How Old Is Too Old?

Senator Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, is 90 years old. Senator Bernie Sanders, an Independent from Vermont, is 82. Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican Senate Minority Leader, is 81. And Senator Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat who had been the Senate’s oldest member, died earlier this fall at age 90 while still in office.

Fourteen of the 99* members of the U.S. Senate are 75 or older. In the House of Representatives, 43 out of 435 members have celebrated that milestone birthday, some not so recently.

“I don’t know what the magic number is, but I do think that as a general rule, my goodness, when you get into the 80s, it’s time to think about a little relaxation,” says Trent Lott, 82, a former Senate majority leader who stepped down at age 66. “The problem is, you get elected to a six-year [Senate] term. You’re in pretty good shape, but four years later, you may not be so good.”

The U.S. Constitution includes several age minimums: You have to have counted 35 candles on your cake to serve as president, 30 to take the oath as a senator, and 25 to sit in the House. But America’s foundational document—written in the late 18th century, when the average life expectancy for people in the new nation was only about 40—says nothing about age maximums for elected officials.

Senator Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, is 90 years old. Senator Bernie Sanders, an Independent from Vermont, is 82. Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican Senate Minority Leader, is 81. And Senator Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat who had been the Senate’s oldest member, died earlier this fall at age 90 while still in office.

Fourteen of the 99* members of the U.S. Senate are 75 or older. In the House of Representatives, 43 out of 435 members have celebrated that milestone birthday, some not so recently.

“I don’t know what the magic number is, but I do think that as a general rule, my goodness, when you get into the 80s, it’s time to think about a little relaxation,” says Trent Lott, 82, a former Senate majority leader. He stepped down at age 66. “The problem is, you get elected to a six-year [Senate] term. You’re in pretty good shape, but four years later, you may not be so good.”

The U.S. Constitution includes several age minimums. You have to be 35 to serve as president. You have to be 30 to take the oath as a senator and 25 to sit in the House. But America’s foundational document was written in the late 18th century. The average life expectancy for people in the new nation was only about 40. Therefore, it says nothing about age maximums for elected officials.

A political discussion on the issue of age has been building for months, as the country faces the possibility of a presidential contest between the oldest candidates in American history. President Biden, who turns 81 in November, is already the oldest president to occupy the White House and is vying for a second term. Former President Donald Trump, 77, holds big leads in the polls in the Republican primary race.

According to census data, most Americans retire in their mid-60s. Many jobs have mandatory retirement ages. Federal firefighters and law enforcement officials must retire at 57, commercial airline pilots at 65. And many states require their judges to step down at age 70. But members of Congress have shown little desire for policies that would amount to voting themselves out of a job.

Almost 60 percent of Americans support an age limit for elected officials, according to a YouGov poll conducted last year. There’s less agreement about what the cutoff should be. If lawmakers had to step down at age 70, that would make 30 percent of the current Congress ineligible, according to YouGov’s analysis.

Some recent incidents have prompted many to ask: Just how old is too old to serve in public office?

A political discussion on the issue of age has been building for months, as the country faces the possibility of a presidential contest between the oldest candidates in American history. President Biden, who turns 81 in November, is already the oldest president to occupy the White House. He is vying for a second term. Former President Donald Trump is 77. He holds big leads in the polls in the Republican primary race.

According to census data, most Americans retire in their mid-60s. Many jobs have mandatory retirement ages. Federal firefighters and law enforcement officials must retire at 57. Commercial airline pilots retire at 65. And many states require their judges to step down at age 70. But members of Congress have shown little desire for policies that would amount to voting themselves out of a job.

Almost 60 percent of Americans support an age limit for elected officials. This is according to a YouGov poll conducted last year. There’s less agreement about what the cutoff should be. If lawmakers had to step down at age 70, that would make 30 percent of current lawmakers ineligible, according to YouGov’s analysis.

Some recent incidents have prompted many to ask: Just how old is too old to serve in public office?

