This list of members of the United States Congress by longevity of service includes representatives and senators who have served for at least 36 years, in the United States Senate, the United States House of Representatives, or both. In cases where there is a tie in time, the following criteria will sort people higher:
In green | Currently serving |
S | Served in the U.S. Senate (for combined categories) |
H | Served in the U.S. House (for combined categories) |
I | Interruptions in service (for total tenure categories) |
Total tenure | Uninterrupted | Name | Party affiliation | State | Reason for leaving | Lifespan | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 59 years, 21 days | 1 | 59 years, 21 days | John Dingell (H) | Democratic | Michigan | Retired | 1926–2019 |
2 | 57 years, 176 days | 2 | 57 years, 176 days | Robert Byrd (S, H) | Democratic | West Virginia | Died | 1917–2010 |
3 | 56 years, 319 days | 3 | 56 years, 319 days | Carl Hayden (S, H) | Democratic | Arizona | Retired | 1877–1972 |
4 | 53 years, 118 days | 4 | 53 years, 118 days | Daniel Inouye (S, H) | Democratic | Hawaii | Died | 1924–2012 |
5 | 53 years, 60 days | 5 | 53 years, 60 days | Jamie Whitten (H) | Democratic | Mississippi | Retired | 1910–1995 |
6 | 52 years, 336 days | 6 | 52 years, 336 days | John Conyers (H) | Democratic | Michigan | Resigned | 1929–2019 |
7 | 50 years, 61 days | 7 | 50 years, 61 days | Carl Vinson (H) | Democratic | Georgia | Retired | 1883–1981 |
8 | 49 years, 305 days | 8 | 49 years, 305 days | Emanuel Celler (H) | Democratic | New York | Lost renomination | 1888–1981 |
9 | 49 years, 110 days | 9 | 49 years, 110 days | Chuck Grassley (S, H) | Republican | Iowa | 1933– | |
10 | 49 years, 12 days | 10 | 49 years, 12 days | Don Young (H) | Republican | Alaska | Died | 1933–2022 |
11 | 48 years, 257 days | 11 | 48 years, 257 days | Sam Rayburn (H) | Democratic | Texas | Died | 1882–1961 |
12 | 48 years, 0 days | 12 | 48 years, 0 days | Patrick Leahy (S) | Democratic | Vermont | Retired | 1940– |
13 | 48 years, 0 days | N/A | Sidney R. Yates (H, I) | Democratic | Illinois | Retired to run for the U.S. Senate, retired | 1909–2000 | |
14 | 47 years, 172 days | 13 | 47 years, 172 days | Ed Markey (S, H) | Democratic | Massachusetts | 1946– | |
15 | 47 years, 159 days | 16 | 46 years, 57 days | Strom Thurmond (S, I) | Democratic, Republican | South Carolina | Resigned, retired | 1902–2003 |
16 | 47 years, 3 days | 14 | 47 years, 3 days | Wright Patman (H) | Democratic | Texas | Died | 1893–1976 |
17 | 46 years, 292 days | 15 | 46 years, 292 days | Ted Kennedy (S) | Democratic | Massachusetts | Died | 1932–2009 |
18 | 46 years, 0 days | 17 | 46 years, 0 days | Charles Rangel (H) | Democratic | New York | Retired | 1930– |
19 | 46 years, 0 days | N/A | Joseph Gurney Cannon (H, I) | Republican | Illinois | Defeated, defeated, retired | 1836–1926 | |
20 | 45 years, 247 days | 18 | 45 years, 247 days | Adolph J. Sabath (H) | Democratic | Illinois | Died | 1866–1952 |
21 | 45 years, 142 days | 19 | 45 years, 142 days | J. Lister Hill (S, H) | Democratic | Alabama | Retired | 1894–1984 |
22 | 45 years, 87 days | 20 | 45 years, 87 days | Thad Cochran (S, H) | Republican | Mississippi | Resigned | 1937–2019 |
23 | 44 years, 0 days | 21 | 44 years, 0 days | George H. Mahon (H) | Democratic | Texas | Retired | 1900–1985 |
24 | 44 years, 0 days | 22 | 44 years, 0 days | Warren Magnuson (S, H) | Democratic | Washington | Defeated | 1905–1989 |
25 | 44 years, 0 days | 23 | 44 years, 0 days | Charles E. Bennett (H) | Democratic | Florida | Retired | 1910–2003 |
26 | 44 years, 0 days | 24 | 44 years, 0 days | Richard Shelby (S, H) | Democratic, Republican | Alabama | Retired | 1934– |
27 | 43 years, 299 days | 25 | 43 years, 299 days | Justin Smith Morrill (S, H) | Whig, Republican | Vermont | Died | 1810–1898 |
