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

[marmar]

(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

[Redleg]

1. Personally, I can't see working past age 70.

I don't get why these folks want to hang on so long. While I love my job (most of the time), I don't see myself working past age 67, unless my retirement fund has gone to hell.

[mucifer]

2. Power can be intoxicating and hard to give up

[Srkdqltr]

3. Its time for a change. I have always wanted younger people in government.

No one can move up when the oldest hang on too long.

When Biden ran there was no younger alternative. Younger people who can't see a path to moveup will go elsewhere and government or business will stagnate. That is where we are now.

[walkingman]

4. I don't think it is necessarily just age related but Congress is dysfunctional.

Congress looks “crazy” because it’s operating exactly as the system now rewards it to operate. Is it the last gasp of our democracy or just a bad period? I think only time will tell. Also not sure how much time we have...🙄

[Srkdqltr]

5. Part of the reason it's dysfunctional is no new people or ideas. We can't do thing as we did in 1980.

[walkingman]

6. True....and we didn't do very well even then (Ronnie Raygun) ☮

[Arazi]

7. DU skews older so any mention of primarying these very old reps gets slammed

But the fact remains that we’re shooting ourselves in the foot by passively watching this go on without any pushback. Primaries would at least give younger Dems some experience running a campaign and start to get their names out into the public square ffs.

We need younger Dems in office to (if nothing else) perpetuate party longevity and be aligned with the entire spectrum of Americans, not just seniors.

[Srkdqltr]

9. Im 84. I think no one over 75 should run. Older people should be primaried. We need our

Leaders to understand the world 🌎 as it is. Of course they should know the past but should be forward thinking.
The older lawmakers should be cherished and consulted but not in office.

[karin_sj]

8. We need new blood in Congress!

I'm a senior myself and believe it is way past time to get some younger people in there. These people need to retire and make room for some more effective members. There are some that can stay though, like Whitehouse, Sanders, Warren, and a few others that are fighters. I'd be especially happy to see Schumer go. And although he's not a senior yet, I wouldn't mind if Jeffries was replaced. This is a different country and we are in serious trouble right now. We need congress people who are brave, articulate, inspiring and can step up to this challenge.

[Wiz Imp]

10. Here's the list of current House members who will be 80 or older on Election day 2026

I don't know which all are not running for reelection:

Alma Adams || NC (D) 79
Marcy Kaptur || OH (D) 79
Lloyd Doggett || TX (D) 79
John Garamendi || CA (D) 80
David Scott || GA (D) 80
Jim Baird || IN (R) 80
Bonnie Watson Coleman || NJ (D) 80
Doris Matsui || CA (D) 81
Jan Schakowsky || IL (D) 81
Emanuel Cleaver || MO (D) 81
Rosa DeLauro || CT (D) 82
Virginia Foxx || NC (R) 82
Frederica Wilson || FL (D) 83
Danny Davis || IL (D) 84
John Carter || TX (R) 84
Nancy Pelosi || CA (D) 85
Jim Clyburn || SC (D) 85
Steny Hoyer || MD (D) 86
Maxine Waters || CA (D) 87
Hal Rogers || KY (R) 88

[Dulcinea]

14. There are younger people running against David Scott in GA.

Rep. Scott is rumored to be in poor health but won't retire. As was stated above, power is hard to give up.

[doubleplusgood]

16. 16 of the 20 are Democrats!

Only 4 of the 20 are Repulicans. If nothing else, the GOP seems to churn their leadership & membership much more than the Dems. I'm 73 myself, but the party needs to get some new, younger blood into Congress and get rid of the gerontocracy that has failed so miserably the last umteen years.

[Wiz Imp]

17. Yeah, but 3 of the 4 oldest Senators are Republicans

and I don't see many people here calling for the one Democrat among those 4 (Bernie Sanders) to retire anytime soon.

https://democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=20940855

Also, 6 of the 80+ Democrats have already announced their retirement. 0 of the Republicans have. 11 Democrats age 70+ are retiring. Only 3 Republicans. The average age of Democratic Representatives is 58.5, while the average for Republicans is 57.3. That's a negligible difference.

[republianmushroom]

11. Just saying..........

And in the state of California if you are 75 or older it is against the law to drive after dark.

[Wiz Imp]

12. There are 8 current Senators who will be 80 or older on election day

Chuck Grassley 92
Bernie Sanders 84
Mitch McConnell 83
Jim Risch (Idaho) 82
Angus King 81
Dick Durbin 81
Richard Blumenthal 79
Ed Markey 79

[Initech]

13. There really needs to be an amendment that requires a retirement age.

And that goes for everyone - Congress, SCOTUS, POTUS, etc.

[maxsolomon]

15. Not sure the 80 cohort is the real problem in Congress

It's more the insane Repukes.

Yes, there is overlap between the 2 groups.

[leftstreet]

18. DURec