Congressional Retirements
December 16, 2025
By the Numbers. A large and growing number of members of Congress will not seek reelection to their current seats in 2026. As of today, 50 members have announced retirement or a run for higher office.
- To date, retirement announcements are outpacing congressional cycles going back to 2018, a year that saw mass retirements among Republicans and a blue wave in the subsequent November elections.
- Between the House and Senate, 27 Republicans have announced their retirement compared to 23 Democrats. Some are retiring outright, while others are running for Senate, Governor, or other offices.
House
Of the 42 U.S. House incumbents who are not seeking re-election:
- Fifteen U.S. House incumbents — ten Democrats and five Republicans — are retiring from public office.
- Twenty- Seven U.S House incumbents- nine Democrats and eighteen Republicans are not seeking re-election to run for a mix of Senate, Governor, State Attorney General, and County Judge.
Senate
Of the eight U.S. Senate incumbents who are not seeking re-election:
- Seven—four Democrats and three Republicans—are retiring from public office.
- One Republican is running for governor.
The result is significant turnover across both chambers. Republicans account for a larger share of departures, driven heavily by House members running for higher office, while Democratic turnover skews more toward outright retirements among senior lawmakers.
What's next: In the near future, Speaker Johnson has a different issue to deal with, and that is his current majority.
- As Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene announced her resignation effective on January 5, 2026, the GOP will have a 219-213 majority, a two seat majority.
- If any other members resign or die over the next year, Johnson’s math will get even tighter, making even procedural votes difficult.
Bottom line: There is a slim but real chance that Johnson could lose his speakership and the GOP could possibly lose the majority prior to the 2026 elections, as there are more retirements expected.
In any case, it's looking more favorable for Democrats to take control of the House in just eleven months.