Dr. Karishma Manzur, a Bangladeshi-American medical scientist
Noman Sabit: Dr. Karishma Manzur, a Bangladeshi-American medical scientist, nonprofit leader and progressive activist, is seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination for the U.S. Senate from New Hampshire. Bringing more than two decades of experience in medical research, along with years of civic and political engagement, she has entered the 2026 election race.
A resident of Exeter, Manzur has made lowering the cost of living, universal health care, campaign finance reform, environmental protection and a diplomacy-first foreign policy key priorities of her campaign. She formally filed her candidacy for the U.S. Senate in June 2026.
New Hampshire’s Democratic primary is scheduled for September 8. Manzur is among several candidates competing for the party’s nomination.
From Medical Science to Public Service
Karishma Manzur holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and has more than two decades of experience in medical research. Her work has focused particularly on neurological and psychiatric conditions, including epilepsy and depression.
According to her campaign biography, Manzur graduated from the Cambridge School of Weston in 1991. She earned a B.S. in Neuroscience from the University of Rochester in 1998 and completed her Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in 2004.
A significant part of her professional career has involved medical research and writing in neurology, epilepsy and psychiatric pharmacology. According to her campaign, research to which she contributed has appeared in scientific and medical publications including Epilepsy & Behavior, Brain and Behavior, Epilepsia, BMJ journals and the American Journal of Psychiatry.
Alongside her scientific career, Manzur has long been involved in civic and nonprofit organizations. She has held leadership roles with New Hampshire Ranked Choice Voting and New Hampshire Open Democracy Action and previously served on the board of New Hampshire Peace Action. Her involvement in these organizations has also been reported by independent news outlets.
Active in Peace and Grassroots Advocacy
Manzur has played an active role in grassroots initiatives involving democratic reform, workers’ rights, environmental protection and peace advocacy.
In Exeter, she has been involved in civic initiatives concerning the Israel-Hamas war and U.S. foreign policy. According to her campaign, she worked to advance resolutions calling for de-escalation and a bilateral ceasefire, the release of hostages and the immediate entry of humanitarian assistance into Gaza.
Her campaign also says she helped advance five ballot measures in Exeter in 2025 addressing issues including military budget reform, humanitarian assistance for Gaza, campaign finance reform and environmental protection.
Manzur is also an advocate for ranked-choice voting and stronger labor unions. She has testified before New Hampshire state lawmakers on a range of public-interest issues.
Pledge to Reduce the Influence of Big Money in Politics
A central theme of Manzur’s campaign as a progressive candidate is reducing the influence of large corporations and special-interest money in American politics.
Her campaign says she does not accept corporate PAC contributions. According to Federal Election Commission records, her campaign had reported more than $206,000 in total receipts through June 30, 2026, including more than $181,000 in individual contributions and a $25,000 loan from the candidate.
If elected to the Senate, Manzur says she will work to curb the influence of big money in politics, expand affordable housing, establish universal child care, advance universal health coverage including Medicare for All, protect the environment, and promote a more humane and diplomacy-driven foreign policy.
She has also called for stronger restrictions on corporate PACs, dark money and outside special-interest influence in Democratic primary elections.
Manzur considers her scientific background an important part of her approach to policymaking, arguing that public policy should be guided by evidence and measurable outcomes.
According to her campaign, if elected, Karishma Manzur would become the first woman with a Ph.D. in a scientific field to serve in the United States Senate.
After more than two decades in medical research and years of nonprofit leadership and grassroots activism, Manzur is now seeking to bring that experience into elected office. New Hampshire voters will determine the next stage of that political journey in September.
Daughter of Bangladesh Liberation War Sector Commander M.A. Manzur
Karishma Manzur is the daughter of Major General Muhammad Abul Manzur, a prominent sector commander during Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War and one of the senior military officers of independent Bangladesh.
During the Liberation War, M.A. Manzur commanded Sector 8 and led armed resistance against Pakistani forces. In recognition of his courage and contribution to the war, the Bangladesh government awarded him Bir Uttom, the country’s second-highest gallantry award.
Following independence, Manzur held several important positions in the Bangladesh Army. His life, however, ended tragically and amid controversy in 1981 during the military and political turmoil that followed the assassination of President Ziaur Rahman in Chittagong.
Meanwhile, members of the Bangladeshi community in New England are scheduled to hold a virtual fundraising event at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 25, in support of Karishma Manzur’s U.S. Senate campaign.
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