As the age issue dominates the 2024 presidential election cycle, a look at the average age of congressional lawmakers reveals a trend towards older representatives and senators. This raises questions about the ability of older members to effectively represent their constituents and stay engaged in the fast-paced world of politics.
Here Are the 20 Oldest Members of Congress:
Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California, 90 (retiring)
Senator Charles E. Grassley, Republican of Iowa, 90
Senator Patrick J. Leahy, Democrat of Vermont, 81
Senator Richard C. Shelby, Republican of Alabama, 87
Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky, 79
Senator James M. Inhofe, Republican of Oklahoma, 87
Senator Jon Kyl, Republican of Arizona, 80
Representative Don Young, Republican of Alaska, 88
Representative Hal Rogers, Republican of Kentucky, 83
Representative Sam Johnson, Republican of Texas, 89
Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson, Democrat of Texas, 86
Representative John Lewis, Democrat of Georgia, 81
Representative Louise Slaughter, Democrat of New York, 88
Representative Jim Sensenbrenner, Republican of Wisconsin, 78
Representative Richard Neal, Democrat of Massachusetts, 77
Representative John Conyers, Democrat of Michigan, 89
Representative Steny Hoyer, Democrat of Maryland, 81
Representative Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, Democrat of Michigan, 73
Representative Nita Lowey, Democrat of New York, 84
Representative John Dingell, Democrat of Michigan, 93
Sen. Chuck Grassley (90 years old). Sen. Chuck Grassley wearing a dark-colored business suit and standing at a table. Following Feinstein's retirement, Grassley becomes the oldest member of Congress.
When Dianne Feinstein died in September, she had recently celebrated her 90th birthday, and had been the oldest person currently serving as a senator. Her retirement leaves a gap in the Senate that will be filled by a younger, fresher face.
A new ballot measure bars anyone from running for Congress if they turn 81 during their term. This reflects a growing concern about the ability of older members to effectively represent their constituents and keep up with the demands of their positions.
More than half of the U.S. Senate is over age 60, raising questions about the diversity of representation in Congress and the need for younger voices to be heard.
Dianne Feinstein, who died Thursday night, was the longest-serving U.S. senator in California history. She was 90, highlighting the long and storied careers of many older members of Congress.
Looking for the age of every member of the 118th Congress? Get FiscalNote's report on the age of Congress, including the oldest, youngest, and interesting statistics about the age distribution in Congress.
WASHINGTON — Legislation that could ban TikTok in the U.S. on Wednesday passed with overwhelming support in the House, including the... This highlights the disconnect between the age of many members of Congress and the issues they are grappling with, such as technology and social media.
