What to know about the oldest members of Congress
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Three elder House members died in office this year, during the 119th Congress — most recently Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), who died Wednesday morning at 75 years old after battling esophageal cancer.
The big picture: The health of the country's oldest lawmakers regularly reignites concern over America's aging leaders and their fitness to serve.
Driving the news: Connolly is the third House Democrat to die since March, following Reps. Sylvester Turner (D-Texas) at 70 years old and Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) at 77 years old.
- The 119th Congress is the third oldest since 1789, according to a January NBC News analysis.
- The House and Senate were both the third oldest in each chamber's history, as of January.
By the numbers: At that point, the average age of the Senate was 63.8 years, and the average age of the House was 57.7 years.
- Between both chambers, 20 members were 80 or older, per NBC.
State of play: America's political gerontocracy has been a focus across government branches in recent years, with voters worried about lawmakers' fitness for office.
- The country's two most recent presidents — former President Biden and President Trump — are the oldest in U.S. history.
- Meanwhile, Americans have indicated that they'd support age limits for Supreme Court justices and elected officials.
Read more about the oldest lawmakers in Congress:
Who are the oldest House members?
What we're watching: Many of the oldest House Democrats are running for reelection in 2026, sparking internal party tensions.
- The 10 oldest U.S. representatives are:
Rep. Hal Rogers (R-Ky.): 87 years old
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.): 86 years old
Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.): 85 years old
Rep. Nancy Pelosi: (D-Calif.) 85 years old
- Pelosi in 2022 was among top House Democrats who stepped aside from leadership to make room for a new generation of leaders.
Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.): 84 years old
Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.): 83 years old
Rep. John Carter (R-Texas): 83 years old
Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.): 82 years old
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.): 82 years old
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.): 81 years old
Who are the oldest Senators?
Between the lines: The Senate reversed its aging trend with the 119th Congress after the death or retirement of some of its oldest members, according to Pew Research.
- The 10 oldest U.S. senators are:
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa): 91 years old
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.): 83 years old
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.): 83 years old
- McConnell said in February that he won't seek re-election in 2026.
- The longest-serving Senate leader in U.S. history, he stepped down from leadership in 2024.
Sen. James Risch (R-Idaho): 82 years old
Sen. Angus King (I-Me.): 81 years old
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.): 80 years old
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Ct.): 79 years old
Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.): 78 years old
Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii): 77 years old
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.): 78 years old
Go deeper: Scoop: Democrats' oldest lawmakers are mostly running again
