10 Oldest U.S. Congressmen (Updated 2022)

There is often some confusion over the difference between a congressman and a senator. Although the dictionary says that a congressman is anyone who serves in Congress, which includes both the House and the Senate, when people are talking about a congressman they’re typically referring to a member of the House. This is the definition we have chosen to use and every congressman and congresswoman on this list is a House Representative.

Like the Presidency, there is an age requirement to become a member of the U.S. House of Representatives — a person needs to be at least 25 years old. Due to this, most people do not run for a seat in the House until they have established some other career and gain political experience.

In more recent years, the average age of House member is about 57 years old.

All of the congressmen on this were over 80 years old while they served and the oldest was over 90!

As of May 2022, this list is as accurate as possible and will be updated as needed.

10. Sam Johnson (October 11, 1930 – May 27, 2020)

photo source: Wikimedia Commons

Sam Johnson was previously the second oldest sitting member of the U.S. House of Representatives, but he recently retired in January of 2019. Prior to becoming a member of the House in 1991, Johnson had a long military career, serving for 29 years. He is a retired Air Force Colonel and was a decorated fighter pilot in the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Johnson was elected to the House in 1991 during a special election and he since become known as an ardent conservative. After being sworn in for his 14^th term, Johnson announced that he would not run for reelection in the 2018 midterm elections.

Did You Know?

During his time in the military, Sam Johnson earned two Silver Stars, two Legions of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, one Bronze Star with Valor, two Purple Hearts, four Air Medals, and three outstanding unit awards.

9. John Dingell (July 8, 1926 – February 7, 2019)

photo source: Wikimedia Commons

John Dingell currently holds the record for the longest Congressional (both the House and the Senate) tenure in American history. He served for over 59 years and retired when he was 88 years old. Dingell was also the longest-serving Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives (from January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2015). He was elected to the House in 1955, succeeding his father John Dingell Sr., who held the seat for 22 years.

Along with Ralph Hall, who is also on this list and retired in 2015, Dingell was one of the last World War II veterans serving in Congress. When Dingell decided to retire, his wife Debbie Dingell announced that she planned to run for his seat. She won the election and is currently representing Michigan’s 12^th district.

Did You Know?

John Dingell Jr. was first elected to the House on December 13, 1955 when he won the special election to replace his father, John Dingell Sr., who passed away while he was still in office.

8. Louise Slaughter (August 14, 1929 – March 16, 2018)

photo source: Wikimedia Commons

Prior to her death on March 16, 2018, Louise Slaughter was the oldest sitting member of the U.S. House of Representatives – she is also the only congresswoman on this list. Before the start of her political career, Slaughter earned her degrees in microbiology and public health and went to work for Procter & Gamble doing market research.

At this time, Slaughter was involved in community groups like Scouting in New York and the League of Women Voters. She became concerned with local political and community issues and decided to run for the New York State Assembly in 1982. Slaughter narrowly won in the 1986 midterm election and was elected to the House. She was Chairwoman of the House Rules Committee from 2007 – 2011 and has served as ranking minority member of the Committee since 2011.

Did You Know?

Louise Slaughter was the first and only woman to chair the House Rules Committee.

7. Claude Pepper (September 8, 1900 – May 30, 1989)

photo source: Wikimedia Commons painting by Marshall Bouldin III

Claude Pepper was nearly 89 years old when he died while still serving in the U.S. House of Representatives. Pepper was a congressman for over 26 years and represented the state of Florida as a member of the Democratic Party. During his tenure as a member of the House, Pepper served as the chairman of the Select Committee on Crime and was also a member of the Select Committee on Aging and the Committee on Rules.

Before his death, Pepper was the oldest serving member of Congress at the time. Pepper was known for being liberal and championed the rights of the elderly. Pepper was also a Senator during World War II and often supported President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal and wartime policies.

Did You Know?

Claude Pepper was sometimes called “Red Pepper” because of his bright red hair, fiery way of speaking, sharp wit, and flair for the dramatic.

6. John Conyers (May 16, 1929 – October 27, 2019)

photo source: Wikimedia Commons

John Conyers was not only one of the oldest congressman in the U.S. House of Representatives, but he was also the third longest-serving House member ever. He was in the House for nearly 52 years and retired at the age of 88. Before he started his political career, Conyers served in the Korean War and later became active in the civil rights movement. As a member of the House, Conyers co-founded the Congressional Black Caucus in 1969 and eventually became one of the most liberal members of Congress.

