Maggie Hassan

Maggie Hassan
Born	Margaret Coldwell Wood 27 2, 1958
Birthplace	Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, attorney
Known for	81st Governor of New Hampshire, U.S. Senator from New Hampshire
Education	Brown University (B.A.) Northeastern University School of Law (J.D.)
Children	2
Website	[Official U.S. Senate website Official site]

Margaret Coldwell Hassan (née Wood; born February 27, 1958), known as Maggie Hassan, is an American politician and attorney serving as a United States senator from New Hampshire since January 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Hassan previously served as the 81st Governor of New Hampshire from 2013 to 2017, and before that as a member of the New Hampshire Senate from 2004 to 2010, including a term as majority leader. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Hassan graduated from Brown University and earned her law degree from Northeastern University School of Law. She practiced law in Boston before entering public life in New Hampshire. Her path to the U.S. Senate included one of the closest Senate races in the 2016 election cycle, in which she defeated incumbent Republican Kelly Ayotte by roughly 1,000 votes. Hassan serves alongside Jeanne Shaheen, another former governor of New Hampshire. Hassan, Shaheen, and Ayotte are the only women in United States history to have been elected both governor and U.S. senator. Hassan is expected to become New Hampshire's senior senator and the dean of the state's congressional delegation upon Shaheen's retirement in 2027.

Early Life

Margaret Coldwell Wood was born on February 27, 1958, in Boston, Massachusetts. She grew up in the Boston area and later attended Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, where she earned her undergraduate degree. After completing her undergraduate education, she enrolled at the Northeastern University School of Law in Boston, earning her Juris Doctor (J.D.) in 1985.

Following law school, Hassan joined the Boston law firm Palmer & Dodge, where she began her legal career. She later moved to an in-house legal position, working as associate general counsel for Brigham and Women's Hospital, one of the major teaching hospitals affiliated with Harvard Medical School. Her legal career in the Boston area provided her with experience in health care law and institutional governance before she transitioned into public service in New Hampshire.

Hassan's personal life became a significant factor in her later advocacy work. She and her husband, Thomas Hassan, who later served as principal of Phillips Exeter Academy, have two children. Their son, Ben, was born with cerebral palsy, an experience that Hassan has cited as shaping her views on disability policy, health care access, and education. The family's relocation to New Hampshire, where Thomas Hassan took up his position at Phillips Exeter Academy, set the stage for Maggie Hassan's entry into state politics.

Education

Hassan received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. She subsequently attended the Northeastern University School of Law in Boston, from which she earned her Juris Doctor degree in 1985. Her legal education at Northeastern, which was known for its cooperative education program integrating classroom study with practical legal experience, helped prepare her for her subsequent career in both private law practice and public service.

Career

Early Legal Career

After graduating from Northeastern University School of Law in 1985, Hassan entered private legal practice at Palmer & Dodge, a prominent Boston-based law firm. She subsequently served as associate general counsel at Brigham and Women's Hospital, where she worked on legal matters related to hospital administration and health care policy. These roles gave her a foundation in both corporate law and the complex regulatory environment surrounding health care institutions.

New Hampshire Senate (2004–2010)

Hassan first ran for the New Hampshire Senate in 2002, seeking to represent the 23rd district. She lost that race to the Republican incumbent, Russell Prescott. Undeterred, Hassan ran for the same seat in 2004 and won, beginning her service in the New Hampshire Senate in December 2004.

During her time in the state senate, Hassan focused on issues including education funding, health care, and business development. In 2008, she was elevated by her Democratic colleagues to the position of Majority Leader of the New Hampshire Senate, succeeding Joseph Foster in the role. As majority leader, Hassan played a central role in shaping the legislative agenda of the New Hampshire Senate during a period that included the onset of the Great Recession and its effects on state budgets and services.

Hassan's tenure as a state senator included notable legislative activity. Records from the New Hampshire General Court document her participation in floor votes and committee work on a range of bills, including budget measures and policy legislation.

In 2010, Hassan faced a rematch with Russell Prescott, who had defeated her in 2002. In the political environment of the 2010 midterm elections, which saw significant Republican gains nationally and in New Hampshire, Hassan lost her seat to Prescott. Her successor as majority leader was Republican Jeb Bradley.

Governor of New Hampshire (2013–2017)

2012 Gubernatorial Campaign

Following her departure from the state senate, Hassan announced her candidacy for Governor of New Hampshire in 2011. In the Democratic primary, she defeated former state senator Jacalyn Cilley, securing the party's nomination. The general election pitted Hassan against Republican nominee Ovide M. Lamontagne, a conservative attorney and former chair of the New Hampshire Board of Education.

The 2012 general election campaign was characterized by sharp contrasts between the two candidates. Media coverage described the contest as one in which both candidates sought to portray the other as holding extreme positions. Hassan received campaign support from prominent national Democrats, including former President Bill Clinton, who traveled to New Hampshire to campaign on her behalf. Hassan won the general election, succeeding fellow Democrat John Lynch, who had declined to seek a fifth term.

First Term (2013–2015)

Hassan took office as the 81st Governor of New Hampshire on January 3, 2013. Her first year in office was the subject of an evaluation by New Hampshire Magazine, which graded her performance across several policy areas. As governor, Hassan worked with a legislature that included a Republican-controlled state house for portions of her tenure, requiring bipartisan negotiation on key legislation.