McConnell, who was hospitalized with a concussion after a fall earlier this year, was temporarily unable to speak during two news conferences over the summer. The episodes, caught on video and replayed on newscasts and social media, raised questions about McConnell’s health and his future.

Feinstein had announced that she wouldn’t seek re-election in 2024, but she declined to step down before the end of her term despite a series of health problems. She suffered from substantial memory issues, used a wheelchair, and looked increasingly frail.

Not long after McConnell’s first mid-sentence freeze, in July, Feinstein appeared confused when asked to vote in a committee; she had to be prodded by a fellow senator to cast her vote. Again, the video clip went viral.

McConnell was hospitalized with a concussion after a fall earlier this year. He was temporarily unable to speak during two news conferences over the summer. The episodes were caught on video and replayed on newscasts and social media. They raised questions about McConnell’s health and his future.

Feinstein had announced that she wouldn’t seek re-election in 2024. But she declined to step down before the end of her term despite a series of health problems. She suffered from substantial memory issues and used a wheelchair. She also looked increasingly frail.

Not long after McConnell’s first mid-sentence freeze, in July, Feinstein appeared confused when asked to vote in a committee. She had to be prodded by a fellow senator to cast her vote. Again, the video clip went viral.

Serving in Congress demands long days, near-constant engagement on an array of crucial policy issues, and high-stakes decision making.

Though advanced age brings challenges, including physical impairments and a decrease in cognitive abilities for some, many Americans are living longer and doing more at an older age than ever before.

S. Jay Olshansky, a professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago who studies aging, says that a person’s chronological age isn’t necessarily a good barometer of how fit they are.

“We don’t all age at the same rate,” he says. “You can get people in their 80s and 90s who can operate at levels that are 10, 20, 30 years younger than their chronological age.”

Serving in Congress demands long days and near-constant engagement on an array of crucial policy issues. It entails high-stakes decision making.

Advanced age brings challenges, including physical impairments and a decrease in cognitive abilities for some. Many Americans are living longer and doing more at an older age than ever before.

S. Jay Olshansky, a professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago who studies aging, says that a person’s chronological age isn’t necessarily a good barometer of how fit they are.

“We don’t all age at the same rate,” he says. “You can get people in their 80s and 90s who can operate at levels that are 10, 20, 30 years younger than their chronological age.”

Age aside, giving up the power, perks, and prestige of serving in Congress isn’t easy. History is full of lawmakers who’ve stayed in office past their prime. Senator Strom Thurmond, a South Carolina Republican, famously hung on until past his 100th birthday. Senator Robert C. Byrd, a West Virginia Democrat, died in office at age 92.

And there are good reasons older lawmakers get re-elected. With long years in Congress comes more seniority, more seasoned staff, the opportunity to chair powerful committees, and the ability to funnel money toward one’s state—not to mention the accumulation of political wisdom and experience.

But Congressman Dean Phillips of Minnesota, 54, thinks it’s time for older lawmakers to step aside. He had called on Senator Feinstein to step down because of her health issues, and he thinks Biden shouldn’t seek re-election.

“When I say we need to pass the baton to younger generations, I’m not talking about youthful generations,” Phillips says. “I’m talking about simply a reasonably less aged generation.”

Age aside, giving up the power, perks, and prestige of serving in Congress isn’t easy. History is full of lawmakers who’ve stayed in office past their prime. Senator Strom Thurmond, a South Carolina Republican, famously hung on until past his 100th birthday. Senator Robert C. Byrd, a West Virginia Democrat, died in office at age 92.

There are good reasons older lawmakers get re-elected. Long years in Congress gives them more seniority and more seasoned staff. It also gives them the opportunity to chair powerful committees and the ability to funnel money toward one’s state—not to mention the accumulation of political wisdom and experience.

But Congressman Dean Phillips of Minnesota, 54, thinks it’s time for older lawmakers to step aside. He had called on Senator Feinstein to step down. He also thinks President Biden shouldn’t seek re-election.

“When I say we need to pass the baton to younger generations, I’m not talking about youthful generations,” Phillips says. “I’m talking about simply a reasonably less aged generation.”