28 | 43 years, 152 days | N/A | William B. Allison (S, H, I) | Republican | Iowa | Retired, died | 1829–1908 | |
29 | 43 years, 110 days | 26 | 43 years, 110 days | Ron Wyden (S, H) | Democratic | Oregon | 1949– | |
30 | 43 years, 110 days | 27 | 43 years, 110 days | Chuck Schumer (S, H) | Democratic | New York | 1950– | |
31 | 43 years, 110 days | 28 | 43 years, 110 days | Hal Rogers (H) | Republican | Kentucky | 1937– | |
32 | 43 years, 110 days | 29 | 43 years, 110 days | Chris Smith (H) | Republican | New Jersey | 1953– | |
33 | 43 years, 110 days | 30 | 43 years, 110 days | Melvin Price (H) | Democratic | Illinois | Died | 1905–1988 |
34 | 42 years, 339 days | 31 | 42 years, 339 days | Steny Hoyer (H) | Democratic | Maryland | 1939– | |
35 | 42 years, 288 days | 32 | 42 years, 288 days | Bill Young (H) | Republican | Florida | Died | 1930–2013 |
36 | 42 years, 241 days | 33 | 42 years, 241 days | Henry M. Jackson (S, H) | Democratic | Washington | Died | 1912–1983 |
37 | 42 years, 157 days | N/A | Carter Glass (S, H, I) | Democratic | Virginia | Resigned to become U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, died | 1858–1946 | |
38 | 42 years, 58 days | 34 | 42 years, 58 days | John W. McCormack (H) | Democratic | Massachusetts | Retired | 1891–1980 |
39 | 42 years, 0 days | 35 | 42 years, 0 days | John Sparkman (S, H) | Democratic | Alabama | Retired | 1899–1985 |
40 | 42 years, 0 days | 36 | 42 years, 0 days | Jack Brooks (H) | Democratic | Texas | Defeated | 1922–2012 |
41 | 42 years, 0 days | 37 | 42 years, 0 days | Orrin Hatch (S) | Republican | Utah | Retired | 1934–2022 |
42 | 42 years, 0 days | 38 | 42 years, 0 days | Jim Sensenbrenner (H) | Republican | Wisconsin | Retired | 1943– |
43 | 41 years, 362 days | 39 | 41 years, 362 days | William R. Poage (H) | Democratic | Texas | Resigned | 1899–1987 |
44 | 41 years, 305 days | 40 | 41 years, 305 days | Robert L. Doughton (H) | Democratic | North Carolina | Retired | 1863–1954 |
45 | 41 years, 305 days | 41 | 41 years, 305 days | Joseph W. Martin Jr. (H) | Republican | Massachusetts | Lost renomination | 1884–1968 |
46 | 41 years, 276 days | 42 | 41 years, 276 days | Dave Obey (H) | Democratic | Wisconsin | Retired | 1938– |
47 | 41 years, 110 days | 43 | 41 years, 110 days | Dick Durbin (S, H) | Democratic | Illinois | 1944– | |
48 | 41 years, 110 days | 44 | 41 years, 110 days | Marcy Kaptur (H) | Democratic | Ohio | 1946– | |
49 | 41 years, 69 days | 45 | 41 years, 69 days | Clarence Cannon (H) | Democratic | Missouri | Died | 1879–1964 |
50 | 41 years, 59 days | 46 | 41 years, 59 days | John C. Stennis (S) | Democratic | Mississippi | Retired | 1901–1995 |
51 | 41 years, 30 days | 47 | 41 years, 30 days | Kenneth McKellar (S, H) | Democratic | Tennessee | Lost renomination | 1869–1957 |
52 | 40 years, 240 days | 48 | 40 years, 240 days | William Natcher (H) | Democratic | Kentucky | Died | 1909–1994 |
53 | 40 years, 207 days | N/A | Claude Pepper (S, H, I) | Democratic | Florida | Lost renomination, died | 1900–1989 | |
54 | 40 years, 157 days | 49 | 40 years, 157 days | William P. Frye (S, H) | Republican | Maine | Died | 1830–1911 |
55 | 40 years, 10 days | 50 | 40 years, 10 days | Ted Stevens (S) | Republican | Alaska | Defeated | 1923–2010 |
56 | 40 years, 0 days | 51 | 40 years, 0 days | Carl Curtis (S, H) | Republican | Nebraska | Retired | 1905–2000 |
57 | 40 years, 0 days | 52 | 40 years, 0 days | Peter W. Rodino (H) | Democratic | New Jersey | Retired | 1909–2005 |
58 | 40 years, 0 days | 53 | 40 years, 0 days | Pete Stark (H) | Democratic | California | Defeated | 1931–2020 |
59 | 40 years, 0 days | 54 | 40 years, 0 days | Tom Harkin (S, H) | Democratic | Iowa | Retired | 1939– |
60 | 40 years, 0 days | 55 | 40 years, 0 days | George Miller (H) | Democratic | California | Retired | 1945– |
61 | 40 years, 0 days | 56 | 40 years, 0 days | Henry Waxman (H) | Democratic | California | Retired | 1939– |