During her first term, Hassan focused on economic development, education, and the state budget. She also became an advocate for addressing the opioid epidemic, which had a significant impact on New Hampshire communities. Her administration pursued expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, a contentious issue in a state with a strong libertarian political tradition.

2014 Re-election

Hassan ran for re-election in 2014 and won a second two-year term as governor. Official results from the New Hampshire Secretary of State confirmed her victory in the general election. New Hampshire is one of only two states (along with Vermont) that hold gubernatorial elections every two years, requiring governors to face the electorate more frequently than their counterparts in other states.

Second Term and National Profile

During her second term, Hassan continued her focus on combating the opioid crisis, economic development, and education policy. She gained a higher national profile within the Democratic Party, serving as vice chair of the Democratic Governors Association. She also served as a superdelegate at the 2016 Democratic National Convention.

Her tenure as governor came to a close on January 2, 2017, when she resigned to take her seat in the U.S. Senate. Chuck Morse, the president of the New Hampshire Senate, served as acting governor for the brief period before Chris Sununu was inaugurated.

U.S. Senate (2017–present)

2016 Senate Campaign

In October 2015, Hassan announced her candidacy for the United States Senate seat held by Republican incumbent Kelly Ayotte. The race was immediately identified as one of the most competitive and consequential Senate contests of the 2016 cycle. The Washington Post described the matchup between Hassan and Ayotte as "2016's toughest Senate matchup."

Hassan received early national endorsements, including from EMILY's List, which was her first major national endorsement in the Senate race. During the campaign, Hassan outlined her priorities, citing climate change and women's reproductive rights as issues she would focus on if elected to the Senate.

The race attracted substantial outside spending. An analysis by New Hampshire Public Radio found that Hassan's victory was "powered by $11 million in outside spending," reflecting the national significance of the contest in the broader battle for control of the Senate. Boston Magazine profiled the race as one of the most closely watched in the nation, noting the personal and political dynamics at play in a state known for its independent-minded electorate.

Hassan defeated Ayotte by approximately 1,000 votes, a margin of about 0.1%, making it one of the closest Senate races in the country in 2016. The result was not officially called for several days after Election Day. Hassan took office on January 3, 2017.

First Senate Term (2017–2023)

In the Senate, Hassan has served on multiple committees, including the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee. She has focused on issues including cybersecurity, border security, health care, veterans' affairs, and the opioid crisis.

Hassan's committee work has given her a platform to engage on homeland security matters, government oversight, and economic policy. She has been involved in bipartisan legislative efforts on issues such as cybersecurity preparedness and border security technology.

2022 Re-election

Hassan was re-elected to the U.S. Senate in 2022, securing a second six-year term. Her re-election solidified her position within the New Hampshire congressional delegation.

Second Senate Term (2023–present)

In January 2025, Hassan became the ranking member of the Joint Economic Committee, succeeding David Schweikert. In this role, she has been involved in oversight of economic policy and conditions affecting American households.

Hassan has continued her work on the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, pressing Department of Veterans Affairs officials on access to care for veterans in rural communities, an issue of particular relevance to New Hampshire.

As a senior member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Hassan has been active in oversight of the Department of Homeland Security. In February 2026, she called on the DHS Inspector General to open an investigation into DHS Secretary Kristi Noem following testimony by the director of ICE. She also requested that the DHS Inspector General examine potential bias in investigations related to the deaths of two U.S. citizens killed by federal agents in Minneapolis, citing concerns about characterizations by Trump administration officials.

In addition, Hassan and the broader New Hampshire congressional delegation have urged Secretary Noem to engage with local officials in Merrimack, New Hampshire, regarding a proposed ICE facility, reflecting ongoing concerns about the establishment of immigration detention centers in local communities. The issue prompted bipartisan legislative activity, with a new bill introduced to require DHS to notify Congress and obtain local approval before opening new processing and detention facilities.

Personal Life

Hassan married Thomas Hassan, an educator who served as principal of Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire. The couple has two children. Their son, Ben, was born with cerebral palsy, which has been a significant influence on Hassan's policy interests, particularly in the areas of disability rights, special education, and health care access.

The Hassan family's connection to the Exeter community and the broader Seacoast region of New Hampshire has been a consistent element of Hassan's political identity, grounding her campaigns and public service in local concerns even as she rose to statewide and national office. Hassan has spoken publicly about the experiences of families caring for individuals with disabilities, using her personal story to advocate for policy changes at both the state and federal levels.

Recognition

Hassan's 2016 Senate victory over Kelly Ayotte placed her among a small number of women in American history who have served as both governor and U.S. senator. She shares this distinction with Jeanne Shaheen, her fellow New Hampshire senator, and with Ayotte herself, who was subsequently elected governor of New Hampshire. This makes New Hampshire notable as the only state to have produced three women who have held both offices.

Hassan's role as majority leader of the New Hampshire Senate, her two terms as governor, and her service in the U.S. Senate have established her as one of the most prominent political figures in New Hampshire's modern history. Her rise from a first-time candidate who lost her initial state senate race in 2002 to a two-term governor and U.S. senator reflects the competitive and unpredictable nature of New Hampshire politics.

Her work on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee has given her a substantive role in federal oversight and policy development. As of 2026, she continues to serve as a member of the Senate Democratic caucus and holds the position of ranking member of the Joint Economic Committee.