The Aging of Congress: A Look at the Average Age of Lawmakers

The average age of Congress is rising with the current class of lawmakers being one of the oldest in history. An analysis shows that the median age of lawmakers on Capitol Hill has significantly increased since 1999. Even without Dianne Feinstein, the Senate has 3 octogenarians and 1 nonagenarian, with more than half of the Senate being over 60.

Despite an influx of younger blood during the past two election cycles, the 118th United States Congress is older than any in history. The median age of voting House lawmakers is 57.9 years, while the new Senate's median age is 65.3 years.

The aging of Congress has implications for policy-making and representation. Older lawmakers may bring experience and wisdom to the table, but they may also be out of touch with the concerns of younger generations. As the average age of Congress continues to rise, there is a need for more diversity in age representation in order to accurately reflect the demographics of the country.

Mary Kate Cary, a former presidential speechwriter and adjunct professor at UVA, wrote for The Conversation about the age of Congress. She highlighted the importance of understanding the demographics of lawmakers in order to assess their ability to represent the interests of the American people.

FiscalNote offers a report on the age of Congress, including information on the oldest, youngest, and most interesting members of the 118th Congress. This data provides valuable insights into the makeup of Congress and the trends in age representation over time.

The 118th Congress is one of the oldest in U.S. history, with a higher share of men and a greater level of education than the general population. The aging of Congress is a reflection of broader demographic trends in the country, with an increasing number of older Americans in positions of power and influence.