List of members of the United States Congress by longevity of service
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 House, the Senate, or both combined. In cases where there is a tie in time, the following criteria will sort people higher:
- Achieved time uninterrupted (for total tenure ranks)
- Achieved time first
- Senators over representatives (for House and Senate lists)
- Senate and House seniority
Key[]
Green | Currently serving |
H | Served in the House (for combined categories) |
S | Served in the Senate (for combined categories) |
I | Interruptions in service (for total tenure categories) |
Combined U.S. House and Senate time[]
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 (H, S) | Democratic | West Virginia | Died | 1917–2010 |
3 | 56 years, 319 days | 3 | 56 years, 319 days | Carl Hayden (H, S) | Democratic | Arizona | Retired | 1877–1972 |
4 | 53 years, 118 days | 4 | 53 years, 118 days | Daniel Inouye (H, S) | 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, 12 days | 9 | 49 years, 12 days | Don Young (H) | Republican | Alaska | Died | 1933–2022 |
10 | 48 years, 257 days | 10 | 48 years, 257 days | Sam Rayburn (H) | Democratic | Texas | Died | 1882–1961 |
11 | 48 years, 0 days | N/A | Sidney R. Yates (H, I) | Democratic | Illinois | Retired to run for the U.S. Senate, retired | 1909–2000 | |
12 | 47 years, 159 days | 15 | 46 years, 57 days | Strom Thurmond (S, I) | Democratic, Republican |
South Carolina | Resigned, retired | 1902–2003 |
13 | 47 years, 81 days | 11 | 47 years, 81 days | Patrick Leahy (S) | Democratic | Vermont | 1940– | |
14 | 47 years, 81 days | 12 | 47 years, 81 days | Chuck Grassley (H, S) | Republican | Iowa | 1933– | |
15 | 47 years, 3 days | 13 | 47 years, 3 days | Wright Patman (H) | Democratic | Texas | Died | 1893–1976 |
16 | 46 years, 292 days | 14 | 46 years, 292 days | Ted Kennedy (S) | Democratic | Massachusetts | Died | 1932–2009 |
17 | 46 years, 0 days | 16 | 46 years, 0 days | Charles Rangel (H) | Democratic | New York | Retired | 1930– |
18 | 46 years, 0 days | N/A | Joseph Gurney Cannon (H, I) | Republican | Illinois | Defeated, defeated, retired | 1836–1926 | |
19 | 45 years, 247 days | 17 | 45 years, 247 days | Adolph J. Sabath (H) | Democratic | Illinois | Died | 1866–1952 |
20 | 45 years, 143 days | 18 | 45 years, 143 days | Ed Markey (H, S) | Democratic | Massachusetts | 1946– | |
21 | 45 years, 142 days | 19 | 45 years, 142 days | J. Lister Hill (H, S) | Democratic | Alabama | Retired | 1894–1984 |
22 | 45 years, 87 days | 20 | 45 years, 87 days | Thad Cochran (H, S) | 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 (H, S) | 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 | 43 years, 299 days | 24 | 43 years, 299 days | Justin Smith Morrill (H, S) | Whig, Republican |
Vermont | Died | 1810–1898 |
27 | 43 years, 152 days | N/A | William B. Allison (H, S, I) | Republican | Iowa | Retired, died | 1829–1908 | |
28 | 43 years, 110 days | 25 | 43 years, 110 days | Melvin Price (H) | Democratic | Illinois | Died | 1905–1988 |
29 | 43 years, 81 days | 26 | 43 years, 81 days | Richard Shelby (H, S) | Democratic, Republican |
Alabama | 1934– | |
30 | 42 years, 288 days | 27 | 42 years, 288 days | Bill Young (H) | Republican | Florida | Died | 1930–2013 |
31 | 42 years, 241 days | 28 | 42 years, 241 days | Henry M. Jackson (H, S) | Democratic | Washington | Died | 1912–1983 |
