{"id":2645864,"date":"2026-08-17T06:49:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T10:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/here-are-the-10-oldest-members-of-congress-running-for-reelection\/"},"modified":"2026-08-17T06:50:38","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T10:50:38","slug":"here-are-the-10-oldest-members-of-congress-running-for-reelection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/here-are-the-10-oldest-members-of-congress-running-for-reelection\/","title":{"rendered":"Here are the 10 oldest members of Congress running for reelection"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhere-are-the-10-oldest-members-of-congress-running-for-reelection%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2645864&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Many of Congress&#8217;s oldest members,most of whom hold safe seats,are running for reelection. The average age of House members at the start of the current Congress was nearly 58 years, with the Senate averaging around 64. Notably, Senators like 92-year-old Chuck Grassley adn several house members in their late 80s and early 80s, such as Rep.Hal Rogers (88), Rep. Maxine Waters (87), and Rep. jim Clyburn (86), are seeking another term. Most of these aging incumbents typically face little competition because they have secured primary victories. This ongoing demographic issue has prompted discussion and concern across party lines about generational change, especially following recent deaths of sitting members and primary losses of younger candidates. Some races, like that of Rep. Doris Matsui and others, are contested, but many older lawmakers remain in what are considered safe districts, ensuring their continued presence in Congress.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/capitol-hill\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"2382\">Capitol Hill<\/a> has long been called a \u201cretirement home,\u201d as well over 100 House members and half the Senate are over the age of 65. That reputation doesn\u2019t look due to change anytime soon \u2014 there are currently more than 10 members seeking <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/election\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"802\">reelection<\/a> who are at least 80 years old.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nearly a year and a half into the 119th <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/congress\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"31\">Congress<\/a>, five <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/house\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"11272\">House<\/a> members and one senator have died while in office, raising concerns on both sides of the aisle about generational change. Members of both parties have faced primary challengers who have made age the centerpiece of their campaigns, and a number of House Democrats lost primaries earlier this year to younger opponents. The Democratic Party, especially, has faced a reckoning over the age of its candidates, particularly in the wake of former President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/joe-biden\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"471\">Joe Biden<\/a> dropping out of the 2024 presidential race over concerns about his mental acuity.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4683501\/10-oldest-members-of-congress-running-for-reelection\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Here are the 10 oldest members of Congress running for reelection<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4689105\/khanna-pushes-back-jeffries-medicare-for-all\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Ro Khanna pushes back on Jeffries: \u2018Medicare for All is arguably the most important priority\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4689061\/come-at-us-bro-el-sayed-trump-post-wife\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>\u2018Come at us, bro\u2019: El Sayed taunts Trump after president\u2019s post comparing wives<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/crs-product\/R48535\">Congress.gov<\/a>, the average age of the House at the start of this Congress was 57.9 years, with the Senate slightly higher at 63.9 years. At 92, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) is the oldest member of Congress.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most of the aging lawmakers sit in uncompetitive seats and have cleared their primaries, meaning they are all but guaranteed to return to Congress at the start of next year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are the 10 oldest members running for reelection this cycle:<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-rep-hal-rogers-r-ky\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY) <\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The dean of the House, Rogers, is the longest-serving member of the House, along with Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ). He is running for his 24th term at 88 years old to represent Kentucky\u2019s 5th district. He won his primary earlier this year and is headed for a November win in his safe Republican seat.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"h-rep-maxine-waters-d-ca\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) <\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Waters is running for her 19th term in California\u2019s 43rd district and is projected to win the safe Democratic seat. She is 87 years old.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-rep-jim-clyburn-r-sc\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rep. Jim Clyburn (R-SC) <\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Clyburn was saved from the South Carolina\u2019s redistricting effort earlier this year, when enough legislative Republicans in the state Senate rejected a redraw, allowing him to run for an 18th term in a seat that could be competitive. The 86-year-old is the only South Carolina Democrat serving in the House and remains one of the most influential politicians in the Democratic Party.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-rep-john-carter-r-tx\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rep. John Carter (R-TX) <\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Carter is 84 years old and is running for his 13th term. Despite Texas redrawing its map, his seat is still a safe Republican seat. Carter won his crowded primary earlier this year.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"h-rep-rosa-delauro-d-ct\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DeLauro is the top Democrat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee and is running for her 19th term at 83 years old. If Democrats take the House, she is expected to take back the appropriations gavel. DeLauro brushed off a primary challenge in Tuesday\u2019s primary.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-rep-virginia-foxx-r-nc\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) <\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Foxx is chairwoman of the House Rules Committee at 83 years old and will serve her 12th term for North Carolina\u2019s 11th District, provided she wins her safe Republican seat.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-rep-doris-matsui-d-ca\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA)<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Matsui, 81, is running for her 12th term in California\u2019s 7th district. She faces a serious challenge from Sacramento City Council member Mai Vang, 41, who framed her campaign as generational change. Vang finished second in the state\u2019s top-two primary and will face Matsui in November. Matsui brought in 31.2% of the vote, and Vang garnered 29.1%.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"h-rep-emanuel-cleaver-ii-d-mo\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II (D-MO)<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cleaver, 81, is running for another term in a seat that was drawn to benefit Republicans during a redistricting session last year. The map is currently caught up in a bitter legal battle and will <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kcur.org\/politics-elections-and-government\/2026-08-11\/missouri-supreme-court-redistricting-ballot-measure-case\">appear before the Supreme Court<\/a>. If the court sides with opponents of the map, it could upend the results of the Aug. 4 primary, which was held under the new lines. Opponents are trying to put the map to a referendum before voters, which could suspend its implementation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4681053\/max-miller-stays-in-race-deadline-passes\/\">FACING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ALLEGATIONS, MAX MILLER IS LOCKED IN FOR REELECTION BID<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-rep-jim-baird-r-in\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN) <\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite being 81 years old, Baird has not been in Congress all that long. He has only served four terms in the House and was 73 years old when first elected.\u00a0He faced a primary challenge in May but easily dispatched his challenger with 60% of the vote.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"h-sen-ed-markey-d-ma\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) <\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Markey, 80, is the only member on this list who faces an outstanding primary, a challenge from Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA), which will take place next month. The race has become a generational change fight after Moulton, 47, entered the race but did not secure the Massachusetts Democratic Party\u2019s endorsement ahead of the primary.\u00a0Markey faced a similar challenge from former Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D-MA) six years ago.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Capitol Hill remains a \u201cretirement home,\u201d with many members over 65, including 10+ seeking reelection at age 80+<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3691,"featured_media":2645865,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-collage-j2a3reg9x-1786479657558.jpg?1786465367&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[4402,6571,84265,5894,8313],"class_list":["post-2645864","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-congress","tag-elections","tag-oldest-members","tag-politics","tag-reelection"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-collage-j2a3reg9x-1786479657558.jpg?1786465367&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2645864","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3691"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2645864"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2645864\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2645867,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2645864\/revisions\/2645867"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2645865"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2645864"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2645864"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2645864"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}