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

By

Briana Ryan

Since May 22, 2025, one member of the U.S. Congress has announced that he will not seek re-election in 2026.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) announced on May 27 that he will run for governor of Alabama in 2026 rather than re-election to the U.S. Senate. As of June 10, The Cook Political Report and Inside Elections have rated the 2026 general election for the Senate seat as Solid Republican. Sabato’s Crystal Ball rated it Safe Republican.

Additionally, Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.) announced on June 9 that he will resign from the U.S. House of Representatives to pursue a position in the private sector. Green also said he will resign after the House casts a final vote on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Green is not included in this analysis because these figures do not include incumbents who leave office before the end of their term.

Including Tuberville’s announcements, 19 members of Congress—six senators and 13 representatives—have announced they will not seek re-election in 2026.

U.S. Senate

Six senators—four Democrats and two Republicans—will not seek re-election in 2026. Five senators—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. Tuberville is the only senator who is retiring to run for another office.

At this point in the last four election cycles, there were four retirement announcements in 2024, five in 2022, four in 2020, and none in 2018.

U.S. House of Representatives

Thirteen representatives—six Democrats and seven Republicans—will not seek re-election in 2026. Of the 13 representatives not seeking re-election:

At this point in the last four election cycles, there were 11 retirement announcements in 2024, 14 in 2022, seven in 2020, and nine in 2018.

Congressional retirements by month

Between January 2011 and today, 366 members of Congress  announced they would not seek re-election. January had the highest number of announcements of any month at 69. The fewest announcements—12—happened in June.