Related: A record number of women are serving in the 117th Congress. ( Assumed Office: January 3, 2011. Since the last expulsion, in 1862, there have been 13 failed attempts to remove senators on myriad grounds, from corruption to election fraud to being a Mormon (Utahs Reed Smoot in 1907). [minute] => 33 (1853) For most of American history this was March 4 of odd-numbered years, but effective from 1935 the 20th Amendment moved this to January 3 of odd-numbered years. Women make up a much larger share of congressional Democrats (41%) than Republicans (16%). The 99th Congress (19851987) and 100th Congress (19871989) were the periods in which most people from this list were serving together (all but Hayden, Russell Jr., Warren, Eastland, Magnuson, and Shelby in the former and all but Hayden, Russell Jr., Long, Warren, Eastland, and Magnuson in the latter). WebMitch McConnell is the second Kentuckian to serve as a party leader in the Senate and the longest-serving U.S. senator for Kentucky in history. we need new fresh blood. State: California Davis became a member of the Chicago City Council in 1979 and served in that position until 1990. State: Idaho He was Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates from 1979 until his election to the House of Representatives Cardin was the youngest person to hold the position of Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates in history. Current Age (as of February 2023): 84 years, 6 months, 13 days Under the U.S. Constitution, senators cannot be recalled from office by voters in their state, according to the California secretary of State. 88 (1963) 10 Youngest U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (September 8, It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts. This analysis builds on earlier Pew Research Center work to analyze the gender makeup of Congress. Although the 1970s saw prominent figures such as Barbara Jordan, Elizabeth Holtzman and Bella Abzug enter Congress, womens overall numbers didnt change much until 1981, when their House caucus exceeded 20 members for the first time. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. The Current 13 Longest Serving Senators & House Members Current House: Senate 10 Oldest Women Currently in Congress Grassley has served on many committees over years, including the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; Committee on Finance; Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary; Committee on the Budget; Joint Committee on Taxation; Chairman of the Caucus on International Narcotics Control; and Co-Chair of the Caucus on Foster Youth. Before entering politics, Rogers worked as a lawyer, and in 1969 he became the Commonwealth Attorney of Pulaski and Rockcastle Counties. Vice President; President Pro Tempore; 59 women have served in the United States Senate, with 25 serving at this time (indicated in bold print below). 107 (2001) Operations: Meghann Olshefski Mandy Morris Kelly Rindfleisch Before becoming a senator, Durbin served in the U.S. House of Representatives for seven terms between 1983 1997. More than two-thirds of the women ever elected to the House (261 of 381, including the incoming members of the 118th Congress) have been elected in 1992 or later. Margaret Chase Smithof Maine, for instance, won a special election in 1940 to fill the last seven months of her husbands term. There are several benefits, including the following: The beginning of an appointment does not necessarily coincide with the date the Senate convenes or when the new senator is sworn in.[2]. Years in Office: November 4, 1992 Present. Political Party: Republican Visualize, understand, and report on all of your public affairs work in real-time. 115 (2017) Then, in 1976 Waters was elected to the California State Assembly. Current House: House of Representatives It consists of two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives, with members chosen through direct election. Senator at the age of 89. Independent (3), 1 (1789) WebCongress has 535 voting members. Mark Lamb, a sheriff who has appeared on several TV shows, is Arizonas first major GOP 14 (1815) [update_post_meta_cache] => 1 WebChuck Grassley is one of the longest-serving members of Congress and has had an even longer political career. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. That year, Blumenthal became the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut. Senate Grassley was a farmer and sheet metal shearer before he joined the Iowa Legislature in 1958. [comments_per_page] => 50 [ignore_sticky_posts] => 96 (1979) Of the 22 freshman representatives who are women, 15 are Democrats and seven are Republicans. With a narrowly divided Senate, questions have arisen about the options for Democrats if Feinstein does not return to the U.S. Capitol but does not resign. 52 (1891) The longest-serving U.S. congressman was John Dingell, who served for more than 59 years.The average length of service in the U.S. House of Representatives is 9.1 years. Clyburn initially became involved in politics during the 1969 Charleston Hospital Strike a two month movement that fought the unfair and unequal treatment of Black hospital workers. } What Senators have served the longest in the US Senate? Before his election to the Senate, Sanders had served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1990 2007. He came to The Times from Protocol, where he covered tech policy and climate. [tag] => Save time and grow faster with modern, easy-to-use tools. Filter by: All StatesAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew Feinstein is also the longest-serving female senator in U.S. history! Communications: Alison Graves Carley Allensworth Abigail Campbell Sarah Groat Erica Shumaker Caitlin Vanden Boom Ed Markey is another senator who is currently in their late 70s. The first, Montana Republican Jeannette Rankin, was elected to the House in 1916, two years after her state gave women the vote. Understanding these factors can better inform your strategy when interacting with members of Congress to achieve your policy goals. Afterwards, Waters worked as chief deputy to City Councilman David S. Cunningham, Jr. in 1973. 