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The number of retirements announced In the House, this election cycle is the second highest since record-keeping began nearly a century ago.
Fifty-three MPs have declared that they will not run again in 2026, exceeding the 52 in 2018, with Representative Burgess OwensR-Utah, becoming the last to head for the exit.
Of the members who announced they would leave office this cycle, 32 are Republicans and 21 are Democrats, much like in 2018, when Republican lawmakers made up the largest portion of departures.
Still, the 2026 total is far from the record 65 lawmakers retiring in 1992, according to historical data from the Brookings Institution’s vital statistics on Congress.
Members of Congress as a whole vacate their seats at a historically high ratewith 10 senators announcing they will not seek re-election. This is the highest number of retirements in either chamber this century.
Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., became the last senator, announcing Wednesday that he would not seek a third term.
Republicans hold a slim 218-214 majority in the House. They hold a 53-47 advantage in the Senate.