62 | 40 years, 0 days | 57 | 40 years, 0 days | Barbara Mikulski (S, H) | Democratic | Maryland | Retired | 1936– |
63 | 40 years, 0 days | 58 | 40 years, 0 days | Pat Roberts (S, H) | Republican | Kansas | Retired | 1936– |
64 | 40 years, 0 days | N/A | Eugene Hale (S, H, I) | Republican | Maine | Defeated, retired | 1836–1918 | |
65 | 39 years, 364 days | N/A | Jennings Randolph (S, H, I) | Democratic | West Virginia | Defeated, retired | 1902–1998 | |
66 | 39 years, 362 days | 59 | 39 years, 362 days | Leslie C. Arends (H) | Republican | Illinois | Retired | 1895–1985 |
67 | 39 years, 352 days | 60 | 39 years, 352 days | Daniel A. Reed (H) | Republican | New York | Died | 1875–1959 |
68 | 39 years, 305 days | 61 | 39 years, 305 days | George W. Norris (S, H) | Republican, Independent | Nebraska | Defeated | 1861–1944 |
69 | 39 years, 305 days | 62 | 39 years, 305 days | John Taber (H) | Republican | New York | Retired | 1880–1965 |
70 | 39 years, 305 days | 63 | 39 years, 305 days | William M. Colmer (H) | Democratic | Mississippi | Retired | 1890–1980 |
71 | 39 years, 110 days | 64 | 39 years, 110 days | Mitch McConnell (S) | Republican | Kentucky | 1942– | |
72 | 39 years, 34 days | 65 | 39 years, 34 days | Max Baucus (S, H) | Democratic | Montana | Appointed Ambassador to China | 1941– |
73 | 39 years, 9 days | N/A | Samuel Smith (S, H, I) | Democratic-Republican, Democratic | Maryland | Retired | 1752–1839 | |
74 | 38 years, 329 days | N/A | John L. McClellan (S, H, I) | Democratic | Arkansas | Retired, died | 1896–1977 | |
75 | 38 years, 145 days | 66 | 38 years, 145 days | Morris Sheppard (S, H) | Democratic | Texas | Died | 1875–1941 |
76 | 38 years, 55 days | 67 | 38 years, 55 days | Fritz Hollings (S) | Democratic | South Carolina | Retired | 1922–2019 |
77 | 38 years, 9 days | 68 | 38 years, 9 days | Richard Russell Jr. (S) | Democratic | Georgia | Died | 1897–1971 |
78 | 38 years, 4 days | N/A | John Sherman (S, H, I) | Opposition, Republican | Ohio | Appointed U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, appointed U.S. Secretary of State | 1823–1900 | |
79 | 38 years, 3 days | 69 | 38 years, 3 days | Russell B. Long (S) | Democratic | Louisiana | Retired | 1918–2003 |
80 | 38 years, 0 days | 70 | 38 years, 0 days | Frederick H. Gillett (S, H) | Republican | Massachusetts | Retired | 1851–1935 |
81 | 38 years, 0 days | 71 | 38 years, 0 days | Wilbur Mills (H) | Democratic | Arkansas | Retired | 1909–1992 |
82 | 38 years, 0 days | 71 | 38 years, 0 days | Dante Fascell (H) | Democratic | Florida | Retired | 1917–1998 |
83 | 38 years, 0 days | 72 | 38 years, 0 days | Robert H. Michel (H) | Republican | Illinois | Retired | 1923–2017 |
84 | 38 years, 0 days | 73 | 38 years, 0 days | Nick Rahall (H) | Democratic | West Virginia | Defeated | 1949– |
85 | 37 years, 305 days | N/A | Robert Crosser (H, I) | Democratic | Ohio | Lost renomination | 1874–1957 | |
86 | 37 years, 290 days | N/A | Bob Sikes (H, I) | Democratic | Florida | Resigned, retired | 1906–1994 | |
87 | 37 years, 255 days | 75 | 37 years, 255 days | Nathaniel Macon (S, H) | Anti-Administration, Democratic-Republican | North Carolina | Resigned | 1757–1837 |
88 | 37 years, 250 days | 76 | 37 years, 250 days | Henry Cabot Lodge (S, H) | Republican | Massachusetts | Died | 1850–1924 |
89 | 37 years, 110 days | 77 | 37 years, 110 days | Ben Cardin (S, H) | Democratic | Maryland | 1943– | |
90 | 37 years, 74 days | N/A | Alben W. Barkley (S, H, I) | Democratic | Kentucky | Elected Vice President of the United States, died | 1877–1956 | |
91 | 37 years, 60 days | 78 | 37 years, 60 days | Henry B. González (H) | Democratic | Texas | Retired | 1916–2000 |
92 | 37 years, 6 days | N/A | Francis E. Warren (S, I) | Republican | Wyoming | Defeated, died | 1844–1929 | |
93 | 36 years, 325 days | 79 | 36 years, 325 days | Nancy Pelosi (H) | Democratic | California | 1940– | |
