Four members of Congress have announced they will not seek re-election in 2026

By

Briana Ryan

As of Feb. 19, four members of the U.S. Congress—two senators and two representatives—have announced they will not seek re-election in 2026.

The total number of 2026 retirement announcements—four—is the same as it was at this point in 2020 and 2018. However, it is less than it was in 2024 and 2022.

U.S. Senate

Two senators—Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.)—have announced that they will not seek re-election in 2026. Both senators have said they plan to retire from public office.

The number of senators who have announced their retirements is on par with where it was at this point in the 2024 and 2020 election cycles. However, this number is less than it was at this point in the 2022 cycle and more than it was at this point in the 2018 cycle.

U.S. House of Representatives

Two representatives—Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.)—have announced they will not seek re-election in 2026. Grijalva has said he plans to retire from public service, while Biggs is retiring to run for Governor of Arizona.

The number of representatives who announced their retirements is on par with where it was at this time in the 2020 election cycle. However, this number is less than it was at this point in the 2024 and 2018 cycles and more than it was at this point in the 2022 cycle.

Congressional retirements by year

In 2018, 55 incumbents retired from Congress. In the two election cycles following 2018, the total number of retirements decreased to 40 in 2020 and then increased to 55 in 2022. In 2024, 53 incumbents—eight U.S. senators and 45 U.S. representatives—retired from Congress.

Congressional retirements by month

Between January 2011 and February 2025, 351 members of Congress retired. Out of every election cycle from 2012 to 2024, the 2018 cycle had the most retirements, at 54, and the 2020 cycle had the fewest, with 41. From 2011 to 2024, there was an average of 50 announcements per cycle.

  • January had the highest number of announcements during an election year at 47, while August, September, and October had the fewest at one each.
  • November had the highest number of announcements during an off year at 40, while June had the fewest at nine.