Record Congressional Departures Signal Potential Shifts for 2026 Midterms
As of December 17, 2025, 54 members of the U.S. Congress, representing more than 10% of the legislative body, have announced they will not seek re-election to their current seats or are pursuing other offices in the lead-up to the 2026 midterm elections. This figure, encompassing 10 Senators and 44 House members, marks a modern record for departures at this stage before a midterm cycle. Factors influencing these decisions include congressional redistricting, personal retirements, and members seeking different political roles, alongside individual motivations such as concerns about the legislative environment.
Scope of Departures
Of the 54 members announcing their intentions, 25 are retiring from public office entirely. The remaining 29 are seeking other political positions: 15 are pursuing state governorships, 13 are running for Senate seats after serving in the House, and one is seeking a state attorney general position.
Notable members who have announced their departure from their current seats include California Representative Nancy Pelosi and Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell. Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has announced her resignation, effective January 5, 2026. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) and Michael Bennet (D-Colorado), whose terms extend beyond 2026, have indicated they would resign their Senate seats if successful in their respective gubernatorial campaigns. Texas Republican Representative Chip Roy is seeking his state's Attorney General position. Additionally, several veteran Democratic members, including Senators Dick Durbin and Jeanne Shaheen, and Representatives Jan Schakowsky, Dwight Evans, and Danny Davis, are not seeking re-election.
These announcements follow eight lawmakers who have left the 119th Congress since January due to death or resignation. For instance, former Representative Mikie Sherrill resigned her New Jersey House seat in November 2025 after winning her gubernatorial race.
Historical Context and Trends
The 54 departure announcements made before the end of 2025 represent a modern record for this stage ahead of a midterm election for both chambers. This also marks the highest Senate turnover recorded since 2012.
Analysis of congressional records from January 2017 to the present indicates that approximately 900 individuals have served in Congress during this period, including 132 Senators, 751 Representatives, and 17 who served in both chambers. Between 2017 and 2024, retirement has been the most common reason for leaving Congress, accounting for over 140 lawmakers.
Factors Influencing Decisions
Several factors are contributing to the increased number of departures:
- Redistricting: Mid-decade redistricting efforts in Republican-led states and subsequent map redraws in Democratic-led states like California have altered electoral boundaries. The Supreme Court's ruling to use Texas' new congressional map for 2026 preceded the state's December 8 primary qualifying deadline, after which nine incumbents announced retirement or bids for other offices. California's redistricting, largely favoring Democrats, may prompt some Republican incumbents to retire or face primary challenges.
- Political Landscape: The narrow majorities held by Republicans in both the House and the Senate ahead of the 2026 election cycle are also cited as a contributing factor.
- Individual Motivations:
- Personal and Family Reasons: Some members, such as Representative Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) and Representative Mark Amodei (R-Nev.), have cited a desire to spend more time with family, address health concerns, or a belief that they have reached an appropriate retirement age.
- Pursuit of Other Offices: Members like Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) are seeking Senate seats, while Representative Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) is running for governor, citing opportunities to advance their agendas or apply different professional backgrounds.
- Workplace Environment: Concerns regarding partisan gridlock, demanding schedules, and a "toxic partisan atmosphere" have been cited by some members, including Representative Krishnamoorthi. Security concerns, including threats to families, have also been mentioned by some.
- Generational Change: Representative Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) has indicated his decision was influenced by a perceived necessity for generational change within the Democratic Party.
- Political Disagreements: Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.) stated she would not want to serve another two years with former President Trump in the White House.
Representative Nancy Pelosi's decision not to seek another term followed strong Democratic performances in the November 2025 off-year elections. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene's resignation announcement occurred following disagreements concerning the former President's second-term agenda and the release of specific legal documents.
Implications for the 2026 Midterm Elections
The high number of departures may signal potential shifts in the political landscape. Historically, high rates of congressional departures, particularly from the majority party, can precede challenging election cycles for that party.
In the House of Representatives, reports indicate 30 Republican and 21 Democratic members are departing. This compares to 2018, when 34 Republicans opted not to run for re-election, a year in which Republicans lost control of the House. Republicans currently hold a narrow majority in the House, and Democrats aim to gain three seats for control. While many open House seats are in non-competitive districts, at least eight (five Republican, three Democratic) are in potentially competitive areas.
In the Senate, five Republicans and four Democrats are departing. Open seats currently held by Democrats are being defended in Michigan, Minnesota, and New Hampshire, while open seats held by Republicans are in North Carolina and Iowa.
Democrats have suggested that the number of vulnerable Republican departures indicates an anticipation of losing the majority, while Republicans contend that most open seats are not in competitive districts and that they are expanding their electoral battlefield.