94 | 36 years, 83 days | N/A | James Eastland (S, I) | Democratic | Mississippi | Resigned | 1904–1986 | |
95 | 36 years, 12 days | 80 | 36 years, 12 days | Joe Biden (S) | Democratic | Delaware | Elected Vice President of the United States | 1942– |
96 | 36 years, 3 days | 81 | 36 years, 3 days | John Murtha (H) | Democratic | Pennsylvania | Died | 1932–2010 |
97 | 36 years, 0 days | 82 | 36 years, 0 days | Henry L. Dawes (S, H) | Republican | Massachusetts | Retired | 1816–1903 |
98 | 36 years, 0 days | 83 | 36 years, 0 days | F. Edward Hébert (H) | Democratic | Louisiana | Retired | 1901–1979 |
99 | 36 years, 0 days | 84 | 36 years, 0 days | Edward Boland (H) | Democratic | Massachusetts | Retired | 1911–2001 |
100 | 36 years, 0 days | 85 | 36 years, 0 days | William Broomfield (H) | Republican | Michigan | Retired | 1922–2019 |
101 | 36 years, 0 days | 86 | 36 years, 0 days | Dan Rostenkowski (H) | Democratic | Illinois | Defeated | 1928–2010 |
102 | 36 years, 0 days | 87 | 36 years, 0 days | Neal Smith (H) | Democratic | Iowa | Defeated | 1920–2021 |
103 | 36 years, 0 days | 88 | 36 years, 0 days | Claiborne Pell (S) | Democratic | Rhode Island | Retired | 1918–2009 |
104 | 36 years, 0 days | 89 | 36 years, 0 days | Joseph M. McDade (H) | Republican | Pennsylvania | Retired | 1931–2017 |
105 | 36 years, 0 days | 90 | 36 years, 0 days | Paul Sarbanes (S, H) | Democratic | Maryland | Retired | 1933–2020 |
106 | 36 years, 0 days | 91 | 36 years, 0 days | Pete Domenici (S) | Republican | New Mexico | Retired | 1932–2017 |
107 | 36 years, 0 days | 92 | 36 years, 0 days | Ralph Regula (H) | Republican | Ohio | Retired | 1924–2017 |
108 | 36 years, 0 days | 93 | 36 years, 0 days | Chris Dodd (S, H) | Democratic | Connecticut | Retired | 1944– |
109 | 36 years, 0 days | 94 | 36 years, 0 days | Jim Oberstar (H) | Democratic–Farmer–Labor | Minnesota | Defeated | 1934–2014 |
110 | 36 years, 0 days | 95 | 36 years, 0 days | Richard Lugar (S) | Republican | Indiana | Lost renomination | 1932–2019 |
111 | 36 years, 0 days | 96 | 36 years, 0 days | Daniel Akaka (S, H) | Democratic | Hawaii | Retired | 1924–2018 |
112 | 36 years, 0 days | 97 | 36 years, 0 days | Norm Dicks (H) | Democratic | Washington | Retired | 1940– |
113 | 36 years, 0 days | 98 | 36 years, 0 days | Dale Kildee (H) | Democratic | Michigan | Retired | 1929–2021 |
114 | 36 years, 0 days | 99 | 36 years, 0 days | Carl Levin (S) | Democratic | Michigan | Retired | 1934–2021 |
115 | 36 years, 0 days | 100 | 36 years, 0 days | Sander Levin (H) | Democratic | Michigan | Retired | 1931– |
116 | 36 years, 0 days | 101 | 36 years, 0 days | Pete Visclosky (H) | Democratic | Indiana | Retired | 1949– |
117 | 36 years, 0 days | 102 | 36 years, 0 days | Jim Inhofe (S, H) | Republican | Oklahoma | Resigned | 1934– |
118 | 36 years, 0 days | 103 | 36 years, 0 days | Peter DeFazio (H) | Democratic | Oregon | Retired | 1947– |
119 | 36 years, 0 days | 104 | 36 years, 0 days | Fred Upton (H) | Republican | Michigan | Retired | 1953– |
120 | 36 years, 0 days | N/A | Shelby Moore Cullom (S, H, I) | Republican | Illinois | Retired | 1829–1914 |
The 90th Congress was notable because for a period of 10 days (December 24, 1968 – January 3, 1969), it contained within the Senate, all 10 of what was at one point the top 10 longest-serving senators in history (Byrd, Inouye, Thurmond, Kennedy, Hayden, Stennis, Stevens, Hollings, Russell Jr., and Long) until January 7, 2013, when Patrick Leahy surpassed Russell B. Long as the 10th longest-serving senator in history. This short 10-day period stretched from the appointment of Ted Stevens of Alaska to fill a vacancy to the retirement of Carl Hayden of Arizona early the next year. The 107th Congress (2001–2003) was the most recent one that contained all of the current top 7 longest serving senators in history (Byrd, Inouye, Leahy, Thurmond, Kennedy, Grassley, and Hatch).
