List of youngest members of the United States Congress
The following are historical lists of the youngest members of the United States Congress, in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. These members would be the equivalent to the "Baby of the House" in the parliaments of Commonwealth countries; the U.S. Congress does not confer a similar title upon its youngest members.
Youngest U.S. congresspersons tend to be older than the youngest MPs in Commonwealth countries. This is partly because the minimum age requirements enumerated in Article One of the United States Constitution bar persons under the age of 25 years and 30 years from serving in the House and Senate, respectively. Additionally, the political culture of the United States encourages young politicians to gain experience in state and local offices before running for Congress. Although the vast majority of members of Congress gained state and local experience before being elected to Congress, members lacking state and local experience have increased recently.[1]
On November 6, 2018, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (Democratic Party, New York) and Abby Finkenauer (Democratic Party, Iowa) won their general election campaigns and respectively became the youngest and second-youngest congresswomen ever elected. On taking office, they became the youngest two members of the 116th United States Congress;[2] Ocasio-Cortez also became the youngest congresswoman in United States history.
Josh Hawley is the youngest sitting senator of the 116th United States Congress at age 40. He replaced Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton, who at 43 was the youngest senator of the 115th Congress.[3]
The average age of Senators is now higher than in the past.[4] In the 19th century, several state legislatures elected Senators in their late twenties despite the Constitutional minimum age of 30, such as Henry Clay, who was sworn into office at age 29, and John Henry Eaton, the youngest US Senator in history, who took his oath of office when 28 years, 4 months, and 29 days old.[5]
List of youngest U.S. senators
Time as youngest senator[lower-alpha 1] | Name | State | Party | Age | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
March 4, 1789 – July 25, 1789 | James Gunn | Georgia | Anti-Administration | 35–36 | |
July 25, 1789 – December 6, 1790 | Rufus King | New York | Pro-Administration | 34–35 | |
December 6, 1790 – March 4, 1791 | James Monroe | Virginia | Anti-Administration | 32 | |
March 4, 1791 – December 2, 1793 | John Rutherfurd | New Jersey | Pro-Administration | 30–33 | |
December 2, 1793 – February 28, 1794 | Albert Gallatin[lower-alpha 2] | Pennsylvania | Anti-Administration | 32–33 | |
February 28, 1794 – April 24, 1794 | John Rutherfurd | New Jersey | Pro-Administration | 33 | |
April 24, 1794 – December 6, 1796 | James Ross | Pennsylvania | Federalist | 31–34 | |
April 12, 1796 – December 6, 1796[lower-alpha 3] | Josiah Tattnall | Georgia | Democratic-Republican | 34 (est) | |
December 6, 1796 – November 22, 1797 | Richard Stockton | New Jersey | Federalist | 32–33 | |
November 22, 1797 – April, 1798 | Andrew Jackson | Tennessee | Democratic-Republican | 30–31 | |
April 1798 – February 4, 1799 | Ray Greene | Rhode Island | Federalist | 33–34 | |
February 4, 1799 – March 3, 1801 | William H. Wells | Delaware | Federalist | 30–32 | |
March 4, 1801 – October 17, 1803 | Samuel White | Delaware | Federalist | 30–32 | |
October 17, 1803 – December 29, 1806 | Thomas Worthington | Ohio | Democratic-Republican | 30–33 | |
December 29, 1806 – March 4, 1807 | