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marmar

(79,322 posts)
Thu Jan 15, 2026, 10:27 AM Thursday

24 members of Congress are 80 or older. More than half are running for re-election. [View all]


(NBC News) WASHINGTON — Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 85, is heading for the exits after nearly four decades in Congress. So is her longtime deputy, Rep. Steny Hoyer, 86, and former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, 83.

But of the two dozen members of the Silent Generation now serving in the 119th Congress, more than half (13) have decided to run again in 2026, according to an NBC News review.

In total, this Congress is the third-oldest in U.S. history, with an average age of 58.9 years at the start of this session one year ago. The median age in the U.S. is 39.1.

Among Congress’ 24 Silent Generation members (defined as those born from 1928 to 1945, from the start of the Great Depression to the end of World War II), the average age is 83.8. Most are Democrats. Sen. Chuck Grassley (92) is the oldest, and Rep. David Scott (80) is the youngest. Seven members of the cohort are 85 or older. ..................(more)

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/congress-oldest-members-run-reelection-80s-rcna249479




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Personally, I can't see working past age 70. Redleg Thursday #1
Power can be intoxicating and hard to give up mucifer Thursday #2
Its time for a change. I have always wanted younger people in government. Srkdqltr Thursday #3
I don't think it is necessarily just age related but Congress is dysfunctional. walkingman Thursday #4
Part of the reason it's dysfunctional is no new people or ideas. We can't do thing as we did in 1980. Srkdqltr Thursday #5
True....and we didn't do very well even then (Ronnie Raygun) ☮ walkingman Thursday #6
DU skews older so any mention of primarying these very old reps gets slammed Arazi Thursday #7
Im 84. I think no one over 75 should run. Older people should be primaried. We need our Srkdqltr Thursday #9
We need new blood in Congress! karin_sj Thursday #8
Here's the list of current House members who will be 80 or older on Election day 2026 Wiz Imp Thursday #10
There are younger people running against David Scott in GA. Dulcinea Thursday #14
16 of the 20 are Democrats! doubleplusgood Thursday #16
Yeah, but 3 of the 4 oldest Senators are Republicans Wiz Imp Thursday #17
Just saying.......... republianmushroom Thursday #11
There are 8 current Senators who will be 80 or older on election day Wiz Imp Thursday #12
There really needs to be an amendment that requires a retirement age. Initech Thursday #13
Not sure the 80 cohort is the real problem in Congress maxsolomon Thursday #15
DURec leftstreet Thursday #18
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