The 99th Congress (1985–1987) and the 100th Congress (1987–1989) 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).
Total tenure | Uninterrupted | Name | Party affiliation | State | Dates of service | Lifespan | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 51 years, 176 days | 1 | 51 years, 176 days | Robert Byrd | Democratic | West Virginia | January 3, 1959 – June 28, 2010 | 1917–2010 |
2 | 49 years, 349 days | 2 | 49 years, 349 days | Daniel Inouye | Democratic | Hawaii | January 3, 1963 – December 17, 2012 | 1924–2012 |
3 | 48 years, 0 days | 3 | 48 years, 0 days | Patrick Leahy | Democratic | Vermont | January 3, 1975 – January 3, 2023 | 1940– |
4 | 47 years, 159 days | 5 | 46 years, 57 days | Strom Thurmond (I) | Democratic, Republican | South Carolina | December 24, 1954 – April 7, 1956 November 7, 1956 – January 3, 2003 | 1902–2003 |
5 | 46 years, 292 days | 4 | 46 years, 292 days | Ted Kennedy | Democratic | Massachusetts | November 7, 1962 – August 25, 2009 | 1932–2009 |
6 | 43 years, 110 days | 6 | 43 years, 110 days | Chuck Grassley | Republican | Iowa | Since January 3, 1981 | 1933– |
7 | 42 years, 0 days | 7 | 42 years, 0 days | Orrin Hatch | Republican | Utah | January 3, 1977 – January 3, 2019 | 1934–2022 |
8 | 41 years, 305 days | 8 | 41 years, 305 days | Carl Hayden | Democratic | Arizona | March 4, 1927 – January 3, 1969 | 1877–1972 |
9 | 41 years, 59 days | 9 | 41 years, 59 days | John C. Stennis | Democratic | Mississippi | November 5, 1947 – January 3, 1989 | 1901–1995 |
10 | 40 years, 10 days | 10 | 40 years, 10 days | Ted Stevens | Republican | Alaska | December 24, 1968 – January 3, 2009 | 1923–2010 |
11 | 39 years, 110 days | 11 | 39 years, 110 days | Mitch McConnell | Republican | Kentucky | Since January 3, 1985 | 1942– |
12 | 39 years, 94 days | 12 | 39 years, 94 days | Thad Cochran | Republican | Mississippi | December 27, 1978 – April 1, 2018 | 1937–2019 |
13 | 38 years, 55 days | 13 | 38 years, 55 days | Fritz Hollings | Democratic | South Carolina | November 9, 1966 – January 3, 2005 | 1922–2019 |
14 | 38 years, 9 days | 14 | 38 years, 9 days | Richard Russell Jr. | Democratic | Georgia | January 12, 1933 – January 21, 1971 | 1897–1971 |
15 | 38 years, 3 days | 15 | 38 years, 3 days | Russell B. Long | Democratic | Louisiana | December 31, 1948 – January 3, 1987 | 1918–2003 |
16 | 37 years, 6 days | N/A | Francis E. Warren (I) | Republican | Wyoming | November 24, 1890 – March 4, 1893 March 4, 1895 – November 24, 1929 | 1844–1929 | |
17 | 36 years, 83 days | N/A | James Eastland (I) | Democratic | Mississippi | June 30 – September 28, 1941 January 3, 1943 – December 27, 1978 | 1904–1986 | |
18 | 36 years, 20 days | 16 | 36 years, 20 days | Warren Magnuson | Democratic | Washington | December 14, 1944 – January 3, 1981 | 1905–1989 |
19 | 36 years, 12 days | 17 | 36 years, 12 days | Joe Biden | Democratic | Delaware | January 3, 1973 – January 15, 2009 | 1942– |
20 | 36 years, 0 days | 18 | 36 years, 0 days | Claiborne Pell | Democratic | Rhode Island | January 3, 1961 – January 3, 1997 | 1918–2009 |
21 | 36 years, 0 days | 19 | 36 years, 0 days | Pete Domenici | Republican | New Mexico | January 3, 1973 – January 3, 2009 | 1932–2017 |
22 | 36 years, 0 days | 20 | 36 years, 0 days | Richard Lugar | Republican | Indiana | January 3, 1977 – January 3, 2013 | 1932–2019 |
23 | 36 years, 0 days | 21 | 36 years, 0 days | Carl Levin | Democratic | Michigan | January 3, 1979 – January 3, 2015 | 1934–2021 |
24 | 36 years, 0 days | 22 | 36 years, 0 days | Richard Shelby | Democratic, Republican | Alabama | January 3, 1987 – January 3, 2023 | 1934– |
Total tenure | Uninterrupted | Name | Party affiliation | State | Dates of service | Lifespan | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 59 years, 21 days | 1 | 59 years, 21 days | John Dingell | Democratic | Michigan | December 13, 1955 – January 3, 2015 | 1926–2019 |
2 | 53 years, 60 days | 2 | 53 years, 60 days | Jamie Whitten | Democratic | Mississippi | November 4, 1941 – January 3, 1995 | 1910–1995 |
3 | 52 years, 336 days | 3 | 52 years, 336 days | John Conyers | Democratic | Michigan | January 3, 1965 – December 5, 2017 | 1929–2019 |
4 | 50 years, 61 days | 4 | 50 years, 61 days | Carl Vinson | Democratic | Georgia | November 3, 1914 – January 3, 1965 | 1883–1981 |
