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

By

Briana Ryan

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.

Since our Oct. 20 update, six representatives have announced that they will not seek re-election to the U.S. House in 2026. Here are the six members who have announced their retirements since our last update, as well as how independent race forecasters have rated the 2026 general election for each district these incumbents currently represent:

  • Rep. Jody Arrington (R-Texas) announced on Nov. 11 that he is retiring from public office. Race forecasters have rated the election for the district as either Solid or Safe Republican.
  • Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.) announced on Nov. 10 that she is retiring from public office. Race forecasters have rated the election for the district as either Solid or Safe Democratic.
  • Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) announced on Nov. 7 that she will run for governor of New York. Race forecasters have rated the election for the district as either Solid or Safe Republican.
  • Former House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced on Nov. 6 that she is retiring from public office. Race forecasters have rated the election for the district as either Solid or Safe Democratic.
  • Rep. Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (D-Ill.) announced on Nov. 5 that he is retiring from public office. Race forecasters have rated the election for the district as either Solid or Safe Democratic.
  • Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) announced on Nov. 5 that he is retiring from public office. Race forecasters have rated the election for the district as either a Toss-up or Tilt Democratic.

U.S. House of Representatives

Thirty-seven representatives—15 Democrats and 22 Republicans—will not seek re-election in 2026. Of the 37 members not seeking re-election:

  • 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 attorney general of Texas.

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.

U.S. Senate

Eight members of the U.S. Senate—four Democrats and four Republicans—announced they will not seek re-election in 2026. Sens. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Jeanne Shaheen(D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) are retiring from public office. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) is running for governor of Alabama.

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.

Between January 2011 and November 2025, 386 members of the U.S. Senate and House announced they would not seek re-election. The 69 retirement announcements in January is the most of any month. June had the fewest at 16.

Click here to read more about members of the U.S. Senate who are not seeking re-election in 2026, and here for more about members of the U.S. House who are not seeking re-election in 2026.