Congress needs a Succession Plan
Congressional Tenure Analysis & Age Benchmarks:
The Data on America's Generational Gap in Political Leadership
87% of voters support a congressional retirement age of 75.
Yet 53 House members will exceed that age by the 2026 midterms.
A Generational Gap in U.S. Political Leadership
Support for 75-Year Retirement Age
| Voter Group | Support Level |
|---|---|
| All Voters | 87% favor |
| Democrats | 89% favor |
| Independents | 84% favor |
| Republicans | 86% favor |
Support for 70-Year Retirement Age
| Voter Group | Support Level |
|---|---|
| All Voters | 81% favor |
| Democrats | 82% favor |
| Independents | 85% favor |
| Republicans | 78% favor |
Source: Change Research, August 2025
North Dakota Precedent
In June 2024, North Dakota passed Measure 1 with 61% approval, making it illegal to run for Congress if a candidate would turn 81 before the end of their term. This ballot initiative demonstrates growing momentum for age-based reform at the state level.
Congress Does Not Reflect the Age of American Voters
U.S. legislative leaders are significantly older than the voting population, creating a disconnect with today's economy and society.
The Age Gap
- Half of registered voters are under 55
- 80% of U.S. Senators are 55 or older
- 20%+ of U.S. lawmakers are over 70 (vs. <4% in most Western democracies)
Democrats vs. Republicans
| Age Group | Democratic Lawmakers | Republican Lawmakers | Registered Voters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 75+ years old | ~20% | ~7% | 10% |
The disparity is largely due to structural differences: Republican committees adopted a three-term (six-year) limit under Gingrich's Contract for America in 1995. Democratic committees have no such term limits.
Members of Congress Over 75 by the 2026 Midterms
House Members 85+ Years Old
Democrats
| Member | Age (Nov 2026) | District |
|---|---|---|
| Eleanor Holmes Norton | 89 | DC-0 |
| Maxine Waters | 88 | CA-43 |
| Steny H. Hoyer | 87 | MD-5 |
| James E. Clyburn | 86 | SC-6 |
| Nancy Pelosi* | 86 | CA-11 |
| Danny K. Davis* | 85 | IL-7 |
Republicans
| Member | Age (Nov 2026) | District |
|---|---|---|
| Harold Rogers | 88 | KY-5 |
* Indicates retiring
House Members 80-84 Years Old
Democrats (11 members)
- Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3, 83)
- Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24, 83)
- Emanuel Cleaver (MO-5, 82)
- Doris O. Matsui (CA-7, 82)
- Janice D. Schakowsky (IL-9, 82)
- John Garamendi (CA-8, 81)
- David Scott (GA-13, 81)
- Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12, 81)
- Lloyd Doggett (TX-37, 80)
- Marcy Kaptur (OH-9, 80)
- Alma S. Adams (NC-12, 80)
Republicans (3 members)
- John R. Carter (TX-31, 84)
- Virginia Foxx (NC-5, 83)
- James R. Baird (IN-4, 81)
Senate Retirement Age Analysis
14 Senate Democrats and 12 Senate Republicans will meet or exceed age 75 by their next election cycle, including:
- Bernard Sanders (VT, 2030): 89 years old
- Angus S. King Jr. (ME, 2030): 86 years old
- Chuck Grassley (IA, 2028): 95 years old
- Mitch McConnell* (KY, 2026): 84 years old
How the U.S. Compares to Other Democracies
In peer democracies, legislative leaders are typically younger and retire earlier—even without mandatory retirement ages.
| Country | Lawmakers 71+ | Leadership Age | Avg Tenure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 4% | 50s–early 60s | 4-8 years |
| Germany | 2% | 50s–early 60s | 4-8 years |
| France | 3% | 50s–early 60s | 4-7 years |
| Norway | 1% | 50–60s | 1-2 terms |
| Sweden | 1% | 50–60s | 1-2 terms |
| Spain | 1% | ~50s | Rotation |
| Australia | 3% | 50–60s | 4-8 years |
| United States | 20% | 55 (GOP) – 70s (Dems) | Up to 6-8 terms |
The United States is a significant outlier: more than 5x the proportion of lawmakers over 70 compared to Western European democracies.
Democratic Committee Leaders Average Nearly 70 Years Old
House committee leadership shows a stark age divide between parties:
| Metric | Democrats | Republicans |
|---|---|---|
| Average Committee Leader Age | 68 | 61 |
| Leaders Over 70 | 11 | 5 |
Largest Age Gaps (Democrat Ranking Member vs. Republican Chair)
| Committee | Republican Chair | Age | Democratic RM | Age | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ways and Means | Jason Smith | 45 | Richard E. Neal | 76 | +31 |
| Foreign Affairs | Brian J. Mast | 45 | Gregory W. Meeks | 72 | +27 |
| House Administration | Bryan Steil | 44 | Joseph D. Morelle | 68 | +24 |
| Financial Services | J. French Hill | 68 | Maxine Waters | 87 | +19 |
Many Democratic ranking members are 20-30 years older than the average committee member.
U.S. Senators Have the Highest Median Age of Any Profession
Compared to all U.S. job categories by median age:
- Restaurant hosts: ~19 years
- Bartenders, retail sales: ~30s
- Lawyers, secretaries: ~40s
- Median House Member: ~58 years
- Median Senator: ~64 years
The average retirement age of a Fortune 500 CEO is 62 years. The average age a Congressional Democrat retires is approximately 70 years—8 years later than private sector leadership.
The Case for Congressional Renewal
Younger members bring more diverse experience and stronger connections to today's economy and workforce.
Outside Experience
Members of Congress under 75 bring more diverse experience to lawmaking:
| Group | Share of Career in Congress |
|---|---|
| House Democrats 75+ | 47% |
| House Republicans 75+ | 34% |
| House Democrats under 75 | 29% |
| House Republicans under 75 | 25% |
Younger members spend a smaller portion of their careers in Congress, bringing more private sector and civic experience to their roles.
Democratic Engagement
Gen Z turnout lags other generations, and only 27% have confidence the country is headed in the right direction (vs. 48% of all adults). Leadership that reflects the electorate could improve democratic engagement.
Download the Full Congressional Tenure Analysis
Get the complete 23-page analysis including:
- Member-by-member data for all 535 members of Congress
- Age projections through the 2026, 2028, and 2030 elections
- Global benchmarks comparing 8 peer democracies
- Detailed visualizations and data tables
- Committee leadership analysis by chamber and party
About This Analysis
Leadership Now Project's analysis products aim to create a data-driven foundation for change. This analysis of Congressional tenure, benchmarked across parties and other nations, provides a fact base for reform by Democrats and Republicans alike.
The purpose of this work is to encourage leaders to proactively support new talent that better reflects the electorate—not to single out individuals.
We applaud recent actions, like the retirements of highly-tenured Members of Congress such as Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Jerry Nadler, as the type of proactive leadership we need.
For additional information:
- Visit leadershipnowproject.org
- Contact: dan.mathis@leadershipnowproject.org