Age has long been a point of debate in American politics, but it becomes especially controversial when lawmakers remain in office well beyond traditional retirement years. As the nation grapples with issues like healthcare, technology, and economic change, questions naturally arise about how age, generation status, and experience influence leadership at the highest levels of government. For some voters, longevity in office represents wisdom; for others, it raises concerns about representation and outdated reasoning.
In Congress, there is no mandatory retirement age, allowing members to serve as long as voters continue to elect them. This has resulted in a growing number of lawmakers who are decades past the age when most Americans leave the workforce. These members of Congress continue to hold significant influence over national policy, making their age a topic of increasing public debate.
This post was updated on February 5, 2026.
Why Congress Does Not Have Term Limits
Interestingly enough, while the President has had term limits since 1951, members of Congress have had no such restrictions as the goal was to only stop an “elective monarchy” by allowing a President to hold office indefinitely. Considering that a September 2023 Pew Research Center study indicated that 87% of respondents support term limits for Congress, public support exists.
What Would It Take to Establish Congressional Term Limits?
The easiest method to establish congressional term limits would require changing the Constitution. This is no easy task and would begin with requiring an approval vote from individuals who would be limited in how long they can remain in office. The House has voted on congressional term limits multiple times; each failed to reach the required supermajority.
How Would a Law or Amendment Pass?
The conventional path to approving an amendment changing the Constitution and enacting term limits calls for two-thirds of the House and Senate to propose language to the states and then requiring three-quarters of state assemblies to vote in favor of the proposed amendment. A second path is for Article V of the constitutional convention to be enacted, requiring 34 states to call a convention and 38 states to ratify an amendment initiating term limits. As it stands, in 2024, this process has never happened before in US history.
What is the Likelihood a Term Limit Amendment Passes?
Both Democrat and Republican constituents agree on supporting term limits, though experts say passage is unlikely. Political experts and scholars often say that term limits won’t solve the core problem most Americans have with Congress, in that few Americans trust these elected individuals regardless of party affiliation.
Adding to the argument is that the 16 states with term limits for state legislators have seen an opposite effect of what was intended with term limits. These limitations have forced legislators to become more concerned about winning over their party to achieve the next step in their political future instead of worrying about advocating for their constituents. Given this, the likelihood of any amendment passing soon is nearly zero.
16. Richard Durbin
- Current age: 80
- Date of Birth: November 21, 1944
- Serving Since: 1997
- Number of terms: 5
Senior Senator from Illinois
The senior Senator from Illinois, Dick Durbin, has been the Senate Democratic whip since 2005, as well as the chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights and Financial Services and General Government. Durbin has also strongly influenced the provision of funds to improve Illinois roads, bridges, and infrastructure.
15. Jim Risch
- Current age: 81
- Date of Birth: May 3, 1943
- Serving Since: 2008
- Number of terms: 3
Junior Senator from Idaho
Jim Risch, the junior Senator from Idaho, was previously the state’s governor and was one of 22 senators who asked President Trump to withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement. Risch has been a key figure in improving cybersecurity resources for small businesses and giving these businesses access to more capital.
14. Ben Cardin
- Current age: 81
- Date of Birth: October 5, 1943
- Serving Since: 2006
- Number of terms: 3
Senior Senator from Maryland
Ben Cardin, the senior Senator from Maryland, was previously a member of the House and was one of the senators who called for President Trump’s impeachment following the January 6th insurrection. He also worked with Senator Marco Rubio to ensure transparency across all US foreign aid assistance.
13. John Carter
- Current age: 83
- Date of Birth: November 6, 1941
- Serving Since: 2003
- Number of terms: 11
Big Texas Representative
Representing Texas’ 31st congressional district, John Carter has been in office since 2002. Carter famously co-sponsored a bill requiring birth certificates from presidential candidates in 2009 in response to theories President Obama wasn’t a natural-born citizen.
12. Frederica Wilson
- Current age: 82
- Date of Birth: November 5, 1942
- Serving Since: 2013
- Number of terms: 7
Job Creator
From Florida’s 24th congressional district, she has taken a vocal stance on issues related to bullying and hazing as well as police shootings after the death of Trayvon Martin, who was a resident of her district.
11. Bernie Sanders
- Current age: 82
- Date of Birth: September 8, 1941
- Serving Since: 2006
- Number of terms: 3
Former Presidential Candidate
An outspoken left-wing Senator from Vermont, Bernie Sanders is the longest-serving independent in congressional history. Sanders is a strong proponent of civil rights and banking reform and opposed the Patriot Act and the War in Iraq. Sanders is known as the “amendment king” for famously adding more roll-call amendments than any other congressman since 1995.