32 | 42 years, 157 days | N/A | Carter Glass (H, S, I) | Democratic | Virginia | Resigned to become U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, died | 1858–1946 | |
33 | 42 years, 58 days | 29 | 42 years, 58 days | John W. McCormack (H) | Democratic | Massachusetts | Retired | 1891–1980 |
34 | 42 years, 0 days | 30 | 42 years, 0 days | John Sparkman (H, S) | Democratic | Alabama | Retired | 1899–1985 |
35 | 42 years, 0 days | 31 | 42 years, 0 days | Jack Brooks (H) | Democratic | Texas | Defeated | 1922–2012 |
36 | 42 years, 0 days | 32 | 42 years, 0 days | Orrin Hatch (S) | Republican | Utah | Retired | 1934– |
37 | 42 years, 0 days | 33 | 42 years, 0 days | Jim Sensenbrenner (H) | Republican | Wisconsin | Retired | 1943– |
38 | 41 years, 362 days | 34 | 41 years, 362 days | William R. Poage (H) | Democratic | Texas | Retired | 1899–1987 |
39 | 41 years, 305 days | 35 | 41 years, 305 days | Robert L. Doughton (H) | Democratic | North Carolina | Retired | 1863–1954 |
40 | 41 years, 305 days | 36 | 41 years, 305 days | Joseph W. Martin Jr. (H) | Republican | Massachusetts | Lost renomination | 1884–1968 |
41 | 41 years, 276 days | 37 | 41 years, 276 days | Dave Obey (H) | Democratic | Wisconsin | Retired | 1938– |
42 | 41 years, 81 days | 38 | 41 years, 81 days | Ron Wyden (H, S) | Democratic | Oregon | 1949– | |
43 | 41 years, 81 days | 39 | 41 years, 81 days | Chuck Schumer (H, S) | Democratic | New York | 1950– | |
44 | 41 years, 81 days | 40 | 41 years, 81 days | Hal Rogers (H) | Republican | Kentucky | 1937– | |
45 | 41 years, 81 days | 41 | 41 years, 81 days | Chris Smith (H) | Republican | New Jersey | 1953– | |
46 | 41 years, 69 days | 42 | 41 years, 69 days | Clarence Cannon (H) | Democratic | Missouri | Died | 1879–1964 |
47 | 41 years, 59 days | 43 | 41 years, 59 days | John C. Stennis (S) | Democratic | Mississippi | Retired | 1901–1995 |
48 | 41 years, 30 days | 44 | 41 years, 30 days | Kenneth McKellar (H, S) | Democratic | Tennessee | Lost renomination | 1869–1957 |
49 | 40 years, 310 days | 45 | 40 years, 310 days | Steny Hoyer (H) | Democratic | Maryland | 1939– | |
50 | 40 years, 240 days | 46 | 40 years, 240 days | William Natcher (H) | Democratic | Kentucky | Died | 1909–1994 |
51 | 40 years, 207 days | N/A | Claude Pepper (H, S, I) | Democratic | Florida | Lost renomination, died | 1900–1989 | |
52 | 40 years, 157 days | 47 | 40 years, 157 days | William P. Frye (H, S) | Republican | Maine | Died | 1830–1911 |
53 | 40 years, 10 days | 48 | 40 years, 10 days | Ted Stevens (S) | Republican | Alaska | Defeated | 1923–2010 |
54 | 40 years, 0 days | 49 | 40 years, 0 days | Carl Curtis (H, S) | Republican | Nebraska | Retired | 1905–2000 |
55 | 40 years, 0 days | 50 | 40 years, 0 days | Peter W. Rodino (H) | Democratic | New Jersey | Retired | 1909–2005 |
56 | 40 years, 0 days | 51 | 40 years, 0 days | Pete Stark (H) | Democratic | California | Defeated | 1931–2020 |
57 | 40 years, 0 days | 52 | 40 years, 0 days | Tom Harkin (H, S) | Democratic | Iowa | Retired | 1939– |
58 | 40 years, 0 days | 53 | 40 years, 0 days | George Miller (H) | Democratic | California | Retired | 1945– |
50 | 40 years, 0 days | 54 | 40 years, 0 days | Henry Waxman (H) | Democratic | California | Retired | 1939– |
60 | 40 years, 0 days | 55 | 40 years, 0 days | Barbara Mikulski (H, S) | Democratic | Maryland | Retired | 1936– |
