The following are historical lists of the youngest members of the United States Congress, in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. These members would be the equivalent to the "Baby of the House" in the parliaments of Commonwealth countries; the U.S. Congress does not confer a similar title upon its youngest members.
The youngest U.S. congressman tends to be older than the youngest MPs in Commonwealth countries. This is partly because the minimum age requirements enumerated in Article One of the United States Constitution bar persons under the age of 25 years and 30 years from serving in the House and Senate, respectively. Additionally, the political culture of the United States encourages young politicians to gain experience in state and local offices before running for Congress. Although the vast majority of members of Congress gained state and local experience before being elected to Congress, members lacking state and local experience have increased recently. [1]
Maxwell Frost (D-FL) is the youngest member of the 118th Congress at age 27. He succeeded one-term representative Madison Cawthorn, who was the youngest person elected to the U.S. Congress since Jed Johnson Jr. in 1964. [2]
Jon Ossoff (D-GA) is the youngest sitting senator at 36, [3] replacing Josh Hawley, who at 41 was the youngest senator of the 116th Congress. [4] Ossoff is the youngest person elected to the U.S. Senate since Don Nickles in 1980. [5] [6] The average age of senators is higher now than in the past. [7] In the 19th century, several state legislatures elected senators in their late twenties despite the Constitutional minimum age of 30, such as Henry Clay, who was sworn into office at age 29, and John Henry Eaton, the youngest U.S. senator in history, who took his oath of office when he was 28 years, 4 months and 29 days old. [8]
For senators elected to a regular session, the starting date is the date on which the new Congress convened. From 1789 to 1935, this is March 4 (with the previous Congress ending on March 3); from 1937 onward, this is January 3.
For senators appointed to a vacancy or elected in a special election, the starting date represents their swearing-in date.
Duration as youngest | Name | State | Party | Start age | End age | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
March 4, 1789 – July 25, 1789 | James Gunn | GA | Anti-Administration | 35 years, 356 days | 36 years, 134 days | |
July 25, 1789 – December 6, 1790 | Rufus King | NY | Pro-Administration | 34 years, 123 days | 35 years, 257 days | |
December 6, 1790 – March 4, 1791 | James Monroe | VA | Anti-Administration | 32 years, 222 days | 32 years, 310 days | |
March 4, 1791 – December 2, 1793 | John Rutherfurd | NJ | Pro-Administration | 30 years, 165 days | 33 years, 73 days | |
December 2, 1793 – February 28, 1794 | Albert Gallatin [lower-alpha 1] | PA | Anti-Administration | 32 years, 307 days | 33 years, 30 days | |
February 28, 1794 – April 24, 1794 | John Rutherfurd | NJ | Pro-Administration | 33 years, 161 days | 33 years, 216 days | |
April 24, 1794 – December 6, 1796 | James Ross | PA | Federalist | 31 years, 286 days | 34 years, 147 days | |
April 12, 1796 – December 6, 1796 [lower-alpha 2] | Josiah Tattnall | GA | Democratic-Republican | 33–34 | 33–34 | |
December 6, 1796 – November 22, 1797 | Richard Stockton | NJ | Federalist | 32 years, 233 days | 33 years, 219 days | |
November 22, 1797 – April 1, 1798 | Andrew Jackson | TN | Democratic-Republican | 30 years, 252 days | 31 years, 17 days | |
April 1, 1798 – February 4, 1799 | Ray Greene | RI | Federalist | 33 years, 58 days | 34 years, 2 days | |
February 4, 1799 – March 3, 1801 | William Wells | DE | Federalist | 30 years, 28 days | 32 years, 56 days | |
March 4, 1801 – October 17, 1803 | Samuel White | DE | Federalist | 30 years, 93 days | 32 years, 320 days | |
October 17, 1803 – December 29, 1806 | Thomas Worthington | OH | Democratic-Republican | 30 years, 93 days | 33 years, 166 days | |
December 29, 1806 – March 4, 1807 | Henry Clay [lower-alpha 3] | KY | Democratic-Republican | 29 years, 261 days | 29 years, 326 days | |
March 4, 1807 – September 1807 | James Fenner | RI | Democratic-Republican | 36 years, 41 days | 36 years, 222 days | |
September 1807 – December 9, 1807 | Samuel White | DE | Federalist | 36 years, 274 days | 37 years, 8 days | |
December 9, 1807 – January 12, 1810 | William Crawford | GA | Democratic-Republican | 35 years, 288 days | 37 years, 322 days | |
May 26, 1809 – January 12, 1810 [lower-alpha 4] | Jenkin Whiteside | TN | Democratic-Republican | 36–37 | 37–38 | |
January 12, 1810 – March 3, 1813 | Alexander Campbell | OH | Democratic-Republican | 30–31 | 33–34 | |
March 4, 1813 – May 27, 1813 | Outerbridge Horsey | DE | Federalist | 35 years, 364 days | 36 years, 80 days | |
May 24, 1813 – May 27, 1813 [lower-alpha 5] | William Bulloch | GA | Democratic-Republican | 35–36 | 35–36 | |
May 27, 1813 – December 6, 1813 | Robert Goldsborough | MD | Federalist | 34 years, 143 days | 34 years, 336 days | |
December 6, 1813 – April 9, 1814 | William Bibb [lower-alpha 6] [lower-alpha 7] | GA | Democratic-Republican | 32 years, 65 days | 32 years, 189 days | |
April 9, 1814 – February 2, 1815 | Jesse Wharton [lower-alpha 7] | TN | Democratic-Republican | 31 years, 254 days | 32 years, 188 days | |