Although Conyers strived to do good while in office, he was at the center of several controversies, including forcing his aides to babysit and chauffeur his children as well as several sexual harassment allegation, which ended his career. His mounting sex scandals led Conyers to resign from Congress on December 5, 2017.

Did You Know?

John Conyers was the first African American ever appointed to the House Judiciary Committee.

5. Don Young (June 9, 1933 – March 18, 2022)

photo source: Wikimedia Commons

Prior to his death on March 18, 2022, Don Young was the only living Congressman on this list. He was the the Republican Party’s longest-serving member of the U.S. House of Representatives in history. Young represented Alaska for 24 consecutive terms and was in office for more than 49 years. 

Although Young was born in California, he moved to Alaska in 1959 not long after it became a state. Young served in various political offices in Alaska, beginning as Mayor of Fort Yukon in 1964. Young was then elected to Alaska’s House of Representatives in 1967.

Young passed away during a flight from Los Angeles to Seattle, while traveling home to Alaska. 

Did You Know?

Don Young had been a Congressman for so long, that he was the last serving member of Congress who was first elected during the Nixon administration. 

4. Robert L. Doughton (November 7, 1863 – October 1, 1954)

photo source: Wikimedia Commons

Robert L. Doughton was another member of the U.S. House of Representatives to serve at 89 years old. He was the 20^th longest-serving member of the House and the longest-serving member ever from North Carolina. In addition to being a politician, Doughton was a prosperous banker and farmer, which earned him the nickname Farmer Bob. He owned over 5,000 acres of land and raised prized Hereford and Holstein cows. Doughton was also the owner and president of Deposit Savings and Loan Bank in North Carolina.

For 18 years Doughton served as the Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means. In this role, he oversaw the passage of the Social Security Act in 1935. He was also responsible for the creation of Blue Ridge Parkway, America’s most-traveled scenic highway. Doughton is probably best known for introducing the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937.

Did You Know?

Robert Doughton was known for opposing high taxes and in 1932, he led a congressional rebellion against a proposed national sales tax and won.

3. Sidney R. Yates (August 27, 1909 – October 5, 2000)

photo source: Wikimedia Commons

Sidney R. Yates was just a few months shy of being the second oldest congressman. He is the longest-serving member of the U.S. House of Representatives from the state of Illinois and the seventh longest-serving in the House overall. Before he became a politician, Yates played semiprofessional basketball and practiced law. He was also a World War II veteran. Yates’ career in the House was briefly interrupted after he did not succeed in his run for the Senate in 1962. He went to work for the United Nations for a year before returning to the House after the 1964 election.

Throughout his career, Yates served on the Appropriations Committee, where he supported environmental programs and the National Endowment for the Arts. He also worked hard to preserve federal funding for Natural Heritage Preservation programs, and to establish the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Did You Know?

Sidney R. Yates was was presented with a Presidential Citizens Medal for his efforts in promoting the arts and humanities in 1993.

2. Charles Manly Stedman (January 29, 1841 – September 23, 1930)

photo source: Wikimedia Commons

Prior to 2012, Charles Manly Stedman held the record for being the oldest member ever of the U.S. House of Representatives. Stedman first got into politics as a delegate to the 1880 Democratic National Convention. Before this, he fought in the Civil War and later became a lawyer and set up his practice in Wilmington, North Carolina.

From 1885 – 1889, Stedman served as the fifth Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina. He unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic nomination for Governor of North Carolina in 1888. Stedman was first elected to the House in 1910 and served until his death in 1930 at the age of 89. He was the last veteran of the Civil War, from either side, to serve in Congress.

Did You Know?

During the Civil War, Charles Manly Stedman served as a private in the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry Company, First North Carolina Regiment.

1. Ralph Hall (May 3, 1923 – March 7, 2019)

photo source: Wikimedia Commons

Ralph Hall is the oldest congressman to ever serve in the U.S. House of Representatives at the age of 91. In addition to being the oldest serving member of Congress, Hall was the oldest person ever elected to a House term, the oldest House member to cast a vote, and one of the last two World War II veterans serving in Congress.

For much of his political career, Hall described himself as “an old-time conservative Democrat” — in fact, he was one of the most conservative Democrats to ever serve in the House. For years, rumors persisted that Hall would switch parties because he often voted with Republicans. He eventually changed over to the Republican Party in 2004. Hall’s last bid for a seat in the House took place in 2014; he lost in the Republican primary and finally retired.

Did You Know?

Ralph Hall was a member of the Tea Party Caucus and although he lost his final bid for re-election, who earned many tea party votes in the primary.