61 | 40 years, 0 days | 56 | 40 years, 0 days | Pat Roberts (H, S) | Republican | Kansas | Retired | 1936– |
62 | 40 years, 0 days | N/A | Eugene Hale (H, S, I) | Republican | Maine | Defeated, retired | 1836–1918 | |
63 | 39 years, 364 days | N/A | Jennings Randolph (H, S, I) | Democratic | West Virginia | Defeated, retired | 1902–1998 | |
64 | 39 years, 362 days | 57 | 39 years, 362 days | Leslie C. Arends (H) | Republican | Illinois | Retired | 1895–1985 |
65 | 39 years, 352 days | 58 | 39 years, 352 days | Daniel A. Reed (H) | Republican | New York | Died | 1875–1959 |
66 | 39 years, 305 days | 59 | 39 years, 305 days | George W. Norris (H, S) | Republican, Independent |
Nebraska | Defeated | 1861–1944 |
67 | 39 years, 305 days | 60 | 39 years, 305 days | John Taber (H) | Republican | New York | Retired | 1880–1965 |
68 | 39 years, 305 days | 61 | 39 years, 305 days | William M. Colmer (H) | Democratic | Mississippi | Retired | 1890–1980 |
69 | 39 years, 81 days | 62 | 39 years, 81 days | Dick Durbin (H, S) | Democratic | Illinois | 1944– | |
70 | 39 years, 81 days | 63 | 39 years, 81 days | Marcy Kaptur (H) | Democratic | Ohio | 1946– | |
71 | 39 years, 34 days | 64 | 39 years, 34 days | Max Baucus (H, S) | Democratic | Montana | Appointed Ambassador to China | 1941– |
72 | 39 years, 9 days | N/A | Samuel Smith (H, S, I) | Democratic-Republican, Democratic |
Maryland | Retired | 1752–1839 | |
73 | 38 years, 329 days | N/A | John L. McClellan (H, S, I) | Democratic | Arkansas | Retired, died | 1896–1977 | |
74 | 38 years, 145 days | 65 | 38 years, 145 days | Morris Sheppard (H, S) | Democratic | Texas | Died | 1875–1941 |
75 | 38 years, 55 days | 66 | 38 years, 55 days | Fritz Hollings (S) | Democratic | South Carolina | Retired | 1922–2019 |
76 | 38 years, 9 days | 67 | 38 years, 9 days | Richard Russell Jr. (S) | Democratic | Georgia | Died | 1897–1971 |
77 | 38 years, 4 days | N/A | John Sherman (H, S, I) | Oppositionist, Republican |
Ohio | Appointed U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, appointed U.S. Secretary of State | 1823–1900 | |
78 | 38 years, 3 days | 68 | 38 years, 3 days | Russell B. Long (S) | Democratic | Louisiana | Retired | 1918–2003 |
79 | 38 years, 0 days | 69 | 38 years, 0 days | Frederick H. Gillett (H, S) | Republican | Massachusetts | Retired | 1851–1935 |
80 | 38 years, 0 days | 70 | 38 years, 0 days | Wilbur Mills (H) | Democratic | Arkansas | Retired | 1909–1992 |
81 | 38 years, 0 days | 71 | 38 years, 0 days | Dante Fascell (H) | Democratic | Florida | Retired | 1917–1998 |
82 | 38 years, 0 days | 72 | 38 years, 0 days | Robert H. Michel (H) | Republican | Illinois | Retired | 1923–2017 |
83 | 38 years, 0 days | 73 | 38 years, 0 days | Nick Rahall (H) | Democratic | West Virginia | Defeated | 1949– |
84 | 37 years, 305 days | N/A | Robert Crosser (H, I) | Democratic | Ohio | Lost renomination | 1874–1957 | |
85 | 37 years, 290 days | N/A | Bob Sikes (H, I) | Democratic | Florida | Resigned, retired | 1906–1994 | |
86 | 37 years, 255 days | 74 | 37 years, 255 days | Nathaniel Macon (H, S) | Anti-Administration, Democratic-Republican |
North Carolina | Resigned | 1757–1837 |
87 | 37 years, 250 days | 75 | 37 years, 250 days | Henry Cabot Lodge (H, S) | Republican | Massachusetts | Died | 1850–1924 |
88 | 37 years, 81 days | 76 | 37 years, 81 days | Mitch McConnell (S) | Republican | Kentucky | 1942– | |
