Forty-five members of Congress have announced they will not seek re-election in 2026—the most at this point since 2018

Forty-five members of Congress—37 representatives and eight senators—have announced they will not seek re-election in 2026. That’s the most retirement announcements at this point in an election cycle since 2018. Of the 37 representatives not running for re-election, 15 are Democrats and 22 are Republicans. Thirteen—nine Democrats and four Republicans—are retiring from public office. Twelve—six Democrats and six Republicans—are running for the U.S. Senate. Eleven—all Republicans—are running for governor. One Republican is running for Texas attorney general. Five of them—two Democrats and three Republicans—won by 10 percentage points or less in their last election. Three of five representatives—Jared Golden (D-Maine), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), and David Schweikert (R-Ariz.)—won by less than five percentage points. At this point in the last four election cycles, there were 25 retirement announcements in 2024, 24 in 2022, 27 in 2020, and 31 in 2018. Of the eight senators who are not seeking re-election, four are Democrats and four are Republicans.  When they last ran in 2020, four of them—two Democrats and two Republicans—won by 10 percentage points or less. Two of five senators—Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.)—won by less than five percentage points. At this point in the last four election cycles, there were seven retirement announcements in 2024, six in 2022, four in 2020, and two in 2018.

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