Record Congressional Exodus: Over 35 Lawmakers Opt Out of 2026 Reelection Races

A record-setting number of congressional lawmakers are announcing their intentions not to seek reelection in 2026, signaling a significant shake-up in Washington. Currently, 10 senators and 27 House members have publicly stated they will not run for their current seats, a figure that continues to be tracked by NPR.

Of these 37 lawmakers, fifteen are retiring from public office entirely. The remaining are pursuing different political avenues, with eleven aiming for governorships, ten seeking to transition from the House to the Senate, and Texas Republican Rep. Chip Roy eyeing the Attorney General position in his home state.

The departures show a clear partisan divide, with 27 Republicans signaling their exit compared to 10 Democrats. On the Democratic side, several long-serving members, including Sens. Dick Durbin and Jeanne Shaheen and Reps. Jan Schakowsky, Dwight Evans, and Danny Davis, appear to be paving the way for a new generation. For Republicans, notable retirements include Sens. Mitch McConnell, Thom Tillis, and Joni Ernst, alongside Rep. Don Bacon, some of whom have reportedly had policy disagreements with former President Trump’s agenda.

This wave of exits comes as the GOP holds slim majorities in both chambers. States with Republican leadership are actively pursuing mid-decade gerrymandering to carve out more favorable districts ahead of what is historically a challenging election cycle for the party in power. In response, California’s Democratic state government is putting a retaliatory redistricting measure before voters in November’s off-year election.

The impact of these political maneuvers is already being felt, particularly in Texas, where a redrawn map designed to reduce Democratic representation by five seats has prompted 78-year-old Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett to announce his retirement rather than face a challenging primary against progressive Rep. Greg Casar.

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