WASHINGTON, D.C. — Nearly two dozen members of Congress aged 70 or older are retiring after the current year, marking a transition in the legislative branch. This wave of departures coincides with primary election results that have seen younger candidates unseat long-serving incumbents in the 2026 election cycle.

High-profile retirements include Nancy Pelosi, age 86, and Steny H. Hoyer, age 87, who are both leaving Congress. In the Senate, Mitch McConnell, age 84, announced last year that he would not seek reelection, and Sen. Richard J. Durbin announced his retirement last year. Durbin, who is 81 years old, entered the House of Representatives in 1983 at age 38.

"In my heart, I know it’s time to pass the torch." Durbin said in a statement regarding his decision to step down. His departure follows a long tenure that began more than four decades ago.

While some senior lawmakers are choosing to retire, others have faced electoral challenges from younger opponents. Rep. John B. Larson, age 78, lost his bid for renomination to a 47-year-old challenger in the 2026 election cycle. Rep. Adriano Espaillat, age 71, was ousted in his primary by a millennial opponent in the 2026 election cycle, and Rep. Shri Thanedar, age 71, was also ousted in his primary by a millennial opponent in the 2026 election cycle.

In Colorado, Melat Kiros, age 29, defeated 15-term Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette in the June primary for Colorado’s 1st District. In Wisconsin, Michael Alfonso, age 26, won the Republican nomination for Wisconsin’s 7th district. Alfonso is the son-in-law of Transportation Secretary and former Rep. Sean Duffy.

The generational shift extends to upcoming contests as well. Sen. Edward J. Markey faces a Democratic primary challenge from a Representative on September 1. Markey was first elected to the House of Representatives at age 31.

The age composition of Congress has drawn attention from voters and lawmakers alike. A July CNN survey found that nearly 60 percent of U.S. adults said it was a major problem that a quarter of people serving in Congress were over 70. Thirty-four percent of respondents in the July CNN survey said the age of Congress members was a minor problem, while eight percent of respondents in the July CNN survey said the age of Congress members was not a problem at all.

Sen. Jon Ossoff, the youngest member of the Senate at age 39, commented on the demographic makeup of the chamber. "It’s not just that the Senate is overwhelmingly full of people of a certain age for whom parenting is a distant memory," Ossoff said in an interview. "It’s also full of people who have been senators for decades, which equally distances them from the daily reality of American life." All four millennials serving in the Senate have children at home.

The current membership spans a wide age range. Sen. Charles E. Grassley of Iowa is the oldest member of Congress at 92 years old. Grassley was born in 1933 and was first elected to the House of Representatives at age 41 in 1974.

He has served in Congress for nearly 52 years. Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost of Florida is the youngest member of Congress, having been born in 1997. The age gap between the oldest and youngest members of Congress is approximately 64 years.

Other young senators include Sen. Andy Kim and Sen. Tim Sheehy. Sen. Katie Britt is the youngest Republican woman elected to the Senate. Several younger House members are also seeking Senate seats, including Rep. Julia Letlow, age 45, in Louisiana, and Rep. Ashley Hinson, age 43, in Iowa. James Talarico, age 37, is a candidate in the Senate race in Texas, and Abdul El-Sayed, age 41, is a candidate in the Senate race in Michigan.

Health concerns have also been part of the conversation surrounding older lawmakers. Five members of the House of Representatives died during the 119th Congress, including Rep. David Scott, age 80. Three of the four House members who died prior to David Scott were 70 years old or older. Mitch McConnell was hospitalized in June following a fall and subsequent bout of pneumonia.

Why It Matters

The retirement of nearly two dozen members of Congress aged 70 or older and the primary defeats of other senior legislators signal a structural change in the federal government. This shift replaces lawmakers who have served for decades with a new generation of representatives, potentially altering the institutional knowledge and priorities of the legislative branch. The trend reflects voter sentiment, as indicated by surveys showing concern about the age of current officeholders, and aligns with broader demographic changes in life expectancy and retirement norms.