89 | 37 years, 74 days | N/A | Alben W. Barkley (H, S, I) | Democratic | Kentucky | Elected Vice President of the United States, died | 1877–1956 | |
90 | 37 years, 60 days | 77 | 37 years, 60 days | Henry B. González (H) | Democratic | Texas | Retired | 1916–2000 |
91 | 37 years, 6 days | N/A | Francis E. Warren (S, I) | Republican | Wyoming | Defeated, died | 1844–1929 | |
92 | 36 years, 83 days | N/A | James Eastland (S, I) | Democratic | Mississippi | Resigned | 1904–1986 | |
93 | 36 years, 12 days | 78 | 36 years, 12 days | Joe Biden (S) | Democratic | Delaware | Elected Vice President of the United States | 1942– |
94 | 36 years, 3 days | 79 | 36 years, 3 days | John Murtha (H) | Democratic | Pennsylvania | Died | 1932–2010 |
95 | 36 years, 0 days | 80 | 36 years, 0 days | Henry L. Dawes (H, S) | Republican | Massachusetts | Retired | 1816–1903 |
96 | 36 years, 0 days | 81 | 36 years, 0 days | F. Edward Hébert (H) | Democratic | Louisiana | Retired | 1901–1979 |
97 | 36 years, 0 days | 82 | 36 years, 0 days | Edward Boland (H) | Democratic | Massachusetts | Retired | 1911–2001 |
98 | 36 years, 0 days | 83 | 36 years, 0 days | William Broomfield (H) | Republican | Michigan | Retired | 1922–2019 |
99 | 36 years, 0 days | 84 | 36 years, 0 days | Dan Rostenkowski (H) | Democratic | Illinois | Defeated | 1928–2010 |
100 | 36 years, 0 days | 85 | 36 years, 0 days | Neal Smith (H) | Democratic | Iowa | Defeated | 1920–2021 |
101 | 36 years, 0 days | 86 | 36 years, 0 days | Claiborne Pell (S) | Democratic | Rhode Island | Retired | 1918–2009 |
102 | 36 years, 0 days | 87 | 36 years, 0 days | Joseph M. McDade (H) | Republican | Pennsylvania | Retired | 1931���2017 |
103 | 36 years, 0 days | 88 | 36 years, 0 days | Paul Sarbanes (H, S) | Democratic | Maryland | Retired | 1933–2020 |
104 | 36 years, 0 days | 89 | 36 years, 0 days | Pete Domenici (S) | Republican | New Mexico | Retired | 1932–2017 |
105 | 36 years, 0 days | 90 | 36 years, 0 days | Ralph Regula (H) | Republican | Ohio | Retired | 1924–2017 |
106 | 36 years, 0 days | 91 | 36 years, 0 days | Chris Dodd (H, S) | Democratic | Connecticut | Retired | 1944– |
107 | 36 years, 0 days | 92 | 36 years, 0 days | Jim Oberstar (H) | Democratic–Farmer–Labor | Minnesota | Defeated | 1934–2014 |
108 | 36 years, 0 days | 93 | 36 years, 0 days | Richard Lugar (S) | Republican | Indiana | Lost renomination | 1932–2019 |
109 | 36 years, 0 days | 94 | 36 years, 0 days | Daniel Akaka (H, S) | Democratic | Hawaii | Retired | 1924–2018 |
110 | 36 years, 0 days | 95 | 36 years, 0 days | Norm Dicks (H) | Democratic | Washington | Retired | 1940– |
111 | 36 years, 0 days | 96 | 36 years, 0 days | Dale Kildee (H) | Democratic | Michigan | Retired | 1929–2021 |
112 | 36 years, 0 days | 97 | 36 years, 0 days | Carl Levin (S) | Democratic | Michigan | Retired | 1934–2021 |
113 | 36 years, 0 days | 98 | 36 years, 0 days | Sander Levin (H) | Democratic | Michigan | Retired | 1931– |
114 | 36 years, 0 days | 99 | 36 years, 0 days | Pete Visclosky (H) | Democratic | Indiana | Retired | 1949– |
115 | 36 years, 0 days | N/A | Shelby Moore Cullom (H, S, I) | Republican | Illinois | Retired | 1829–1914 |
Senate time[]
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 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 99th Congress (1985–1987) was the period in which most people from this list were serving together (all but Hayden, Russell Jr., Warren, Eastland, and Magnuson).