27 (1841) U.S. Senate: Longest-Serving Senators A member of Congress that has served for more than 40 years may have immense institutional knowledge but may require more thorough education on your issues depending on their policy areas of expertise. 45 (1877) Clyburn has served as the Representative of South Carolinas 6th District since 1993. 75 (1937) Bill Pascrell has become passionate about researching traumatic brain injuries that happen from sports. During the last Congress, none of the 27 bills Moore introduced made it to the president's desk. Longest 114 (2015) Harris departure meant there was not a single Black woman in the Senate. The seniority date for an appointed senator is usually the date of the appointment,[citation needed] although the actual term does not begin until they take the oath of office. 18 (1823) ) Longest-Serving United States Congressmen Required fields are marked *. ) He was then appointed to the Maryland Board of Higher Education and stayed in that position until his election to the U.S. House of Representatives. WebBarbara Mikulski of Maryland surpassed Margaret Chase Smiths 24-year service record in the Senate, becoming the longest-serving woman in the Senate. [posts_per_page] => 10 [lazy_load_term_meta] => 1 In addition, by custom, senior senators from the president's party control federal patronage appointments in their states. An incoming senator who holds another office, including membership in the U.S. House of Representatives, must resign from that office before becoming a senator. Years in Office: January 3, 1981 Present. He served in this role until 1976 when he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives he was a member of the House until he became a senator. It has happened in rare occasions, and not for more than a century and a half. State:Illinois Dianne Feinstein is the oldest member of the current U.S. Congress at the age of 89. [error] => [name] => who-are-the-longest-serving-members-of-congress Current House: House of Representatives April 30, 2023 5 AM PT. However, with a longer tenure comes a more clear record of how they may react to your issues. Years in Office: May 19, 1981 Present. Find and connect with the right journalist, right when you need them. He is at his happiest when the Black Stars are winning. Quorum Analytics is not affiliated with, licensed, endorsed, or sponsored by Leidos Innovations Technology or its affiliates. In the Senate, 25 women are currently serving, tying the record number of seats they held in the 116th Congress. 10 Youngest Current U.S. Supreme Court's Roberts declines to appear at Senate Judiciary Despite his age, Ed Markey is a progressive senator focused on climate change and energy policy; he even served as chair of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming from 2007 to 2011. Political Party: Independent, but caucuses with Democrats McConnell has held a leadership role among the Senate Republicans for several decades (he is the longest-serving leader of U.S. Senate Republicans in history), first serving as Majority Whip, then minority leader, and eventually majority leader. Since 2003, Hoyer has been the second-ranking Democrat in the House behind Nancy Pelosi and he has held several leadership positions. Seema Mehta is a veteran political writer who is covering the 2024 California Senate race as well as other state and national contests. ( Current House: Senate (previously in the House of Representatives) Sanders, the longest-serving independent in U.S. Congressional history, raised millions of dollars through grassroots fundraisers (the average donation to his campaign was only $27) rather than relying on big-money fundraisers fueled by super PACs. Following his time as the Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Blumenthal was a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1984 1987 and the Connecticut Senate from 1987 1991. [post_parent__not_in] => Array It wasnt until after the war that the upward trajectory of women in Congress resumed, with 18 women serving in the House in 1961-63. This happened with Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, both of Georgia, who were sworn in on January 20, 2021. [nopaging] => Before politics, McConnell was in law and served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General and the Jefferson County judge/executive, the top political office in Jefferson County, Kentucky, at the time. The answer is a simple one", "Resident Population Data (Text Version) 2010 Census, by state and census region", Lists of United States senators in Congress by seniority, Emergency Planning, Preparedness, and Operations, Scene at the Signing of the Constitution of the United States, First Reading of the Emancipation Proclamation of President Lincoln, George Washington and the Revolutionary War Door, Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Seniority_in_the_United_States_Senate&oldid=1145012629, Lists of United States senators by seniority, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Traditionally, the most senior member of the majority party is named, Senators are given preferential treatment in choosing, Greater seniority enables a senator to choose a desk closer to the front of the. Privacy Policy. ( Current Age (as of February 2023):89 years, 8 months, 6 days 54 (1895) These tiebreakers in order are:[2]. Mars Voltas lead singer broke with Scientology and reunited with the band. Your email address will not be published. 