House retirements hit second-most over past century
#Congressional retirements #House of Representatives #2026 election #Political turnover #Republican majority #Democratic departures #Historical data #Brookings Institution
📌 Key Takeaways
- 53 House lawmakers announced retirements for 2026 election cycle
- Second-highest number of retirements in nearly a century
- 32 Republicans and 21 Democrats among those leaving
- 10 senators also announced retirements, most this century
- Republicans currently hold narrow majorities in both chambers
📖 Full Retelling
Fifty-three U.S. House lawmakers have announced they won't seek re-election in the 2026 election cycle, marking the second-highest number of congressional retirements in nearly a century, according to NBC News reporting on March 4, 2026, with Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah, being the latest member to declare his departure. The unprecedented exodus includes 32 Republicans and 21 Democrats, mirroring the partisan pattern seen in 2018 when 52 members announced their retirements, though still falling short of the record 65 lawmakers who left in 1992, according to historical data from the Brookings Institution's Vital Statistics on Congress. This wave of departures comes as Republicans maintain a razor-thin 218-214 majority in the House, while holding a 53-47 advantage in the Senate, where an additional 10 senators have also announced they won't seek re-election—the most retirements from both chambers this century. The substantial number of departures reflects broader trends in American politics, with members of Congress leaving their seats at historically high rates, potentially reshaping the institutional knowledge and dynamics of Congress in the coming years as both parties prepare for the upcoming election cycle.
🏷️ Themes
Political turnover, Congressional dynamics, Historical trends
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Original Source
House lawmakers are heading for the exit at the fastest rate in decades Fifty-three House lawmakers have announced they won't seek re-election in 2026. Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah, announced Wednesday he would retire from elected office. Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images file Share Add NBC News to Google March 4, 2026, 10:02 PM EST By Raquel Coronell Uribe and Bridget Bowman Listen to this article with a free account 00:00 00:00 The number of retirements announced in the House this election cycle is the second highest since recordkeeping began nearly a century ago. Fifty-three members have said they won’t seek re-election in 2026, exceeding the 52 in 2018, with Rep. Burgess Owens , R-Utah, becoming the latest to head for the exit. Of the members who announced they will leave office this cycle, 32 are Republicans and 21 are Democrats, much like in 2018, when GOP lawmakers made up the bigger chunk of departures. Still, the total for 2026 is a ways off from the record 65 lawmakers who retired in 1992, according to historical data from the Brookings Institution’s Vital Statistics on Congress . Members of Congress writ large are leaving their seats at a historically high rate , with 10 senators announcing they won't seek re-election. That's the most retirements from both chambers this century. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., became the latest senator, announcing Wednesday that he wouldn't seek a third term. Republicans hold a razor-thin 218-214 majority in the House. They hold a 53-47 advantage in the Senate. Share Add NBC News to Google Raquel Coronell Uribe Raquel Coronell Uribe is a breaking news reporter. Bridget Bowman Bridget Bowman is a national political reporter for NBC News.
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