5 | 49 years, 305 days | 5 | 49 years, 305 days | Emanuel Celler | Democratic | New York | March 4, 1923 – January 3, 1973 | 1888–1981 |
6 | 49 years, 12 days | 6 | 49 years, 12 days | Don Young | Republican | Alaska | March 6, 1973 – March 18, 2022 | 1933–2022 |
7 | 48 years, 257 days | 7 | 48 years, 257 days | Sam Rayburn | Democratic | Texas | March 4, 1913 – November 16, 1961 | 1882–1961 |
8 | 48 years, 0 days | N/A | Sidney R. Yates (I) | Democratic | Illinois | January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1963 January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1999 | 1909–2000 | |
9 | 47 years, 3 days | 8 | 47 years, 3 days | Wright Patman | Democratic | Texas | March 4, 1929 – March 7, 1976 | 1893–1976 |
10 | 46 years, 0 days | 9 | 46 years, 0 days | Charles Rangel | Democratic | New York | January 3, 1971 – January 3, 2017 | 1930– |
11 | 46 years, 0 days | N/A | Joseph Gurney Cannon (I) | Republican | Illinois | March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1891 March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1913 March 4, 1915 – March 3, 1923 | 1836–1926 | |
12 | 45 years, 247 days | 10 | 45 years, 247 days | Adolph J. Sabath | Democratic | Illinois | March 4, 1907 – November 6, 1952 | 1866–1952 |
13 | 44 years, 0 days | 11 | 44 years, 0 days | George H. Mahon | Democratic | Texas | January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1979 | 1900–1985 |
14 | 44 years, 0 days | 12 | 44 years, 0 days | Charles E. Bennett | Democratic | Florida | January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1993 | 1910–2003 |
15 | 43 years, 110 days | 13 | 43 years, 110 days | Hal Rogers | Republican | Kentucky | Since January 3, 1981 | 1937– |
16 | 43 years, 110 days | 14 | 43 years, 110 days | Chris Smith | Republican | New Jersey | Since January 3, 1981 | 1953– |
17 | 43 years, 110 days | 15 | 43 years, 110 days | Melvin Price | Democratic | Illinois | January 3, 1945 – April 22, 1988 | 1905–1988 |
18 | 42 years, 339 days | 16 | 42 years, 339 days | Steny Hoyer | Democratic | Maryland | Since May 19, 1981 | 1939– |
19 | 42 years, 288 days | 17 | 42 years, 288 days | Bill Young | Republican | Florida | January 3, 1971 – October 18, 2013 | 1930–2013 |
20 | 42 years, 58 days | 18 | 42 years, 58 days | John W. McCormack | Democratic | Massachusetts | November 6, 1928 – January 3, 1971 | 1891–1980 |
21 | 42 years, 0 days | 19 | 42 years, 0 days | Jack Brooks | Democratic | Texas | January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1995 | 1922–2012 |
22 | 42 years, 0 days | 20 | 42 years, 0 days | Jim Sensenbrenner | Republican | Wisconsin | January 3, 1979 – January 3, 2021 | 1943– |
23 | 41 years, 362 days | 21 | 41 years, 362 days | William R. Poage | Democratic | Texas | January 3, 1937 – December 31, 1978 | 1899–1987 |
24 | 41 years, 305 days | 22 | 41 years, 305 days | Robert L. Doughton | Democratic | North Carolina | March 4, 1911 – January 3, 1953 | 1863–1954 |
25 | 41 years, 305 days | 23 | 41 years, 305 days | Joseph W. Martin Jr. | Republican | Massachusetts | March 4, 1925 – January 3, 1967 | 1884–1968 |
26 | 41 years, 276 days | 24 | 41 years, 276 days | Dave Obey | Democratic | Wisconsin | April 1, 1969 – January 3, 2011 | 1938– |
27 | 41 years, 110 days | 25 | 41 years, 110 days | Marcy Kaptur | Democratic | Ohio | Since January 3, 1983 | 1946– |
28 | 41 years, 69 days | 26 | 41 years, 69 days | Clarence Cannon | Democratic | Missouri | March 4, 1923 – May 12, 1964 | 1879–1964 |
29 | 40 years, 240 days | 27 | 40 years, 240 days | William Natcher | Democratic | Kentucky | August 1, 1953 – March 29, 1994 | 1909–1994 |
30 | 40 years, 0 days | 28 | 40 years, 0 days | Peter W. Rodino | Democratic | New Jersey | January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1989 | 1909–2005 |
31 | 40 years, 0 days | 29 | 40 years, 0 days | Pete Stark | Democratic | California | January 3, 1973 – January 3, 2013 | 1931–2020 |
32 | 40 years, 0 days | 30 | 40 years, 0 days | George Miller | Democratic | California | January 3, 1975 – January 3, 2015 | 1945– |
33 | 40 years, 0 days | 31 | 40 years, 0 days | Henry Waxman | Democratic | California | January 3, 1975 – January 3, 2015 | 1939– |
