Senator Chuck Grassley from Iowa, a Republican, submitted his candidacy statement to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) back in 2022. If he chooses to seek reelection in 2028 and wins, he would be 101 years old by the end of that term.
However, this filing doesn’t guarantee that Grassley will actually run for a ninth term. It’s just a requirement for candidates who wish to participate in certain campaign activities, including fundraising. In September, Grassley expressed that he wouldn’t want a Democratic governor to choose his successor if he were to pass away in office. This could happen if Democratic State Auditor Rob Sand defeats Republican candidate Zach Lahn in the upcoming Iowa gubernatorial election in November.
During a Reagan Day Dinner in West Des Moines, Iowa, Grassley stated, “I don’t plan on dying in office — but if I did, I don’t want a Democrat governor choosing my successor,” according to ABC News.
As of Monday, Sand was leading Lahn by an average of 8.4 points, which suggests that a Democrat might hold office for the next four years, as reported by RealClearPolling.
Currently, Grassley holds the position of chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and serves as the Senate pro tempore, which makes him the third in line for the presidency after the vice president and the House speaker.
🚨WATCH: Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) delivers Dairy Queen to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) for his 93rd birthday. https://t.co/GxDpL62n42
— Off The Press (@OffThePress1) September 17, 2026
Grassley first entered public service in 1958 when he was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives. He later represented Iowa’s third congressional district in the House and became a senator in 1981.
Older Republican lawmakers have mostly retained their positions on Capitol Hill, while Democrats have been replacing their incumbents with younger candidates throughout the primary election cycle of 2026. Many Republican voters have ousted incumbents who didn’t align closely with former President Donald Trump, who turned 80 in June.
In 2023, former Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein from California was absent from the Senate for several months due to being diagnosed with shingles, missing 91 votes during that time. She appeared frail in public and remained in a wheelchair for the remainder of her time in office before passing away in September 2023 at the age of 90.
Senator Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, experienced a fall in June and didn’t return until mid-September. His team kept largely quiet about his condition until his return, and at 84, he is now in a wheelchair and hasn’t spoken with reporters in the Capitol.
In Congress, 79-year-old Republican Representative Hal Rogers from Kentucky, who has served since 1981, successfully won his primary in May against four challengers. Additionally, 83-year-old Republican Representative Virginia Foxx from North Carolina chairs the Rules Committee.
Notably, former Republican Senator Storm Thurmond from South Carolina retired at the age of 100, having also served as pro tempore.
Correction: This article has been updated. Earlier, it incorrectly stated that Grassley filed for reelection on Sunday; he had in fact submitted a statement of candidacy in 2022. We regret the mistake.
