Walk into the Senate gallery on a Tuesday morning and you’ll see it. Deep mahogany desks, the hushed rustle of paper, and a sea of silver hair that’s been there since the Reagan era. It’s no secret that Washington has a "seniority" situation. But when people start asking who are the oldest members of congress, they usually stop at the names they see on the nightly news. There is a lot more to the story than just the big-name party leaders.
Currently, we are looking at the 119th Congress. This group of lawmakers is a strange mix. On one hand, you have the first Gen Z members figuring out where the best coffee is in the Rayburn building. On the other, you have a core group of octogenarians who were literally born before the end of the Great Depression. Honestly, it’s a massive generational gap that affects everything from tech policy to climate change debates.
The Dean of the Senate: Chuck Grassley’s Longevity
If you want to talk about staying power, you have to start with Senator Chuck Grassley. The man is a legend in Iowa and a fixture in D.C. Born on September 17, 1933, he’s currently 92 years old. Think about that for a second. When he was born, Franklin D. Roosevelt was in his first term.
Grassley isn’t just sitting in a chair, though. He’s known for his "68-county tour" where he visits every single county in Iowa every year. He’s also the President pro tempore emeritus and has chaired the Judiciary and Finance committees. He’s the longest-serving Republican in the history of the Senate. You might see him on social media posting about "u know what" or deer he’s seen on his farm. It’s a very specific brand of political longevity that most people can't fathom.
He’s been in the Senate since 1981. That is 45 years in one chamber. Before that, he was in the House. Basically, he has spent over half a century in the halls of Congress.
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The Power Players in Their 80s
Moving down the list, the ages don't drop off as fast as you'd think. The Senate is particularly top-heavy. Bernie Sanders, the Independent from Vermont who basically created a movement among twenty-somethings, is 84. He was born in 1941, just months before Pearl Harbor. Then you have Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader from Kentucky, who is 83.
It's sorta wild when you realize that the people making decisions about TikTok or AI regulations grew up in a world where "high tech" meant a rotary phone. Here is a quick look at the oldest folks in the Senate right now:
- Chuck Grassley (R-IA): 92 years old.
- Bernie Sanders (I-VT): 84 years old.
- Mitch McConnell (R-KY): 83 years old.
- Jim Risch (R-ID): 82 years old.
- Angus King (I-ME): 81 years old.
- Dick Durbin (D-IL): 81 years old.
What about the House of Representatives?
The House is generally younger, mostly because you have to run for reelection every two years. It’s a grind. But even there, seniority is king. Hal Rogers of Kentucky and Eleanor Holmes Norton (the non-voting delegate for D.C.) are both 88.
Maxine Waters, who has become a bit of a pop culture icon for her "reclaiming my time" moment, is 87. Nancy Pelosi, the former Speaker, is 85. Steny Hoyer, another former top Democrat, is 86. These aren't just ceremonial roles. These individuals still hold massive sway over their caucuses and the legislative agenda. They’ve seen every political trend from the Cold War to the internet age come and go.
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Why Does Congress Stay So Old?
You’ve probably wondered why these folks don’t just retire and go sit on a beach. It’s a fair question. Part of it is the "incumbency advantage." Once you have a seat, it is incredibly hard to lose it. You have the name recognition. You have the donor network. You have the staff who knows how to navigate the bureaucracy.
The seniority system is another big factor. In Congress, the longer you stay, the more power you get. Chairing a committee—the groups that actually write the laws—usually depends on how long you’ve been there. If a 40-year-old Representative retires, their district loses all that accumulated power. That’s a tough pill for voters to swallow.
The Shift Is Finally Starting
Despite the headline-grabbing ages of the "Old Guard," the 119th Congress is actually showing signs of a youth movement. Pew Research Center noted that the median age has actually ticked down slightly. We’re seeing more Gen Xers and Millennials taking seats that were held by Boomers for decades.
Grace Napolitano, who was the oldest member of the House at one point, retired at the start of 2025. When someone like that leaves, the average age of the whole chamber drops instantly. We’re also seeing "freshman" classes that are significantly younger. For example, the median age of new senators seated in 2025 was around 54, which is significantly lower than the chamber's overall average of 65.
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Understanding the "Gerontocracy" Debate
The term "gerontocracy"—government by the elderly—is something you’ll hear a lot in political science circles. Critics argue that an older Congress can’t relate to the struggles of younger generations, like student debt or the housing crisis. They worry about cognitive decline and whether leaders are "out of touch" with modern technology.
On the flip side, supporters of these veteran lawmakers point to their experience. They know how to cut a deal. They remember how things worked before the extreme polarization of the 2020s. They have a "long view" of history that a 30-year-old might lack. It’s a trade-off between fresh energy and institutional memory.
Actionable Insights for Concerned Voters
If you feel like the age gap in Washington is a problem, or if you simply want to stay informed about who is representing you, there are a few things you can do.
- Check the "Cook Political Report" or "Ballotpedia": These sites provide detailed ages and tenure lengths for every member. It’s better than just guessing based on how they look on TV.
- Look at Committee Assignments: Power isn't just about age; it's about what committee they sit on. A 90-year-old on the Appropriations Committee has way more impact on your life than a 40-year-old on a minor sub-committee.
- Monitor Retirement Announcements: Usually, members of Congress announce if they are running for reelection about a year in advance. Keep an eye on the 2026 midterm announcements; many of the oldest members listed above have already hinted at this being their final term.
- Engage with Local Primary Elections: This is where the real change happens. By the time the general election rolls around, the "incumbent" is usually locked in. The primary is the best chance to support younger or different voices.
The question of who are the oldest members of congress is ultimately about more than just a birth certificate. It’s about who holds the levers of power in America and how long they intend to keep them. As the 2026 midterms approach, the balance between experience and new blood remains one of the most important stories in D.C.