Retirements Surge in Congress
WASHINGTON — Congress is currently seeing a significant number of retirements, as many older members are feeling the pressure to step aside. It appears that more House members are choosing to leave than we’ve seen in at least a decade.
To date, 37 House members and eight senators—representing about 9.6% of those up for re-election—have opted not to run for their positions in the upcoming 2026 midterms, according to recent data.
This marks the highest retirement rate among House members in over ten years, although the number of senators declining to run is on par with last year.
For context, by this time in the 2024 election cycle, only 25 members of Congress had announced their retirements.
This outflow comes on the heels of a notable backlash against former President Joe Biden, 82, within the Democratic Party, as concerns around the mental sharpness of older politicians continue to grow.
In just one week, several well-known figures have declared their intention to retire, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif., 85), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J., 80), and House Budget Committee Chair Jody Arrington, who is 53.
Interestingly, while many are stepping down, 87-year-old U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) seems to be going against the trend, actively fundraising for her re-election.
Questions loom about whether Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), 86, will seek another term, especially with younger challengers emerging. Similarly, Rep. James Clyburn, 85, who was Pelosi’s ally, might face a difficult decision as redistricting plans could shift due to Supreme Court considerations regarding race-based districting.
Some lawmakers’ retirements, especially in states like California and Texas, have sparked anxiety over potential redistricting conflicts.
However, many of those leaving are eyeing other political roles, such as governor or senator. In fact, 11 Republicans are pursuing governorships, and 12 House members are aiming for Senate seats.
So far, only around 12 House members have announced they are completely retiring, rather than simply stepping down to run for other offices.
Retires among Republicans outnumber those among Democrats, with figures standing at 26 to 19 across Congress. Yet, Republicans are likely to face challenges in the midterm cycle given historical trends against the party in power.
Some of these retirements could lead to competitive races. However, Democrats might lose Jared Golden (D-Maine) while Republicans may see Don Bacon (R-Nebraska) exit as well.
In the Senate, veteran leaders like Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire), Gary Peters (D-Michigan), and Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) will likely play crucial roles as they seek to maintain control.
Prominent senators such as Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and others are also navigating this landscape as they consider their futures. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) have revealed their plans to run for governor, potentially leaving their Senate seats open after the 2026 elections.
As for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), he is not up for re-election until 2028, but recent pressure from his progressive supporters to step down and not seek another term has been mounting.
