A record number of congressional lawmakers have announced they do not plan to run for reelection to their current seats in 2026. That number currently stands at 10 senators and 27 House members.
Fifteen are retiring from public office with the rest running for a different office — 11 looking to become governor of their state, 10 looking to make the jump from House to Senate and one, Texas Republican Rep. Chip Roy, is looking to become his state’s attorney general.
There are more Republicans signaling their desire to exit Washington (27) than Democrats (10).
Sept. 14, 2025 Michael McCaul Republican House TX-10 Retiring
Sept. 11, 2025 Morgan Luttrell Republican House TX-08 Retiring
Sept. 2, 2025 Joni Ernst Republican Senate Iowa Retiring
Sept. 2, 2025 Ashley Hinson Republican House IA-02 Running for Senate
Sept. 1, 2025 Jerry Nadler Democrat House NY-12 Retiring
Aug. 21, 2025 Chip Roy Republican House TX-21 Running for attorney general
Aug. 21, 2025 Lloyd Doggett Democrat House TX-37 Retiring
Aug. 12, 2025 Barry Moore Republican House AL-01 Running for Senate
Aug. 6, 2025 Marsha Blackburn Republican Senate Tennessee Running for governor
Aug. 4, 2025 Nancy Mace Republican House SC-01 Running for governor
On the Democratic side, several of the party’s older lawmakers are passing on the torch to a new generation of elected officials, like Sens. Dick Durbin and Jeanne Shaheen and Reps. Jan Schakowsky, Dwight Evans and Danny Davis.
For Republicans, the four retirements so far include Sens. Mitch McConnell, Thom Tillis and Joni Ernst, plus Rep. Don Bacon, all of whom have clashed at times with President Trump’s vision of expanded executive power.
https://www.npr.org/2025/09/15/nx-s1-5534254/house-senate-retirement-tracker-2026