appeared in Granite Post
Stefany Shaheen, a former Portsmouth City Council member and advocate for chronic disease research, has announced her candidacy as the Democratic nominee for New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District. Her decision follows the appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for his skepticism of vaccines and science, as the secretary of Health and Human Services by Donald Trump.
“That was a bridge too far for me,” Shaheen, the daughter of retiring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D), shared with the Granite Post. After Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas chose to campaign for the US Senate seat vacated by her mother, Shaheen saw a chance to champion healthcare access and evidence-based medicine.
Healthcare as a Personal Mission
Shaheen’s commitment to healthcare reform is deeply personal. Recalling her grandfather’s battle with polio and her daughter Elle’s near-fatal diabetic coma, she emphasizes the importance of medical research and accessible healthcare. Elle, now 26, still faces challenges in securing her insulin prescription annually.
“On our journey, we’ve seen just how broken the healthcare system is,” Shaheen remarked. She is actively involved in fundraising for Breakthrough T1D, previously the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Recent federal changes could see up to 29,000 Granite Staters losing Medicaid coverage. Furthermore, health insurance premiums are expected to rise by 22% on average this year in New Hampshire, following cuts to healthcare funding.
“It’s outrageous,” Shaheen said, expressing concern over Kennedy’s misinformation on vaccines and reductions in clinical trials for diseases like Alzheimer’s and cancer.
Economic Policies and Taxation
Shaheen also targets economic issues, advocating for taxing the ultra-wealthy to alleviate financial burdens on the middle class. She criticizes the lack of taxation on large corporations like Palantir and highlights the disproportionate tax rates between teachers and billionaires.
“We have higher costs for healthcare, higher costs for energy prices, including gas and oil. We have higher costs for groceries,” she noted. Shaheen believes in redirecting resources to solve wealth inequality, citing RAND Corporation research on economic shifts favoring the top 1% since the late 1970s.
Her strategy includes expanding tax credits to promote affordable housing development, an area of expertise for her husband, Craig Welch, the executive director of the Portsmouth Housing Authority.
Opposition to Tariffs and Foreign Policy
Shaheen criticizes Trump administration tariffs, advocating for compensation to affected businesses. “Ninety percent of New Hampshire business is small business,” she explained, citing difficulties in sourcing materials and impacts on local events like Laconia’s Motorcycle Week.
Regarding foreign policy, she opposes Trump’s actions in Iran, calling for congressional oversight. “President Trump promised he would end forever wars. Instead, he launched a dangerous war in a volatile region,” she stated in a statement urging a congressional vote on the conflict.
Reproductive Rights and Campaign Support
Shaheen champions reproductive rights, decrying the current administration’s stance. “What’s so disheartening for me is the idea that my daughters have fewer rights to their own bodily autonomy than I did when I was their age,” she stated, advocating for national reproductive freedom legislation.
Her campaign is a collaborative effort with her family, drawing on her experience from her mother’s political campaigns. With her children’s support, particularly in social media, Shaheen is prepared for the challenges of her congressional run. “I knew what I was getting into, I knew how hard it was,” she said.
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