Record Wave of Congressional Retirements Ahead of 2026 Midterms

One in 10 lawmakers will leave Congress at the end of the year, the most in over 30 years.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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A record number of members of Congress, including 52 House representatives and 9 senators, have announced plans to retire at the end of their current terms or run for other offices ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The 61 departures represent about 10% of the total members of Congress and mark the highest number of voluntary departures in over three decades.

Why it matters

The wave of retirements will create significant turnover in Congress, with many long-serving and influential lawmakers leaving their seats. This could reshape the balance of power in both the House and Senate, as well as the leadership and committee structures. It also raises questions about the factors driving so many lawmakers to leave, including partisan gridlock, redistricting changes, and a desire for generational change.

The details

The 61 members of Congress departing include 52 House representatives and 9 senators. This includes high-profile figures like Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin and former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Many of the retiring lawmakers are seeking other offices, with 15 House members running for Senate seats. The retirements are split more heavily among Republicans in the House, though Democrats are also seeing a number of long-serving members step aside.

  • The 61 members of Congress have announced plans to retire or run for other offices at the end of their current terms in 2026.
  • The previous record for congressional retirements was in 1992, when 72 lawmakers left or ran for other offices.

The players

Mitch McConnell

A 41-year veteran of the Senate and former Senate Majority Leader, McConnell is one of the most senior and influential Republicans in Congress who is retiring.

Richard J. Durbin

The current Senate Democratic Whip and a 29-year veteran of the Senate, Durbin is one of the top-ranking Democrats leaving Congress.

Joni Ernst

The 55-year-old Republican senator from Iowa is retiring after two terms.

Cynthia Lummis

The 71-year-old Republican senator from Wyoming had planned to run for a second term but decided to retire instead, saying "I do not have six more years in me."

Tommy Tuberville

The Republican senator from Alabama is running for governor instead of seeking reelection.

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What they’re saying

“I am a devout legislator, but I feel like a sprinter in a marathon. The energy required doesn't match up.”

— Cynthia Lummis, Senator, Wyoming (Washington Times)

“Simply put, what I could accomplish in this increasingly unproductive Congress pales in comparison to what I could do in that time as a husband, a father and a son.”

— Jared Golden, Representative, Maine (Washington Times)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

The wave of congressional retirements ahead of the 2026 midterms reflects growing frustration with partisan gridlock and a desire for generational change, which could have significant implications for the balance of power in both the House and Senate.