34 | 39 years, 362 days | 32 | 39 years, 362 days | Leslie C. Arends | Republican | Illinois | January 3, 1935 – December 31, 1974 | 1895–1985 |
35 | 39 years, 352 days | 33 | 39 years, 352 days | Daniel A. Reed | Republican | New York | March 4, 1919 – February 19, 1959 | 1875–1959 |
36 | 39 years, 305 days | 34 | 39 years, 305 days | John Taber | Republican | New York | March 4, 1923 – January 3, 1963 | 1880–1965 |
37 | 39 years, 305 days | 35 | 39 years, 305 days | William M. Colmer | Democratic | Mississippi | March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1973 | 1890–1980 |
38 | 38 years, 0 days | 36 | 38 years, 0 days | Wilbur Mills | Democratic | Arkansas | January 3, 1939 – January 3, 1977 | 1909–1992 |
39 | 38 years, 0 days | 37 | 38 years, 0 days | Dante Fascell | Democratic | Florida | January 3, 1955 – January 3, 1993 | 1917–1998 |
40 | 38 years, 0 days | 38 | 38 years, 0 days | Robert H. Michel | Republican | Illinois | January 3, 1957 – January 3, 1995 | 1923–2017 |
41 | 38 years, 0 days | 39 | 38 years, 0 days | Nick Rahall | Democratic | West Virginia | January 3, 1977 – January 3, 2015 | 1949– |
42 | 37 years, 305 days | N/A | Robert Crosser (I) | Democratic | Ohio | March 4, 1913 – March 3, 1919 March 4, 1923 – January 3, 1955 | 1874–1957 | |
43 | 37 years, 290 days | N/A | Bob Sikes (I) | Democratic | Florida | January 3, 1941 – October 19, 1944 January 3, 1945 – January 3, 1979 | 1906–1994 | |
44 | 37 years, 60 days | 40 | 37 years, 60 days | Henry B. González | Democratic | Texas | November 4, 1961 – January 3, 1999 | 1916–2000 |
45 | 36 years, 325 days | 41 | 36 years, 325 days | Nancy Pelosi | Democratic | California | Since June 2, 1987 | 1940– |
46 | 36 years, 256 days | 42 | 36 years, 256 days | Ed Markey | Democratic | Massachusetts | November 2, 1976 – July 15, 2013 | 1946– |
47 | 36 years, 3 days | 43 | 36 years, 3 days | John Murtha | Democratic | Pennsylvania | February 5, 1974 – February 8, 2010 | 1932–2010 |
48 | 36 years, 0 days | 44 | 36 years, 0 days | F. Edward Hébert | Democratic | Louisiana | January 3, 1941 – January 3, 1977 | 1901–1979 |
49 | 36 years, 0 days | 45 | 36 years, 0 days | Edward Boland | Democratic | Massachusetts | January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1989 | 1911–2001 |
50 | 36 years, 0 days | 46 | 36 years, 0 days | William Broomfield | Republican | Michigan | January 3, 1957 – January 3, 1993 | 1922–2019 |
51 | 36 years, 0 days | 47 | 36 years, 0 days | Dan Rostenkowski | Democratic | Illinois | January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1995 | 1928–2010 |
52 | 36 years, 0 days | 48 | 36 years, 0 days | Neal Smith | Democratic | Iowa | January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1995 | 1920–2021 |
53 | 36 years, 0 days | 49 | 36 years, 0 days | Joseph M. McDade | Republican | Pennsylvania | January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1999 | 1931–2017 |
54 | 36 years, 0 days | 50 | 36 years, 0 days | Ralph Regula | Republican | Ohio | January 3, 1973 – January 3, 2009 | 1924–2017 |
55 | 36 years, 0 days | 51 | 36 years, 0 days | Jim Oberstar | Democratic–Farmer–Labor | Minnesota | January 3, 1975 – January 3, 2011 | 1934–2014 |
56 | 36 years, 0 days | 52 | 36 years, 0 days | Norm Dicks | Democratic | Washington | January 3, 1977 – January 3, 2013 | 1940– |
57 | 36 years, 0 days | 53 | 36 years, 0 days | Dale Kildee | Democratic | Michigan | January 3, 1977 – January 3, 2013 | 1929–2021 |
58 | 36 years, 0 days | 54 | 36 years, 0 days | Sander Levin | Democratic | Michigan | January 3, 1983 – January 3, 2019 | 1931– |
59 | 36 years, 0 days | 55 | 36 years, 0 days | Pete Visclosky | Democratic | Indiana | January 3, 1985 – January 3, 2021 | 1949– |
60 | 36 years, 0 days | 56 | 36 years, 0 days | Peter DeFazio | Democratic | Oregon | January 3, 1987 – January 3, 2023 | 1947– |
61 | 36 years, 0 days | 57 | 36 years, 0 days | Fred Upton | Republican | Michigan | January 3, 1987 – January 3, 2023 | 1953– |
The president pro tempore of the United States Senate is the second-highest-ranking official of the United States Senate, after the vice president. According to Article One, Section Three of the United States Constitution, the vice president of the United States is the president of the Senate, and the Senate must choose a president pro tempore to act in the vice president's absence.