10. Mitch McConnell
- Current age: 82
- Date of Birth: February 20, 1942
- Serving Since: 1984
- Number of terms: 7
Former Senate Party Leader
A seven-time US Senator from Kentucky, Mitch McConnell once served as the Senate Minority Leader (he stepped down in 2024); he frequently used the filibuster to block President Obama’s initiatives. Under McConnell’s leadership, the Senate passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and the Great American Outdoors Act.
9. Danny K. Davis
- Current age: 83
- Date of Birth: September 6, 1941
- Serving Since: 1997
- Number of terms: 14
Key Affordable Care Act Participant
From Illinois’ 7th congressional district, which represents pro-choice and single-payer healthcare platforms, Davis has also supported numerous apprenticeship programs. Davis is highly regarded for his work in stewarding the Affordable Care Act through Congress and improving child welfare funding.
8. Nancy Pelosi
- Current age: 84
- Date of Birth: March 26, 1940
- Serving Since: 1987
- Number of terms: 19
Former Speaker of the House
The most powerful Democratic member of the House, Nancy Pelosi, has served as Speaker twice, the first woman to do so. She represents California’s 11th district. Pelosi led the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in 2009, which provided job and economic relief after the housing crisis.
7. James Clyburn
- Current age: 84
- Date of Birth: July 21, 1940
- Serving Since: 1993
- Number of terms: 16
Powerful House Member
James Clyburn, a representative from South Carolina’s 6th congressional district, was the third-ranking House member from 2007 until 2023. Clyburn helped develop the 10-20-30 formula for establishing federal guidelines around allocating resources to those below the poverty line.
6. Steny H. Hoyer
- Current age: 85
- Date of Birth: June 14, 1939
- Serving Since: 1981
- Number of terms: 21
Previous House Majority Leader
For almost twenty years until 2023, Steny H. Hoyer was the second-ranking Democrat in the House behind Nancy Pelosi and a two-time House majority leader. Hoyer played a major role recently in passing the Chips and Science Act and historically, in passing the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, a landmark civil rights legislation.
5. Maxine Waters
- Current age: 86
- Date of Birth: August 5, 1938
- Serving Since: 1990
- Number of terms: 17
Outspoken about Urban Affairs
Maxine Waters, a prominent member of the Democratic party, serves the 43rd District of California in the House. She has been outspoken about the disrepair of urban cities in the US, especially South Central Los Angeles. Waters chaired the Congressional Black Caucus from 1997 to 1998.
4. Harold Rogers
- Current age: 86
- Date of Birth: December 31, 1937
- Serving Since: 1980
- Number of terms: 22
Kentucky’s Longest Serving Congressman
Hailing from Kentucky, Hal Rogers has been serving his state since 1980. In that time, he has tirelessly fought to ensure first responders in his home state have plenty of money to protect against terrorist threats. Rogers was the first to chair the subcommittee on Homeland Security, which was established after 9/11.
3. Eleanor Holmes Norton
- Current age: 87
- Date of Birth: June 13, 1937
- Serving Since: 1991
- Number of terms: 17
District of Columbia
Serving as the congressional delegate to the U.S. House from the District of Columbia, Eleanor Holmes Norton has helped provide D.C. high school graduates with funds for school and a homebuyer tax credit for D.C. residents. Norton is also a tireless campaigner to give DC full voting rights in Congress.
2. Grace Napolitano
- Current age: 88
- Date of Birth: December 4, 1936
- Serving Since: 1999
- Number of terms: 13
Not Returning In 2025
The second oldest serving member of Congress, Grace Napolitano, serving out of California’s 31st district, Napolitano announced she would not run for re-election in 2025. Napolitano secured over $26 billion to boost California’s infrastructure, specifically around roads, bridges, and the transit system.
1. Senators Charles (Chuck) E. Grassley
- Current age: 91
- Date of Birth: September 17, 1933
- Serving Since: 1981
- Number of terms: 8
Oldest Member of Congress
The current president pro tempore, Chuck Grassley, has served over four decades in the Senate since 1981. Grassley represents the state of Iowa and is currently the oldest sitting US Senator and member of Congress. Grassley is also a tireless defender of whistleblower laws, which has helped recover over $28 billion in fraudulent spending.
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