February 2, 1815 – January 22, 1816 | William Barry [lower-alpha 7] | KY | Democratic-Republican | 30 years, 362 days | 31 years, 351 days | |
January 22, 1816 – March 3, 1817 | Armistead Mason [lower-alpha 8] | VA | Democratic-Republican | 28 years, 171 days | 29 years, 212 days | |
March 4, 1817 – November 16, 1818 | John Crittenden | KY | Democratic-Republican | 29 years, 175 days | 31 years, 67 days | |
November 16, 1818 – March 3, 1821 | John Eaton [lower-alpha 9] | TN | Democratic-Republican | 28 years, 151 days | 30 years, 259 days | |
March 4, 1821 – December 3, 1821 | Samuel Southard | NJ | Democratic-Republican | 33 years, 268 days | 34 years, 177 days | |
December 3, 1821 – March 3, 1823 | John Eaton | TN | Democratic-Republican | 31 years, 168 days | 32 years, 259 days | |
March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825 | Robert Hayne | SC | Democratic-Republican | 31 years, 114 days | 33 years, 114 days | |
March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1829 | Elias Kane | IL | Jacksonian | 30 years, 270 days | 34 years, 270 days | |
March 4, 1829 – December 16, 1833 | John Clayton | DE | Anti-Jacksonian | 32 years, 223 days | 37 years, 145 days | |
December 16, 1833 – December 31, 1833 | Lewis Linn | MO | Jacksonian | 37 years, 41 days | 37 years, 56 days | |
December 31, 1833 – March 3, 1835 | John King | GA | Jacksonian | 34 years, 272 days | 35 years, 335 days | |
March 4, 1835 – December 5, 1836 | Robert Walker | MS | Jacksonian | 33 years, 228 days | 35 years, 139 days | |
December 5, 1836 – February 2, 1837 | Ambrose Sevier [lower-alpha 7] | AR | Jacksonian | 35 years, 31 days | 35 years, 90 days | |
February 2, 1837 – March 3, 1837 | Alexandre Mouton | LA | Jacksonian | 32 years, 75 days | 32 years, 105 days | |
March 4, 1837 – January 11, 1841 | Franklin Pierce | NH | Democratic | 32 years, 101 days | 36 years, 49 days | |
January 11, 1841 – February 7, 1842 | Alfred Nicholson | TN | Democratic | 32 years, 133 days | 33 years, 160 days | |
February 7, 1842 – February 28, 1842 | Franklin Pierce | NH | Democratic | 37 years, 76 days | 37 years, 97 days | |
February 28, 1842 – March 1, 1842 | Alexandre Mouton | LA | Democratic | 37 years, 101 days | 37 years, 102 days | |
March 1, 1842 – April 14, 1842 | William Graham | NC | Whig | 37 years, 177 days | 37 years, 221 days | |
April 14, 1842 – July 6, 1842 | Charles Conrad | LA | Whig | 37 years, 111 days | 37 years, 194 days | |
July 6, 1842 – March 3, 1843 | William Dayton | NJ | Whig | 35 years, 139 days | 36 years, 15 days | |
March 4, 1843 – December 4, 1843 | Ned Hannegan | IN | Democratic | 35 years, 252 days | 36 years, 162 days | |
December 4, 1843 – March 3, 1845 | David Atchison | MO | Democratic | 36 years, 115 days | 37 years, 205 days | |
March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1847 | Jesse Bright | IN | Democratic | 32 years, 76 days | 34 years, 76 days | |
March 4, 1847 – June 26, 1848 | Stephen Douglas | IL | Democratic | 33 years, 315 days | 35 years, 64 days | |
June 26, 1848 – December 14, 1853 | Isaac Walker | WI | Democratic | 32 years, 237 days | 38 years, 42 days | |
December 14, 1853 – March 3, 1855 | Clement Clay | AL | Democratic | 37 years, 1 day | 38 years, 81 days | |
March 3, 1855 – March 5, 1860 | George Pugh | OH | Democratic | 32 years, 96 days | 37 years, 98 days | |
March 5, 1860 – January 22, 1863 | Milton Latham [lower-alpha 7] | CA | Democratic | 32 years, 287 days | 35 years, 244 days | |
January 22, 1863 – March 3, 1863 | David Turpie | IN | Democratic | 34 years, 198 days | 34 years, 239 days | |
March 4, 1863 – June 23, 1868 | William Sprague | RI | Republican | 32 years, 173 days | 37 years, 285 days | |
June 23, 1868 – June 30, 1868 | Alexander McDonald | AR | Republican | 36 years, 74 days | 36 years, 81 days | |
June 30, 1868 – July 25, 1868 | Thomas Osborn | FL | Republican | 35 years, 113 days | 35 years, 138 days | |
July 25, 1868 – March 3, 1873 | George Spencer | AL | Republican | 31 years, 267 days | 36 years, 123 days | |
March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1879 | Stephen Dorsey | AR | Republican | 31 years, 4 days | 37 years, 4 days | |
March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1881 | Blanche Bruce [lower-alpha 10] | MS | Republican | 38 years, 3 days | 40 years, 3 days | |
March 4, 1881 – October 11, 1881 | Arthur Gorman | MD | Democratic | 41 years, 358 days | 42 years, 214 days | |
October 11, 1881 – March 3, 1883 | Nelson Aldrich | RI | Republican | 39 years, 339 days | 41 years, 118 days | |
March 4, 1883 – December 2, 1889 | John Kenna [lower-alpha 7] | WV | Democratic | 34 years, 328 days | 41 years, 236 days | |
December 2, 1889 – March 3, 1891 | Richard Pettigrew | SD | Republican | 41 years, 132 days | 42 years, 224 days | |
March 4, 1891 – January 24, 1895 | John Irby | SC | Democratic | 36 years, 175 days | 40 years, 136 days | |
January 24, 1895 – March 3, 1895 | Jeter Pritchard | NC | Republican | 37 years, 196 days | 37 years, 235 days | |
March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1901 | Marion Butler | NC | Populist | 31 years, 288 days | 37 years, 288 days | |
March 4, 1901 – March 3, 1905 [lower-alpha 11] | Albert Beveridge | IN | Republican | 38 years, 149 days | 42 years, 149 days | |
Joseph W. Bailey [lower-alpha 7] | TX | Democratic | 38 years, 149 days | 42 years, 149 days | ||
March 4, 1905 – January 30, 1907 | Elmer Burkett | NE | Republican | 37 years, 93 days | 39 years, 60 days | |
January 30, 1907 – March 3, 1907 | Frederick Mulkey | OR | Republican | 33 years, 24 days | 33 years, 57 days | |
March 4, 1907 – December 11, 1907 | Simon Guggenheim | CO | Republican | 39 years, 64 days | 39 years, 346 days | |
December 11, 1907 – December 26, 1907 | Thomas Gore | OK | Democratic | 37 years, 1 day | 37 years, 16 days | |
December 26, 1907 – March 22, 1908 | William Bryan [lower-alpha 12] | FL | Democratic | 31 years, 77 days | 31 years, 164 days | |
March 22, 1908 – January 9, 1911 | Thomas Gore | OK | Democratic | 37 years, 103 days | 40 years, 30 days | |
January 9, 1911 – January 31, 1911 | Davis Elkins | WV | Republican | 34 years, 350 days | 35 years, 7 days | |
January 31, 1911 – March 3, 1911 | Thomas Gore | OK | Democratic | 40 years, 52 days | 40 years, 84 days | |
March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1917 | Luke Lea | TN | Democratic | 31 years, 326 days | 37 years, 326 days | |
March 4, 1917 – July 8, 1918 | Peter Gerry | RI | Democratic | 37 years, 167 days | 38 years, 293 days | |
July 8, 1918 – November 5, 1918 | Christie Benet | SC | Democratic | 38 years, 194 days | 38 years, 314 days | |
November 5, 1918 – March 3, 1919 | Peter Gerry | RI | Democratic | 39 years, 48 days | 39 years, 167 days | |
March 4, 1919 – March 3, 1923 | Pat Harrison | MS | Democratic | 37 years, 187 days | 41 years, 187 days | |
March 4, 1923 – March 3, 1925 | Clarence Dill | WA | Democratic | 38 years, 164 days | 40 years, 164 days | |
March 4, 1925 – December 7, 1925 | Sam Bratton | NM | Democratic | 36 years, 197 days | 37 years, 110 days | |
December 7, 1925 – January 12, 1933 | Bob La Follette | WI | Republican | 30 years, 304 days | 37 years, 341 days | |
January 12, 1933 – June 21, 1935 | Richard Russell | GA | Democratic | 35 years, 71 days | 37 years, 231 days | |
June 21, 1935 – October 17, 1940 | Rush Holt [lower-alpha 13] | WV | Democratic | 30 years, 2 days | 35 years, 120 days | |
October 17, 1940 – December 12, 1940 | Joseph Ball | MN | Republican | 34 years, 349 days | 35 years, 39 days | |
December 12, 1940 – December 6, 1942 | Berkeley Bunker | NV | Democratic | 34 years, 122 days | 36 years, 116 days | |
December 6, 1942 – January 3, 1943 | Henry Lodge | MA | Republican | 40 years, 154 days | 40 years, 182 days | |
January 3, 1943 – November 14, 1944 | Joseph Ball | MN | Republican | 37 years, 61 days | 39 years, 11 days | |
November 14, 1944 – January 3, 1945 | William Jenner | IN | Republican | 36 years, 116 days | 36 years, 166 days | |
January 3, 1945 – January 18, 1945 | Joseph Ball | MN | Republican | 39 years, 61 days | 39 years, 76 days | |
January 18, 1945 – August 26, 1945 | Hugh Mitchell | WA | Democratic | 37 years, 302 days | 38 years, 157 days | |
August 26, 1945 – January 3, 1947 | William Knowland | CA | Republican | 37 years, 61 days | 38 years, 191 days | |
January 3, 1947 – December 31, 1948 | Joseph McCarthy | WI | Republican | 38 years, 50 days | 40 years, 47 days | |
December 31, 1948 – January 3, 1957 | Russell Long [lower-alpha 14] | LA | Democratic | 30 years, 58 days | 38 years, 61 days | |
January 3, 1957 – June 15, 1961 | Frank Church | ID | Democratic | 32 years, 162 days | 36 years, 325 days | |
June 15, 1961 – December 7, 1961 | John Tower | TX | Republican | 35 years, 259 days | 36 years, 69 days | |
December 7, 1961 – November 6, 1962 | Moe Murphy | NH | Republican | 34 years, 65 days | 35 years, 35 days | |
November 7, 1962 – January 3, 1969 | Ted Kennedy | MA | Democratic | 30 years, 258 days | 36 years, 316 days | |
January 3, 1969 – January 2, 1971 | Bob Packwood | OR | Republican | 36 years, 114 days | 38 years, 113 days | |
January 2, 1971 – January 3, 1973 | John Tunney | CA | Democratic | 36 years, 190 days | 38 years, 191 days | |
January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1979 | Joe Biden [lower-alpha 15] | DE | Democratic | 30 years, 44 days | 36 years, 44 days | |
January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1981 | Bill Bradley | NJ | Democratic | 35 years, 159 days | 37 years, 159 days | |
January 3, 1981 – March 11, 1987 | Don Nickles [lower-alpha 16] | OK | Republican | 32 years, 28 days | 38 years, 95 days | |
March 11, 1987 – January 3, 1989 | David Karnes | NE | Republican | 38 years, 89 days | 40 years, 22 days | |
January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1993 | Don Nickles | OK | Republican | 40 years, 28 days | 44 years, 28 days | |
January 3, 1993 – January 3, 1995 | Russ Feingold | WI | Democratic | 39 years, 307 days | 41 years, 307 days | |
January 3, 1995 – January 3, 1999 | Rick Santorum | PA | Republican | 36 years, 238 days | 40 years, 238 days | |
January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2003 | Peter Fitzgerald | IL | Republican | 38 years, 75 days | 42 years, 75 days | |
January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2009 | John Sununu | NH | Republican | 38 years, 115 days | 44 years, 115 days | |
January 3, 2009 – January 22, 2009 | Mark Pryor [lower-alpha 17] | AR | Democratic | 45 years, 359 days | 46 years, 12 days | |
January 22, 2009 – January 27, 2009 | Michael Bennet | CO | Democratic | 44 years, 55 days | 44 years, 60 days | |
January 27, 2009 – September 10, 2009 | Kirsten Gillibrand | NY | Democratic | 42 years, 49 days | 42 years, 275 days | |
September 10, 2009 – July 20, 2010 | George LeMieux | FL | Republican | 40 years, 112 days | 41 years, 60 days | |
July 20, 2010 – November 15, 2010 | Carte Goodwin | WV | Democratic | 36 years, 143 days | 36 years, 261 days | |
November 15, 2010 – January 3, 2011 | George LeMieux | FL | Republican | 41 years, 178 days | 41 years, 227 days | |
January 3, 2011 – December 26, 2012 | Mike Lee | UT | Republican | 39 years, 213 days | 41 years, 205 days | |
December 26, 2012 – January 3, 2013 | Brian Schatz | HI | Democratic | 40 years, 67 days | 40 years, 75 days | |
January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2015 | Chris Murphy | CT | Democratic | 39 years, 153 days | 41 years, 153 days | |
January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2019 | Tom Cotton | AR | Republican | 37 years, 235 days | 41 years, 235 days | |
January 3, 2019 – January 20, 2021 | Josh Hawley | MO | Republican | 39 years, 3 days | 41 years, 20 days | |
January 20, 2021 – present | Jon Ossoff | GA | Democratic | 33 years, 339 days | 36 years, 342 days |
For representatives elected to a regular session, the starting date is the date at which the new Congress convened. From 1789 to 1935, this is March 4 (with the previous Congress ending on March 3); from 1937 onward, this is January 3.
For representatives elected in a special election, the starting date represents their swearing-in date.
Duration as youngest | Congress | Name | District | Party | Start age [lower-alpha 18] | End age | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
March 4, 1789 – April 19, 1790 | 1st | Richard Lee | VA-04 | Pro-Administration | 28 years, 43 days | 29 years, 89 days | |
April 19, 1790 – March 3, 1793 | 1st–2nd | John Steele | NC-04, 01 | Pro-Administration | 25 years, 154 days | 28 years, 108 days | |
March 4, 1793 – March 3, 1795 | 3rd | Francis Preston | VA-04 | Anti-Administration | 27 years, 214 days | 29 years, 214 days | |
March 4, 1795 – May 5, 1796 | 4th | Nathaniel Freeman | MA-05 | Federalist | 28 years, 307 days | 30 years, 4 days | |
May 5, 1796 – March 3, 1797 | 4th | Richard Sprigg | MD-02 | Democratic-Republican | 26–27 | 27–28 | |
March 4, 1797 – November 23, 1797 | 5th | John Dennis | MD-08 | Federalist | 25 years, 77 days | 25 years, 341 days | |
November 23, 1797 – March 3, 1801 | 5th–6th | William Claiborne [lower-alpha 19] | TN-AL | Democratic-Republican | 21–22 | 25–26 | |
March 4, 1801 – December 6, 1802 | 7th | John Stanly | NC-10 | Federalist | 26 years, 329 days | 28 years, 241 days | |
December 6, 1802 – March 3, 1803 | 7th | Samuel Thatcher | MA-12 | Federalist | 26 years, 158 days | 26 years, 246 days | |
March 4, 1803 – March 4, 1805 | 8th–9th | John Jackson | VA-01 | Democratic-Republican | 25 years, 163 days | 27 years, 163 days | |
March 4, 1805 – December 1, 1806 | 9th | John Claiborne | VA-17 | Democratic-Republican | 27 years, 37 days | 28 years, 309 days | |
December 1, 1806 – January 26, 1807 | 9th | William Burwell | VA-13 | Democratic-Republican | 26 years, 261 days | 26 years, 317 days | |
January 26, 1807 – March 3, 1807 | 9th | William Bibb [lower-alpha 6] [lower-alpha 20] | GA-AL | Democratic-Republican | 25 years, 116 days | 25 years, 153 days | |
March 4, 1807 – March 3, 1809 | 10th | Jesse Wharton [lower-alpha 20] [lower-alpha 21] | TN-03 | Democratic-Republican | 24 years, 218 days | 26 years, 218 days | |
March 4, 1809 – November 27, 1809 | 11th | William Bibb [lower-alpha 6] [lower-alpha 20] | GA-AL | Democratic-Republican | 27 years, 153 days | 28 years, 56 days | |
November 27, 1809 – March 3, 1811 | 11th | Jonathan Jennings | IN-AL [lower-alpha 22] | Democratic-Republican | 25 years, 245 days | 26 years, 342 days | |
March 4, 1811 – November 4, 1811 | 12th | William King [lower-alpha 23] | NC-05 | Democratic-Republican | 24 years, 331 days | 25 years, 211 days | |
November 4, 1811 – March 3, 1815 | 12th–13th | Stevenson Archer | MD-06 | Democratic-Republican | 25 years, 24 days | 28 years, 144 days | |
March 4, 1815 – December 17, 1816 | 14th | Richard Wilde | GA-AL | Democratic-Republican | 25 years, 161 days | 27 years, 84 days | |
December 17, 1816 – March 3, 1817 | 14th | John Tyler | VA-23 | Democratic-Republican | 26 years, 263 days | 26 years, 340 days | |
March 4, 1817 – December 4, 1818 | 15th | George Robertson | KY-07 | Democratic-Republican | 26 years, 106 days | 28 years, 16 days | |
December 4, 1818 – March 3, 1819 | 15th | John McLean | IL-AL | Democratic-Republican | 27 years, 303 days | 28 years, 28 days | |
March 4, 1819 – March 3, 1823 [lower-alpha 24] | 16th–17th | Daniel Cook | IL-AL | Democratic-Republican | 24–25 | 28–29 | |
December 4, 1822 – March 3, 1823 [lower-alpha 24] | 17th | Andrew Govan | SC-04 | Democratic-Republican | 28 years, 325 days | 29 years, 50 days | |
March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825 | 18th | Thomas Moore | KY-07 | Democratic-Republican | 25–26 | 27–28 | |
March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1827 | 19th | John Bryan | NC-04 | Jacksonian | 26 years, 120 days | 28 years, 120 days | |
March 4, 1827 – February 13, 1828 | 20th | William Nuckolls | SC-07 | Jacksonian | 26 years, 9 days | 26 years, 355 days | |
February 13, 1828 – March 3, 1829 | 20th | Ambrose Sevier [lower-alpha 20] | AR-AL [lower-alpha 25] | Jacksonian | 26 years, 101 days | 27 years, 120 days | |
March 4, 1829 – March 3, 1831 [lower-alpha 26] | 21st | Dixon Lewis | AL-03 | Jacksonian | 26 years, 206 days | 28 years, 206 days | |
Spencer Pettis | MO-AL | Jacksonian | 26–27 | 28–29 | |||
March 4, 1831 – March 3, 1833 | 22nd | Albert Hawes | KY-11 | Jacksonian | 26 years, 337 days | 28 years, 337 days | |
March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1835 | 23rd | David Dickinson [lower-alpha 27] | TN-08 | Jacksonian | 24 years, 267 days | 26 years, 267 days | |
March 4, 1835 – March 3, 1837 | 24th | John Claiborne | MS-AL | Jacksonian | 25 years, 314 days | 27 years, 314 days | |
March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1839 | 25th | Joseph Williams | TN-03 | Whig | 26 years, 132 days | 28 years, 132 days | |
March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1841 | 26th | Albert Brown | MS-AL | Democratic | 25 years, 277 days | 27 years, 277 days | |
March 4, 1841 – March 3, 1843 | 27th | John Mason | MD-06 | Democratic | 25 years, 299 days | 27 years, 299 days | |
March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1845 | 28th | Alexander Ramsey | PA-14 | Whig | 27 years, 177 days | 29 years, 177 days | |
March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1847 | 29th | Lucien Chase | TN-09 | Democratic | 27 years, 89 days | 29 years, 89 days | |
March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1849 | 30th | Richard Donnell | NC-08 | Whig | 26 years, 165 days | 28 years, 165 days | |
March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1851 | 31st | James Orr | SC-02 | Democratic | 26 years, 296 days | 28 years, 296 days | |
March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1853 | 32nd | William Churchwell | TN-03 | Democratic | 25 years, 12 days | 27 years, 12 days | |
March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1855 | 33rd | Milton Latham [lower-alpha 20] | CA-AL | Democratic | 25 years, 285 days | 27 years, 285 days | |
March 4, 1855 – July 23, 1856 | 34th | William Cumback | IN-04 | People's | 25 years, 345 days | 27 years, 121 days | |
July 23, 1856 – March 3, 1857 | 34th | Miguel Otero [lower-alpha 28] | NM-AL [lower-alpha 29] | Democratic | 27 years, 32 days | 27 years, 256 days | |
March 4, 1857 – December 3, 1860 | 35th–36th | Albert Jenkins [lower-alpha 30] | VA-11 | Democratic | 26 years, 114 days | 30 years, 23 days | |
December 3, 1860 – March 3, 1861 | 36th | John Brown [lower-alpha 30] | KY-05 | Democratic | 25 years, 158 days | 25 years, 249 days | |
March 4, 1861 – January 13, 1862 | 37th | Edward McPherson | PA-17 | Republican | 30 years, 216 days | 31 years, 166 days | |
January 13, 1862 – March 3, 1863 | 37th | Andrew Clements | TN-04 | Unionist | 29 years, 21 days | 30 years, 71 days | |
March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1865 | 38th | John McBride | OR-AL | Republican | 30 years, 194 days | 32 years, 194 days | |
March 3, 1865 – March 3, 1867 | 39th | Thomas Noell [lower-alpha 31] | MO-03 | Republican | 25 years, 335 days | 27 years, 335 days | |
March 4, 1867 – October 3, 1867 | 40th | Thomas Noell [lower-alpha 32] | MO-03 | Democratic | 27 years, 335 days | 28 years, 183 days | |
October 3, 1867 – June 24, 1868 | 40th | Charles Haight | NJ-02 | Democratic | 29 years, 272 days | 30 years, 172 days | |
June 24, 1868 – March 3, 1869 | 40th | Logan Roots | AR-01 | Republican | 27 years, 90 days | 27 years, 343 days | |
March 4, 1869 – March 31, 1870 | 41st | Clinton Cobb | NC-01 | Republican | 26 years, 191 days | 27 years, 218 days | |
March 31, 1870 – March 3, 1871 | 41st | John Conner | TX-02 | Democratic | 27 years, 178 days | 28 years, 151 days | |
March 4, 1871 – January 29, 1873 | 42nd | Josiah Walls [lower-alpha 33] | FL-AL | Republican | 28 years, 64 days | 30 years, 20 days | |
January 29, 1873 – March 3, 1873 | 42nd | John Conner | TX-02 | Democratic | 30 years, 107 days | 30 years, 151 days | |
March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875 | 43rd | John Smith | VA-03 | Republican | 25 years, 162 days | 27 years, 162 days | |
March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1877 | 44th | John White | KY-09 | Republican | 26 years, 47 days | 28 years, 47 days | |
March 4, 1877 – February 20, 1878 | 45th | John Kenna [lower-alpha 20] | WV-03 | Democratic | 28 years, 328 days | 29 years, 316 days | |
February 20, 1878 – March 3, 1879 | 45th | Joseph Acklen | LA-03 | Democratic | 27 years, 276 days | 28 years, 288 days | |
March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1881 | 46th | Richard Frost | MO-03 | Democratic | 27 years, 65 days | 29 years, 65 days | |
March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1883 | 47th | Henry Dugro | NY-07 | Democratic | 25 years, 152 days | 27 years, 152 days | |
March 4, 1883 – December 1, 1884 | 48th | George Post | PA-15 | Democratic | 28 years, 184 days | 30 years, 91 days | |
December 1, 1884 – March 3, 1885 | 48th | Benjamin Shively [lower-alpha 34] | IN-13 | Anti-Monopoly | 27 years, 256 days | 27 years, 349 days | |
March 4, 1885 – February 2, 1887 | 49th | Bob La Follette | WI-03 | Republican | 29 years, 263 days | 31 years, 233 days | |
February 2, 1887 – March 3, 1887 | 49th | Hugh Price | WI-08 | Republican | 27 years, 62 days | 27 years, 92 days | |
March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1889 | 50th | Benjamin Shively [lower-alpha 34] | IN-13 | Democratic | 29 years, 349 days | 31 years, 349 days | |
March 4, 1889 – December 9, 1889 | 51st | Thomas Magner | NY-05 | Democratic | 28 years, 361 days | 29 years, 276 days | |
December 9, 1889 – March 3, 1891 | 51st | Charles Turner | NY-06 | Democratic | 28 years, 197 days | 29 years, 282 days | |
March 4, 1891 – May 5, 1892 | 52nd | Joseph W. Bailey [lower-alpha 20] | TX-05 | Democratic | 28 years, 149 days | 29 years, 212 days | |
May 5, 1892 – March 3, 1893 | 52nd | Joseph Kendall | KY-10 | Democratic | 28 years, 359 days | 29 years, 296 days | |
March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1895 | 53rd | Thomas Settle | NC-05 | Republican | 27 years, 359 days | 29 years, 359 days | |
March 4, 1895 – December 19, 1896 | 54th | Norman Mozley | MO-14 | Republican | 29 years, 83 days | 31 years, 8 days | |
December 19, 1896 – March 3, 1897 | 54th | Charles Crisp | GA-03 | Democratic | 26 years, 61 days | 26 years, 136 days | |
March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1899 | 55th | Thomas Bradley | NY-09 | Democratic | 27 years, 61 days | 29 years, 61 days | |
March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1901 | 56th | John Fitzgerald | NY-02 | Democratic | 26 years, 359 days | 28 years, 359 days | |
March 4, 1901 – March 3, 1903 | 57th | John Feely | IL-02 | Democratic | 25 years, 215 days | 27 years, 215 days | |
March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1905 | 58th | Burton French | ID-AL | Republican | 27 years, 215 days | 29 years, 215 days | |
March 4, 1905 – March 3, 1907 | 59th | Anthony Michalek | IL-05 | Republican | 27 years, 47 days | 29 years, 47 days | |
March 4, 1907 – March 3, 1909 | 60th | Harry Wolf | MD-03 | Democratic | 26 years, 261 days | 28 years, 261 days | |
March 4, 1909 – November 23, 1909 | 61st | Charles Edwards | GA-01 | Democratic | 30 years, 245 days | 31 years, 144 days | |
November 23, 1909 – March 3, 1911 | 61st | Manuel Quezon | PH-AL [lower-alpha 35] | Nacionalista | 31 years, 96 days | 32 years, 197 days | |
March 4, 1911 – June 2, 1911 | 62nd | James Byrnes | SC-02 | Democratic | 28 years, 306 days | 29 years, 31 days | |
June 2, 1911 – March 3, 1913 | 62nd | William Reyburn | PA-02 | Republican | 28 years, 167 days | 30 years, 77 days | |
March 4, 1913 – December 7, 1914 | 63rd | Clyde Kelly | PA-30 | Republican | 29 years, 212 days | 31 years, 125 days | |
December 7, 1914 – March 3, 1915 | 63rd | Carl Vinson | GA-10 | Democratic | 31 years, 19 days | 31 years, 106 days | |
March 4, 1915 – March 3, 1917 | 64th | Thomas Miller | DA-AL | Republican | 28 years, 251 days | 30 years, 251 days | |
March 4, 1917 – August 10, 1917 | 65th | Marvin Jones | TX-13 | Democratic | 35 years, 6 days | 35 years, 165 days | |
August 10, 1917 – August 19, 1919 | 65th–66th | John Baer | ND-01 | Republican | 31 years, 134 days | 33 years, 143 days | |
August 19, 1919 – December 6, 1920 | 66th | King Swope | KY-08 | Republican | 26 years, 9 days | 27 years, 118 days | |
December 6, 1920 – March 3, 1921 | 66th | Clarence McLeod | MI-13 | Republican | 25 years, 156 days | 25 years, 244 days | |
March 4, 1921 – March 3, 1923 | 67th | Thomas Ryan | NY-15 | Republican | 32 years, 260 days | 34 years, 260 days | |
March 4, 1923 – March 3, 1925 | 68th | Clarence McLeod | MI-13 | Republican | 27 years, 244 days | 29 years, 244 days | |
March 4, 1925 – March 3, 1927 | 69th | Samuel Montgomery | OK-01 | Republican | 28 years, 93 days | 30 years, 93 days | |
March 4, 1927 – March 3, 1929 | 70th | George Combs | MO-05 | Democratic | 27 years, 306 days | 29 years, 306 days | |
March 4, 1929 – March 7, 1932 | 71st–72nd | Fred Hartley | NJ-08 | Republican | 27 years, 10 days | 30 years, 14 days | |
March 7, 1932 – March 3, 1933 | 72nd | Carlton Mobley | GA-06 | Democratic | 25 years, 91 days | 26 years, 87 days | |
March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1935 | 73rd | Joseph Monaghan | MT-01 | Democratic | 26 years, 343 days | 28 years, 283 days | |
January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1937 | 74th | Elmer Ryan | MN-02 | Democratic | 27 years, 222 days | 29 years, 222 days | |
January 3, 1937 – January 3, 1939 | 75th | Jerry O'Connell | MT-01 | Democratic | 27 years, 203 days | 29 years, 203 days | |
January 3, 1939 – January 3, 1941 | 76th | Lindley Beckworth | TX-03 | Democratic | 25 years, 187 days | 27 years, 187 days | |
January 3, 1941 – January 3, 1943 | 77th | William Stratton | IL-AL | Republican | 26 years, 312 days | 28 years, 311 days | |
January 3, 1943 – January 21, 1943 | 78th | Lindley Beckworth | TX-03 | Democratic | 29 years, 187 days | 29 years, 205 days | |
January 21, 1943 – January 3, 1947 | 78th–79th | Marion T. Bennett | MO-06 | Republican | 28 years, 229 days | 32 years, 211 days | |
January 3, 1947 – December 4, 1948 | 80th | George Sarbacher | PA-05 | Republican | 27 years, 95 days | 29 years, 65 days | |
