Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vt., announced he is running for reelection in 2024. Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, easily won three terms in deep blue territory. His most recent victory was by a 40-point margin so he is likely to win over his state again come November.
While he is well known for his progressive takes on Capitol Hill, Sanders is also known for his age. He is currently 82 and if reelected, he will be 88 at the end of his next term. Sanders is one of the oldest senators in Congress, second only to Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa.
Grassley is 90 years old and will be 95 at the end of his current term. He already filed paperwork to run again in 2028. If Grassley is reelected, he would be over 100-year-old while serving out a ninth term.
American voters overwhelmingly claimed to want age limits for lawmakers, even though they keep reelecting elderly Congress members. According to Pew Research, 87% of adults are in favor of term limits. Meanwhile, 79% are in favor of age limits on elected officials in Washington.
Some members of Congress from both major political parties have listened to Americans’ concerns over age. Republican Mitt Romney announced he is stepping down to allow for younger leadership, and Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., also announced he will step down to make way for a younger generation.
A concern for a majority of Americans right now is artificial intelligence, an advanced technology that just keeps advancing. The member of Congress tasked with regulating it is 73-year-old Don Beyer. The average age of the U.S. Congress is 58 years old while governments around the world average around 50.
