Youngest Current U.S. Senators

List of the 10 Youngest Current/Active U.S. Senators

The average age of current sitting U.S. senators is 64.3 years. Although you only need to be 30 years old to become a senator, most modern senators are well beyond 30 when they’re first elected. Only one senator on this list is currently in their 30s; the rest of these “young” senators are in their 40s, with many just a few years shy of 50.

As of December 2021, the information on this list is as accurate as possible and will be updated as needed.

10. Ben Sasse (February 22, 1972 – Present)

Current Age (as of December 2021): 49 years, 9 months, 18 days
Assumed Office: January 3, 2015
Political Party: Republican
State: Nebraska

photo source: Wikimedia Commons

 

Ben Sasse has served as the junior U.S. senator from Nebraska since 2015. Before becoming a senator, Sasse briefly served as the Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for Planning and Evaluation under President George W. Bush. From 2010 – 2014, Sasse was the President of Midland University.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in government, a Master of Arts, Master of Philosophy, and Doctor of Philosophy, Sasse worked as a consultant for various companies. Sasse first entered politics in 2004 when he served as chief of staff for the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Legal Policy in Washington, D.C.

Did You Know?

Despite being staunchly conservative, on February 13, 2021, Ben Sasse was one of seven Republican senators to vote to convict Donald Trump of incitement of insurrection in his second impeachment trial.


9. Ben Ray Luján (June 7, 1972 – Present)

Current Age (as of December 2021): 49 years, 6 months, 3 days
Assumed Office: January 3, 2021
Political Party: Democratic
State: New Mexico

Ben Ray Lujánphoto source: Wikimedia Commons

Ben Ray Luján is another new senator who won in the 2020 Senate Election. Luján previously served as the U.S representative from New Mexico’s 3rd congressional district from 2009 to 2021. During his time in the House, Luján served as the Assistant Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

After high school, Luján briefly worked as a blackjack dealer at a Lake Tahoe casino. Luján then attended college and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. He first entered politics when he was elected to the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission in November 2004.

Did You Know?

Ben Ray Luján was selected as Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) in 2014 and led the Democrats to win a House majority in the 2018 elections. He was the first person of Hispanic descent to serve in this role.


8. Todd Young (August 24, 1972 – Present)

Current Age (as of December 2021): 49 years, 3 months, 17 days
Assumed Office: January 3, 2017
Political Party: Republican
State: Indiana

Todd Youngphoto source: Wikimedia Commons

Todd Young has been the senior U.S. senator from Indiana since 2017. Before the Senate, Young was the U.S. representative for Indiana’s 9th congressional district, from 2011 – 2017. As a young man, Young had a career in the U.S. Navy. Young was honorably discharged from active duty in 2000 as a U.S. Marine Captain. During and after his military career, Young earned several degrees in business, law, and politics.

Young first entered politics by working as a staffer for U.S. senator Richard Lugar. He was also a delegate to the Indiana Republican state convention. From 2007 to 2010, Young served as Assistant Deputy Prosecutor for Orange County, Indiana.

Did You Know?

From 2019 to 2021, Todd Young served as the Chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.


7. Brian Schatz (October 20, 1972 – Present)

Current Age (as of December 2021): 49 years, 1 month, 21 days
Assumed Office: December 26, 2012
Political Party: Democratic
State: Hawaii

Brian Schatzphoto source: Wikimedia Commons

Brian Schatz has served as the senior U.S. senator from Hawaii since 2012, when he was appointed by Governor Neil Abercrombie to replace Senator Daniel Inouye after Inouye’s death. Schatz’s political career started in 1998 when he was elected to the Hawaii House of Representatives. He has also served as the Chair of the Hawaii Democratic Party and Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii. In the U.S. Senate, Schatz currently serves as the Senate Democratic Chief Deputy Whip and Chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.

Schatz has always been an active member of his local community. As a young man, he worked as CEO of Helping Hands Hawaii and director of the Makiki Community Library and of the Center for a Sustainable Future.

Did You Know?

Brian Schatz says that he was inspired to pursue the public good by his father, who was the first to complain about the ethics of the Tuskegee syphilis experiment, in a 1965 letter.


6. Alex Padilla (March 22, 1973 – Present)

Current Age (as of December 2021): 48 years, 8 months, 19 days
Assumed Office: January 20, 2021
Political Party: Democratic
State: California

Alex Padillaphoto source: Wikimedia Commons

Alex Padilla is a brand new U.S. senator, who won his seat during the 2020 election. However, Padilla has bee involved in politics for several decades. Before becoming a senator, Padilla served as the secretary of state of California from 2015 until his Senate election. Padilla was also a member of the California State Senate, President of the Los Angeles City Council, and a member of the Los Angeles City Council.

Prior to entering politics in 1999, Padilla worked as an engineer for Hughes Aircraft. Padilla is also a former member of the governing board of MIT and president of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO).

Did You Know?