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 | 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 |
4 | 47 years, 81 days | 3 | 47 years, 81 days | Patrick Leahy | Democratic | Vermont | Since January 3, 1975 | 1940– |
5 | 46 years, 292 days | 4 | 46 years, 292 days | Ted Kennedy | Democratic | Massachusetts | November 7, 1962 – August 25, 2009 | 1932–2009 |
6 | 42 years, 0 days | 6 | 42 years, 0 days | Orrin Hatch | Republican | Utah | January 3, 1977 – January 3, 2019 | 1934– |
7 | 41 years, 305 days | 7 | 41 years, 305 days | Carl Hayden | Democratic | Arizona | March 4, 1927 – January 3, 1969 | 1877–1972 |
8 | 41 years, 81 days | 8 | 41 years, 81 days | Chuck Grassley | Republican | Iowa | Since January 3, 1981 | 1933– |
9 | 41 years, 59 days | 9 | 41 years, 59 days | John C. Stennis | Democratic | Mississippi | November 7, 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, 94 days | 11 | 39 years, 94 days | Thad Cochran | Republican | Mississippi | December 27, 1978 – April 1, 2018 | 1937–2019 |
12 | 38 years, 55 days | 12 | 38 years, 55 days | Fritz Hollings | Democratic | South Carolina | November 8, 1966 – January 3, 2005 | 1922–2019 |
13 | 38 years, 9 days | 13 | 38 years, 9 days | Richard Russell Jr. | Democratic | Georgia | January 12, 1933 – January 21, 1971 | 1897–1971 |
14 | 38 years, 3 days | 14 | 38 years, 3 days | Russell B. Long | Democratic | Louisiana | December 31, 1948 – January 3, 1987 | 1918–2003 |
15 | 37 years, 81 days | 15 | 37 years, 81 days | Mitch McConnell | Republican | Kentucky | Since January 3, 1985 | 1942– |
16 | 37 years, 6 days | N/A | Francis E. Warren (I) | Republican | Wyoming | November 18, 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 |
House time[]
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 | Melvin Price | Democratic | Illinois | January 3, 1945 – April 22, 1988 | 1905–1988 |
16 | 42 years, 288 days | 14 | 42 years, 288 days | Bill Young | Republican | Florida | January 3, 1971 – October 18, 2013 | 1930–2013 |
17 | 42 years, 58 days | 15 | 42 years, 58 days | John W. McCormack | Democratic | Massachusetts | November 6, 1928 – January 3, 1971 | 1891–1980 |
18 | 42 years, 0 days | 16 | 42 years, 0 days | Jack Brooks | Democratic | Texas | January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1995 | 1922–2012 |
19 | 42 years, 0 days | 17 | 42 years, 0 days | Jim Sensenbrenner | Republican | Wisconsin | January 3, 1979 – January 3, 2021 | 1943– |
20 | 41 years, 362 days | 18 | 41 years, 362 days | William R. Poage | Democratic | Texas | January 3, 1937 – December 31, 1978 | 1899–1987 |
21 | 41 years, 305 days | 19 | 41 years, 305 days | Robert L. Doughton | Democratic | North Carolina | March 4, 1911 – January 3, 1953 | 1863–1954 |
22 | 41 years, 305 days | 20 | 41 years, 305 days | Joseph W. Martin Jr. | Republican | Massachusetts | March 4, 1925 – January 3, 1967 | 1884–1968 |
23 | 41 years, 276 days | 21 | 41 years, 276 days | Dave Obey | Democratic | Wisconsin | April 1, 1969 – January 3, 2011 | 1938– |
24 | 41 years, 81 days | 22 | 41 years, 81 days | Hal Rogers | Republican | Kentucky | Since January 3, 1981 | 1937– |
25 | 41 years, 81 days | 23 | 41 years, 81 days | Chris Smith | Republican | New Jersey | Since January 3, 1981 | 1953– |
26 | 41 years, 69 days | 24 | 41 years, 69 days | Clarence Cannon | Democratic | Missouri | March 4, 1923 – May 12, 1964 | 1879–1964 |
27 | 40 years, 310 days | 25 | 40 years, 310 days | Steny Hoyer | Democratic | Maryland | Since May 19, 1981 | 1939– |
28 | 40 years, 240 days | 26 | 40 years, 240 days | William Natcher | Democratic | Kentucky | August 1, 1953 – March 29, 1994 | 1909–1994 |