December 4, 1948 – January 3, 1949 | 80th | Lloyd Bentsen [lower-alpha 36] | TX-15 | Democratic | 27 years, 297 days | 27 years, 327 days | |
January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1951 | 81st | Hugo Sims | SC-02 | Democratic | 27 years, 81 days | 29 years, 81 days | |
January 3, 1951 – January 3, 1953 | 82nd | Patrick Hillings | CA-12 | Republican | 27 years, 318 days | 29 years, 319 days | |
January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1955 | 83rd | William Wampler | VA-09 | Republican | 26 years, 277 days | 28 years, 277 days | |
January 3, 1955 – December 13, 1955 | 84th | Kenneth Gray | IL-25 | Democratic | 30 years, 50 days | 31 years, 29 days | |
December 13, 1955 – January 3, 1959 | 84th–85th | John Dingell | MI-15 | Democratic | 29 years, 158 days | 32 years, 179 days | |
January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1961 | 86th | Dan Rostenkowski | IL-08 | Democratic | 31 years, 1 day | 33 years, 1 day | |
January 3, 1961 – January 3, 1963 | 87th | Ralph Harding | ID-02 | Democratic | 31 years, 116 days | 33 years, 116 days | |
January 3, 1963 – May 12, 1964 | 88th | Ed Foreman | TX-16 | Republican | 29 years, 12 days | 30 years, 142 days | |
May 12, 1964 – January 3, 1965 | 88th | William Green | PA-05 | Democratic | 25 years, 323 days | 26 years, 193 days | |
January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1967 | 89th | Jed Johnson | OK-06 | Democratic | 25 years, 7 days | 27 years, 7 days | |
January 3, 1967 – April 3, 1969 | 90th–91st | William Green | PA-05 | Democratic | 28 years, 193 days | 30 years, 283 days | |
April 3, 1969 – November 16, 1970 | 91st | Dave Obey | WI-07 | Democratic | 30 years, 182 days | 32 years, 44 days | |
November 16, 1970 – January 3, 1971 | 91st | Robert Steele | CT-02 | Republican | 32 years, 13 days | 32 years, 61 days | |
January 3, 1971 – April 29, 1971 | 92nd | Dawson Mathis | GA-02 | Democratic | 30 years, 34 days | 30 years, 150 days | |
April 29, 1971 – October 12, 1972 | 92nd | Mendel Davis | SC-01 | Democratic | 28 years, 188 days | 29 years, 355 days | |
October 12, 1972 – January 3, 1975 | 92nd–93rd | John Breaux | LA-07 | Democratic | 28 years, 225 days | 30 years, 308 days | |
January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1977 | 94th | Thomas Downey | NY-02 | Democratic | 25 years, 340 days | 27 years, 341 days | |
January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1979 | 95th | Nick Rahall | WV-04 | Democratic | 27 years, 228 days | 29 years, 228 days | |
January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1981 | 96th | James Shannon | MA-05 | Democratic | 26 years, 274 days | 28 years, 274 days | |
January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1983 | 97th | John LeBoutillier | NY-06 | Republican | 27 years, 222 days | 29 years, 222 days | |
January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1985 [lower-alpha 37] | 98th | Jim Cooper | TN-04 | Democratic | 28 years, 198 days | 30 years, 198 days | |
November 6, 1984 – January 3, 1985 | 98th | Carl Perkins [lower-alpha 37] | KY-07 | Democratic | 30 years, 92 days | 30 years, 150 days | |
January 3, 1985 – March 20, 1990 | 99th–101st | John Rowland [lower-alpha 38] | CT-05 | Republican | 27 years, 224 days | 32 years, 300 days | |
March 20, 1990 – January 3, 1991 | 101st | Susan Molinari [lower-alpha 39] | NY-14 | Republican | 31 years, 358 days | 32 years, 282 days | |
January 3, 1991 – January 3, 1993 | 102nd | Jim Nussle | IA-02 | Republican | 30 years, 190 days | 32 years, 190 days | |
January 3, 1993 – January 3, 1995 | 103rd | Cleo Fields | LA-04 | Democratic | 30 years, 42 days | 32 years, 42 days | |
January 3, 1995 – January 3, 1997 | 104th | Patrick Kennedy | RI-01 | Democratic | 27 years, 173 days | 29 years, 173 days | |
January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2001 | 105th–106th | Harold Ford Jr. | TN-09 | Democratic | 26 years, 237 days | 30 years, 237 days | |
January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2005 | 107th–108th | Adam Putnam | FL-12 | Republican | 26 years, 156 days | 30 years, 156 days | |
January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2009 | 109th–110th | Patrick McHenry | NC-10 | Republican | 29 years, 73 days | 33 years, 73 days | |
January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2013 | 111th–112th | Aaron Schock | IL-18 | Republican | 27 years, 220 days | 31 years, 220 days | |
January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2015 | 113th | Patrick Murphy | FL-18 | Democratic | 29 years, 279 days | 31 years, 279 days | |
January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2019 | 114th–115th | Elise Stefanik | NY-21 | Republican | 30 years, 185 days | 34 years, 185 days | |
January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2021 | 116th | Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez [lower-alpha 40] | NY-14 | Democratic | 29 years, 82 days | 31 years, 82 days | |
January 3, 2021 – January 3, 2023 | 117th | Madison Cawthorn | NC-11 | Republican | 25 years, 155 days | 27 years, 155 days | |
January 3, 2023 – present | 118th | Maxwell Frost | FL-10 | Democratic | 25 years, 351 days | 27 years, 352 days |
President of the Senate is a title often given to the presiding officer of a senate. It corresponds to the speaker in some other assemblies.