47 (1881) 9. Durbin got into politics during his senior year at Georgetown University. These ranked from 36th to 43rd in seniority when the 118th United States Congress convened. This is a list of United States congressmen who have set records for longevity of Click here to find your representatives with Ballotpedia's "Who represents me?" [query_vars] => Array For Feinstein, who serves on the Judiciary Committee, that question is particularly important. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. } Newsom has declined to weigh in on the race; a senior aide told The Times, There are three extremely qualified candidates in the race that have displayed the courage it takes to fight for California values in Washington, D.C.. Edward Markey (D-Mass. She has an estimated net worth of $90 million according to Incomepedia.com, a website that analyzes public records to determine the financial status of individuals (including politicians)! 85 (1957) The majority of the more than 430 members of the House of Representatives have served for no more than six years fewer years than a single term of a U.S. In the case of senators first elected in a general election for the upcoming Congress, their terms begin on the first day of the new Congress. ( While there have been efforts made by both former President Trump and others in the past to limit the number of terms senators can serve, there are currently no term limits for Congress. Feinstein, a Senator since 1992, is known for setting many firsts in Congress and politics overall. When more than one senator had such office, its length of time is used to break the tie. table#officeholder-table th, td { padding:5px; font-size: 16px; } Until the 1929 stock market crash, most of the dozen women elected to the House were Republicans, and for several decades afterward, the two parties numbers were generally close in that chamber. Clyburn served in this position until he was elected to Congress. Given the thin partisan divide in the Senate, its likely that Newsom would move quickly to appoint a fellow Democrat to fill any vacancy to ensure his party remains in control of the upper chamber. 118th Congress has a record number of women | Pew Research In 2021, Newsom pledged to appoint a Black woman to replace Feinstein if she retired early. Maria Cantwell (#13) is the Senate's most senior junior senator. ) Cardin has been in politics his entire adult life, as he was still attending law school when he was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates. Current Age (as of February 2023): 86 years, 1 month, 3 days Sanders was also the mayor of Burlington, Vermont, from 1981 1989. 118th Congress has more veterans, but still few by historical Joe Coscarelli contributed reporting.. The members of Congress included in this blog have served for at least 36 years in the House, Senate, or a combination of both. ( [no_found_rows] => 56 (1899) 43 (1873) Before your meeting, do some research into their legislative and professional experience to better plan your messaging strategy what legislation have they sponsored in the past? 15 (1817) [monthnum] => 0 Senators and Representatives, Ken Carbullido, Vice President of Election Product and Technology Strategy, https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=List_of_current_members_of_the_U.S._Congress&oldid=9087644, Conflicts in school board elections, 2021-2022, Special Congressional elections (2023-2024), 2022 Congressional Competitiveness Report, State Executive Competitiveness Report, 2022, State Legislative Competitiveness Report, 2022, Partisanship in 2022 United States local elections. [day] => 0 In 2021, Sanders became the Chair of the Senate Budget Committee. 117 (2021) Current House: House of Representatives 40 (1867), 41 (1869) The most recent proposed term limit legislation was introduced in the House by Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN-02) in November 2021, which would limit incoming members of Congress to serve a maximum of three two-year terms consecutively. .partytd.Gray { Its my birthday today. State:South Carolina After the 1968 Orangeburg massacre, when police killed three protesting students at South Carolina State, West appointed Clyburn as the states human affairs commissioner. ( [page_id] => 0 [order] => DESC 92 (1971) Congressional term limits have recently gotten the spotlight in campaign promises. 24 (1835) 10 Longest-Serving United States Congressmen, 10 Oldest Members of Current U.S. Senate The average age of members of Congress skews older than the average age of most Americans, with the average American being 20 years younger than their representative in Congress. But the upper chamber has never done so because a senator was sick or incapacitated. 39 (1865) Track state bills and regulations, engage with officials, and report on team efforts. 78 (1943) Congress Chief Justice John Roberts declines to appear at Senate judiciary 63 (1913) In February 2023, Feinstein announced that she would not run for reelection but would finish her current term, which is set to expire in 2025. [post_parent__in] => Array State: Iowa 38 (1863) 48 (1883) He was admitted to the Maryland Bar in 1967 and worked for the private practice of Rosen and Esterson until he became a Congressman. Track legislation, regulations, and conversation on Capitol Hill. according to the California secretary of State. Thomas, the longest-serving of the courts nine justices, has been under pressure after published reports by the news outlet ProPublica detailing his relationship Congressmen in 2022