Alex Padilla’s first professional political role was working as a personal assistant to Senator Dianne Feinstein.


5. Chris Murphy (August 3, 1973 – Present)

Current Age (as of December 2021): 48 years, 4 months, 7 days
Assumed Office: January 3, 2013
Political Party: Democratic
State: Connecticut

photo source: Wikimedia Commons

 

Chris Murphy has been the junior U.S. senator from Connecticut since 2013. Although he is nearly 50 years old, Murphy is currently the fifth youngest sitting senator. Murphy first entered politics in 1999, in his mid-20s, when he was elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives. He was also a member of the Connecticut State Senate as well as the U.S. House of Representatives.

Before his political career, Murphy studied law. In 1996, Murphy was campaign manager for Charlotte Koskoff’s unsuccessful campaign for the House against Nancy Johnson. A decade later, Murphy successfully unseated Johnson himself.

Did You Know?

At the time of his election to the U.S. Senate, Chris Murphy was 39 years old, making him the youngest senator of the 113th Congress.


4. Kyrsten Sinema (July 12, 1976 – Present)

Current Age (as of December 2021): 45 years, 4 months, 29 days
Assumed Office: January 3, 2019
Political Party: Democratic
State: Arizona

photo source: Wikimedia Commons

Kyrsten Sinema is another fairly new U.S. senator who initially rose to prominence for her progressive views. Sinema began her political career in the Arizona Green Party and supported causes such as LGBT rights and opposing the war on terror. She joined the Democratic party in 2004 and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012.

In 2018, Sinema won the Senate election to replace the retiring Jeff Flake, defeating Republican nominee Martha McSally. After becoming a senator, Sinema quickly abandoned her progressive views and is now the most conservative Democrat in congress.

Did You Know?

Kyrsten Sinema is the first woman elected to the Senate from Arizona.


3. Tom Cotton (May 13, 1977 – Present)

Current Age (as of December 2021): 44 years, 6 months, 28 days
Assumed Office: January 3, 2015
Political Party: Republican
State: Arkansas

Tom Cottonphoto source: Wikimedia Commons

Tom Cotton, is a U.S. senator from Arkansas, who has held this position since 2015. Before becoming a senator, Cotton was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. After graduating from Harvard Law School in 2002, Cotton briefly worked as a federal clerk in Washington, D.C. Cotton then enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2005, where he rose to the rank of captain before being honorably discharged in 2009.

During his military career, Cotton did serve tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, during campaign ads and videos from 2011 to 2014, Cotton lied about being an Army Ranger. Cotton’s lies came out in 2021 and Cotton called the controversy slanderous because he did graduate Ranger School. While Cotton, may have graduated from Ranger School, he did not serve in the Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment  during his time in the military.

Did You Know?

While serving in the military, Tom Cotton earned a Bronze Star and the Combat Infantryman Badge.


2. Josh Hawley (December 31, 1979 – Present)

Current Age (as of December 2021): 41 years, 11 months, 10 days
Assumed Office: January 3, 2019
Political Party: Republican
State: Missouri

Josh Hawleyphoto source: Wikimedia Commons

Senator Josh Hawley has been under fire in recent years for his controversial opinions and practices. In December 2020, Hawley became the first senator to announce plans to object to the certification of Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 United States presidential election. Hawley then became one of the leaders of the Senate efforts to overturn the Electoral College vote count.

Additionally, Hawley has been cited as one of the senators who encouraged the now infamous attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Many of Hawley’s fellow politicians have called on him to resign or be expelled from the Senate. Prior to becoming a senator, Hawley, who has a background in law, served as the 42nd Attorney General of of Missouri.

Did You Know?

As Missouri attorney general, Josh Hawley initiated several high-profile lawsuits and investigations, including a lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act.


1. Jon Ossoff (February 16, 1987 – Present)

Current Age (as of December 2021): 34 years, 9 months, 24 days
Assumed Office: January 20, 2021
Political Party: Democratic
State: Georgia

Jon Ossoffphoto source: Wikimedia Commons

 

At the age of 34 years, 9 months, and 24 days, Jon Ossoff is currently the youngest sitting U.S. Senator. Ossoff, who is a Democrat, became a senator after winning against t then-incumbent Republican senator David Perdue. Neither candidate secured the lead during the 2020 elections, triggering a run-off election on January 5, 2021, which Ossoff won with the help of a strong grassroots effort.

Ossoff first garnered national attention in 2017 when he was the Democratic nominee in the 2017 special election  for Georgia’s 6th congressional district. Once again, this was a highly competitive election and Ossoff narrowly lost. This was the most expensive House election in U.S. history. Before entering politics, Ossoff was a documentary film producer and investigative journalist.

Did You Know?

Jon Ossoff became the youngest member of the Senate elected since Don Nickles in 1980 as well as the first Jewish member of the Senate from Georgia. Ossoff is also the first Millennial senator.

 

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