The Congress of the Philippines is the legislature of the national government of the Philippines. It is bicameral, composed of a lower body, the House of Representatives, although colloquially the term "Congress" commonly refers to just the latter, and an upper body, the Senate. The House of Representatives meets in the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City while the Senate meets in the GSIS Building in Pasay.
Donald Lee Nickles is an American politician and lobbyist who was a Republican United States Senator from Oklahoma from 1981 to 2005. He was considered both a fiscal and social conservative. After retiring from the Senate as the longest-serving senator from Oklahoma up until that point, he founded the Nickles Group, a lobbying firm.
The Congress of the Dominican Republic is the bicameral legislature of the government of the Dominican Republic, consisting of two houses, the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. Both senators and deputies are chosen through direct election. There are no term limits for either chamber.
William Temple was an American merchant and politician from Smyrna, in Kent County, Delaware. He was a member of the Whig Party, and later the Democratic Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly, as Governor of Delaware, and as U.S. Representative from Delaware. He is the youngest governor to serve in Delaware in all of its history.
Baby of the House is the unofficial title given to the youngest member of a parliamentary house. The term is most often applied to members of the British parliament from which the term originated. The title is named after the Father of the House, which is given to the longest serving member of the British and other parliaments.
The Utah State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Utah. It is a bicameral body, comprising the Utah House of Representatives, with 75 state representatives, and the Utah Senate, with 29 state senators. There are no term limits for either chamber.
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is a bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana State Senate with 39 senators. Members of each house are elected from single-member districts of roughly equal populations.
United States senators are conventionally ranked by the length of their tenure in the Senate. The senator in each U.S. state with the longer time in office is known as the senior senator; the other is the junior senator. This convention has no official standing, though seniority confers several benefits, including preference in the choice of committee assignments and physical offices. When senators have been in office for the same length of time, a number of tiebreakers, including previous offices held, are used to determine seniority. Per traditions, the longest serving senator of the majority party is named president pro tempore of the Senate, the second-highest office in the Senate and the third in the line of succession to the presidency of the United States.
Party divisions of United States Congresses have played a central role on the organization and operations of both chambers of the United States Congress—the Senate and the House of Representatives—since its establishment as the bicameral legislature of the Federal government of the United States in 1789. Political parties had not been anticipated when the U.S. Constitution was drafted in 1787, nor did they exist at the time the first Senate elections and House elections occurred in 1788 and 1789. Organized political parties developed in the U.S. in the 1790s, but political factions—from which organized parties evolved—began to appear almost immediately after the 1st Congress convened. Those who supported the Washington administration were referred to as "pro-administration" and would eventually form the Federalist Party, while those in opposition joined the emerging Democratic-Republican Party.
A lame-duck session of Congress in the United States occurs whenever one Congress meets after its successor is elected, but before the successor's term begins. The expression is now used not only for a special session called after a sine die adjournment, but also for any portion of a regular session that falls after an election. In current practice, any meeting of Congress after election day, but before the next Congress convenes the following January, is a lame-duck session. Prior to 1933, when the 20th Amendment changed the dates of the congressional term, the last regular session of Congress was always a lame-duck session.
The 1789 United States Senate election in New York was held in July 1789 to elect two U.S. senators to represent the State of New York in the United States Senate. It was the first such election, and before the actual election the New York State Legislature had to establish the proceedings how to elect the senators.
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress. The United States Senate, along with the lower chamber of Congress, the United States House of Representatives, comprise the federal bicameral legislature of the United States. The Senate and House maintain authority under Article One of the U.S. Constitution to pass or defeat federal legislation. The U.S. Senate has exclusive power to confirm U.S. presidential appointments, ratify treaties, exercise advice and consent powers, try cases of impeachment brought by the House, all of which provide a check and balance on the powers of the executive and judicial branches of government.
The 1890–91 United States Senate elections were held on various dates in various states. As these U.S. Senate elections were prior to the ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913, senators were chosen by state legislatures. Senators were elected over a wide range of time throughout 1890 and 1891, and a seat may have been filled months late or remained vacant due to legislative deadlock. In these elections, terms were up for the senators in Class 3.
The 1980 United States Senate election in Oklahoma was held November 3, 1980. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Henry Bellmon decided to retire, instead of seeking a third term. Republican nominee Don Nickles won the open seat.
The 117th 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 convened in Washington, D.C., on January 3, 2021, during the final weeks of Donald Trump's presidency and the first two years of Joe Biden's presidency and ended on January 3, 2023.
A special election to determine the member of the United States House of Representatives for Georgia's 6th congressional district was held on April 18, 2017, with a runoff held two months later on June 20. Republican Karen Handel narrowly defeated Democrat Jon Ossoff in the runoff vote, 51.8% to 48.2%. Handel succeeded Tom Price, who resigned from the seat following his confirmation as United States Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Trump administration. The runoff election was necessary when no individual candidate earned the majority of votes in the election on April 18. Ossoff received 48.1% of the vote in the first round, followed by Handel with 19.8%.
Thomas Jonathan Ossoff is an American politician serving as the senior United States senator from Georgia since 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, Ossoff was previously a documentary filmmaker and investigative journalist.
Sources: Congressional Biographical Directory and House Document No. 108-222, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress 1774 – 2005