James Oliver Eastland was an American attorney, plantation owner, and politician from Mississippi. A Democrat, he served in the United States Senate in 1941 and again from 1943 until his resignation on December 27, 1978. Eastland was a segregationist who led the Southern resistance against racial integration during the civil rights movement, often speaking of African Americans as "an inferior race." Eastland has been called the "Voice of the White South" and the "Godfather of Mississippi Politics."
John Cornelius Stennis was an American politician who served as a U.S. senator from the state of Mississippi. He was a Democrat who served in the Senate for over 41 years, becoming its most senior member for his last eight years. He retired from the Senate in 1989, and is, to date, the last Democrat to have been a U.S. senator from Mississippi. Furthermore, at the time of his retirement, Stennis was the last United States senator to have served during the presidency of Harry S. Truman.
Richard Brevard Russell Jr. was an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 66th Governor of Georgia from 1931 to 1933 before serving in the United States Senate for almost 40 years, from 1933 to 1971. Russell was a founder and leader of the conservative coalition that dominated Congress from 1937 to 1963, and at his death was the most senior member of the Senate. He was for decades a leader of Southern opposition to the civil rights movement.
The 100th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C., from January 3, 1987, to January 3, 1989, during the last two years of Ronald Reagan's presidency. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 1980 United States census.
The 99th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C., from January 3, 1985, to January 3, 1987, during the fifth and sixth years of Ronald Reagan's presidency. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 1980 United States census.
Warren Grant Magnuson was an American lawyer and politician who represented the state of Washington in Congress for 44 years, first as a Representative from 1937 to 1944, and then as a senator from 1944 to 1981. Magnuson was a member of the Democratic Party. He was Washington state's longest-serving senator, serving over 36 years. During his final two years in office, he was the most senior senator and president pro tempore.
The 94th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C., from January 3, 1975, to January 3, 1977, during the last two years of Gerald Ford's presidency.
The 96th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from January 3, 1979, to January 3, 1981, during the last two years of Jimmy Carter's presidency.
The 93rd United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C., from January 3, 1973, to January 3, 1975, during the last 18 months of Richard Nixon's presidency, and the first 6 months of Gerald Ford's. This Congress was the first Congress with more than two Senate presidents. After the resignation of Spiro Agnew, Gerald Ford was appointed under the authority of the newly ratified 25th Amendment. Ford became president the next year and Nelson Rockefeller was appointed in his place. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 1970 United States census. Both chambers had a Democratic majority.
The 1966 United States Senate elections were elections on November 8, 1966, for the United States Senate which occurred midway through the second term of President Lyndon B. Johnson. The 33 seats of Class 2 were contested in regular elections. Special elections were also held to fill vacancies. With divisions in the Democratic base over the Vietnam War, and with the traditional mid-term advantage of the party not holding the presidency, the Republicans took three Democratic seats, thereby breaking Democrats' 2/3rds supermajority. Despite Republican gains, the balance remained overwhelmingly in favor of the Democrats, who retained a 64–36 majority. Democrats were further reduced to 63–37, following the death of Robert F. Kennedy in June 1968.
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The 1966 South Carolina United States Senate special election was held on November 8, 1966 to select the U.S. Senator from the state of South Carolina. The election resulted from the death of Senator Olin D. Johnston in 1965. Then Governor Donald S. Russell entered in a prearranged agreement with Lieutenant Governor Robert Evander McNair in which Russell would resign his post so that he could be appointed Senator. However, former Governor Fritz Hollings won the Democratic primary election and went on to beat Republican state senator Marshall Parker in the general election to win his right to fill the remaining two years of the unexpired term.