Rep. Tom Malinowski (D) became the first former member of Congress to face voters in a bid for their old office in the 2026 election cycle. In the special election for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, Analilia Mejia (D) defeated Malinowski 29% to 28%. 

Malinowski represented New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District from 2019 to 2023. He left office after losing re-election in 2022. Going back to 2016, no other former House members from New Jersey sought office again.

As a result of Malinowski’s loss, of the 19 former House members running in 2026:

• One lost a primary
• Two have withdrawn from their respective races
• Sixteen members have yet to face election

Eleven of these former members are Democrats, and eight are Republicans. 

The average time out of office of all former House members running again in 2026 was almost 8 years, or four full House terms. The election for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District happened 3 years, 1 month, and 2 days after Malinowski left office.

Since 2016, the most successful year for former members was 2020, when five former members won again. The least successful year was in 2022, when one member won a non-consecutive term. The most common outcome in three cycles — 2018, 2020, and 2022 — was a defeat in the primary. In 2016 and 2024, the most common result was a defeat in the general election.

In addition to 19 former House members, three former U.S. Senators in two states are seeking non-consecutive terms, all after being defeated for their re-election bids. None of these candidates has faced a primary yet.