Despite the prospect of its first Gen Z member, Congress is ageing rapidly
first took office in 1975, Richard Nixon had just resigned, America was winding down its involvement in Vietnam and Muhammad Ali was world heavyweight boxing champion. Yet even today, with 47 years under his belt, the Iowa farmer-turned-lawmaker says he has “unfinished business” in Congress. Mr Grassley, a Republican who turned 89 on September 17th, isin the Senate. If he is re-elected, he will be 95 at the conclusion of his next six-year term.
Mr Grassley’s longevity is not unusual in Congress. Seven senators and 14 House members are in their eighties, including Nancy Pelosi , the speaker of the House, and Mitch McConnell , the Senate minority leader. Nearly one-quarter of Congress is over 70, up from just 5% in 1980. Just one in 20, meanwhile, is under 40, compared with half of the American workforce.
Critics say Washington’s gerontocracy is slow-moving and backward-looking. Some voters may agree. A recent poll by CBS/YouGov found that nearly three-quarters of American adults favour an age limit for elected officials. New research by Damon Roberts of the University of Colorado, Boulder, and Jennifer Wolak of Michigan State University suggests that age may affect approval ratings, too.
Still, the odds of Congress getting younger are slim. Mr Roberts and Ms Wolak note that structural factors that favour older politicians—such as incumbency advantage and the way that party leaders recruit candidates—are the main reason for their over-representation in elected office. Meanwhile, veteran politicians and their supporters continue to tout their verve and vigour on the campaign trail.
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