Incoming senators are nearly 15 years younger than departing ones, on average. But the chamber’s overall age isn’t shifting much.
Nov. 7, 2026Updated 3:17 p.m. ET
When the new Senate convenes in January, it will welcome some (relatively) young new legislators. A few are even millennials, including James Talarico of Texas, 37, and Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan, 42, two Democrats who may have energized young voters to turn out.
But their effect on the average age of the Senate — which has crept up over the last few decades — will be small. The senators of the 120th Congress will be less than a year younger, on average, than the Senate’s current members were at the start of the 119th Congress two years ago. That’s because so many sitting senators are old, and getting older.
These numbers assume that Mary Peltola and Scott Colom will win their races in Alaska and Mississippi; they were both ahead in the vote count Saturday. (If both lose, the Senate’s average age will land at 63.6.)
Generally, the longer they’ve been in office, the more likely they’re corrupt. And, as a side effect, they’re older.
Age correlates with corruption, but does not cause it. Money is power and power corrupts.
Term limits would help mitigate corruption. It’s why we have term limits for the President, and we should have the same for Congress.
Term limits can also help cause corruption. You can really get that revolving door spinning. You can really encourage people to think about what they’re going to do after their Senate job.