Congressional Dropouts in 2026 – It Isn’t All About Age

A handful of elderly legislators are retiring this term, but they aren’t alone.

From Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), a handful of aged lawmakers are retiring at the end of this term. But they aren’t alone. Some of the younger retirees haven’t been alive that much longer than Pelosi and McConnell have been in office! So, what’s the breakdown of legislators not seeking re-election – and where will they go from here?

Re-Election Dropouts by the Numbers

In total, 47 members of Congress – 20 Democrats and 27 Republicans – have announced they don’t intend to run for re-election in 2026. On the left, that’s 15 representatives and five senators, and both chambers are losing some of their Democratic leaders. For the GOP, there are 22 representatives dropping out and five senators, the biggest name probably being former party leader Mitch McConnell.

Of the 47, a total of 14 are 65 or older and are retiring without seeking other offices. Among these are some of the longest-serving members of Congress. Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mitch McConnell (R-KY), 80 and 83, have held congressional office for 42 and 40 years, respectively. Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is 85 and has held her seat for 38 years.

After Ms. Pelosi’s announcement earlier this month, Liberty Nation News Executive Editor Leesa K. Donner asked if she would take a few of her aged friends with her. Well, just over two dozen senior citizens are leaving. But it isn’t just the old guard retiring. Six more are calling it quits between the ages of 43 and 63.

Greener Pastures in 2026

Not everyone who chose not to run again for their current seats is calling it quits for politics, however. Twenty under the age of 65 are running for some other office – with representatives vying for senate seats being the most common option, though several lawmakers are also running for governor in their states. From ages 67 to 73, another seven are looking for greener pastures in 2026, as well.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), the oldest at 73, announced she’s running for governor of the Volunteer State. Moving on down the age chart, Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC), age 72, is running to succeed Henry McMaster as governor of South Carolina. A 69-year-old and a 71-year-old are eyeing other options, as Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL) hopes to replace the retiring Dick Durbin in the Senate and Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) is gunning for the governor’s mansion. At 68, Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) is hoping to unseat a much younger (38) incumbent Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA). Wisconsin Republican Tom Tiffany and Arizona Republican Andy Biggs – both 67 –  opted out of re-election to the House to run for governor in their respective states.

Politicians running for what they see as higher offices is nothing out of the ordinary, certainly. But to see more than a dozen lawmakers essentially age out speaks to Mrs. Donner’s point. As of January 2025, there were 20 members of Congress – across both chambers – who were 80 or older. Less than half of them will still be in office after 2026.