Fifty members of Congress have announced they will not seek re-election in 2026—the most at this point since 2018​.

U.S. House of Representatives

Forty-two representatives—19 Democrats and 23 Republicans—will not seek re-election in 2026. Of the 42 members not seeking re-election:

1. Sixteen—11 Democrats and five Republicans—are retiring from public office.

2. Thirteen—seven Democrats and six Republicans—are running for the U.S. Senate.

3. Twelve—one Democrat and 11Republicans—are running for governor.

4. One Republican is running for attorney general of Texas.

At this point in the last four election cycles, there were 33 retirement announcements in 2024, 30 in 2022, 30 in 2020, and 33 in 2018.

Five of the 42 retiring representatives—two Democrats and three Republicans—won by 10 percentage points or fewer in 2024. Three representatives—Jared Golden (D-Maine), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), and David Schweikert (R-Ariz.)—won by fewer than five percentage points.

U.S. Senate

Eight members of the U.S. Senate—four Democrats and four Republicans—announced they will not seek re-election in 2026. Sens. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) are retiring from public office. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) is running for governor of Alabama.

At this point in the last four election cycles, there were seven retirement announcements in 2024, six in 2022, four in 2020, and two in 2018.

Looking at the last time those eight senators ran in 2020, four of them—two Democrats and two Republicans—won by 10 percentage points or less. Two of five senators—Tillis and Peters—won by less than five percentage points.

Click here to read more about members of Congress who are not seeking re-election in 2026. Plus, check out our recent episode of On The Ballot about the redistricting in Texas, and how that state’s U.S. House delegation is responding.