New Hampshire's Shaheen, who turned 78 in January, was the first woman elected to serve as both a governor and senator in the United States.

Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat from the U.S. state of New Hampshire, will not seek reelection next year, a decision that will end the longtime senator's historic political career and deals a significant blow to Democrats who were already facing a difficult path to reclaiming the Senate majority.

New Hampshire's Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen announced Tuesday that she will retire next year from the U.S. Senate.