29 | 40 years, 0 days | 27 | 40 years, 0 days | Peter W. Rodino | Democratic | New Jersey | January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1989 | 1909–2005 |
30 | 40 years, 0 days | 28 | 40 years, 0 days | Pete Stark | Democratic | California | January 3, 1973 – January 3, 2013 | 1931–2020 |
31 | 40 years, 0 days | 29 | 40 years, 0 days | George Miller | Democratic | California | January 3, 1975 – January 3, 2015 | 1945– |
32 | 40 years, 0 days | 30 | 40 years, 0 days | Henry Waxman | Democratic | California | January 3, 1975 – January 3, 2015 | 1939– |
33 | 39 years, 362 days | 31 | 39 years, 362 days | Leslie C. Arends | Republican | Illinois | January 3, 1935 – December 31, 1974 | 1895–1985 |
34 | 39 years, 352 days | 32 | 39 years, 352 days | Daniel A. Reed | Republican | New York | March 4, 1919 – February 19, 1959 | 1875–1959 |
35 | 39 years, 305 days | 33 | 39 years, 305 days | John Taber | Republican | New York | March 4, 1923 – January 3, 1963 | 1880–1965 |
36 | 39 years, 305 days | 34 | 39 years, 305 days | William M. Colmer | Democratic | Mississippi | March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1973 | 1890–1980 |
37 | 39 years, 81 days | 35 | 39 years, 81 days | Marcy Kaptur | Democratic | Ohio | Since January 3, 1983 | 1946– |
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, 256 days | 41 | 36 years, 256 days | Ed Markey | Democratic | Massachusetts | November 2, 1976 – July 3, 2013 | 1946– |
46 | 36 years, 3 days | 42 | 36 years, 3 days | John Murtha | Democratic | Pennsylvania | February 5, 1974 – February 8, 2010 | 1932–2010 |
47 | 36 years, 0 days | 43 | 36 years, 0 days | F. Edward Hébert | Democratic | Louisiana | January 3, 1941 – January 3, 1977 | 1901–1979 |
48 | 36 years, 0 days | 44 | 36 years, 0 days | Edward Boland | Democratic | Massachusetts | January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1989 | 1911–2001 |
49 | 36 years, 0 days | 45 | 36 years, 0 days | William Broomfield | Republican | Michigan | January 3, 1957 – January 3, 1993 | 1922–2019 |
50 | 36 years, 0 days | 46 | 36 years, 0 days | Dan Rostenkowski | Democratic | Illinois | January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1995 | 1928–2010 |
51 | 36 years, 0 days | 47 | 36 years, 0 days | Neal Smith | Democratic | Iowa | January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1995 | 1920–2021 |
52 | 36 years, 0 days | 48 | 36 years, 0 days | Joseph M. McDade | Republican | Pennsylvania | January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1999 | 1931–2017 |
53 | 36 years, 0 days | 49 | 36 years, 0 days | Ralph Regula | Republican | Ohio | January 3, 1973 – January 3, 2009 | 1924–2017 |
54 | 36 years, 0 days | 50 | 36 years, 0 days | Jim Oberstar | Democratic–Farmer–Labor | Minnesota | January 3, 1975 – January 3, 2011 | 1934–2014 |
55 | 36 years, 0 days | 51 | 36 years, 0 days | Norm Dicks | Democratic | Washington | January 3, 1977 – January 3, 2013 | 1940– |
56 | 36 years, 0 days | 52 | 36 years, 0 days | Dale Kildee | Democratic | Michigan | January 3, 1977 – January 3, 2013 | 1929–2021 |
57 | 36 years, 0 days | 53 | 36 years, 0 days | Sander Levin | Democratic | Michigan | January 3, 1983 – January 3, 2019 | 1931– |
58 | 36 years, 0 days | 54 | 36 years, 0 days | Pete Visclosky | Democratic | Indiana | January 3, 1985 – January 3, 2021 | 1949– |
See also[]
- List of members of the United States Congress by brevity of service
- List of historical longest-serving members of the United States Congress
References[]
- Lists of members of the United States Congress
- Senior legislators
- Lists of people by time in office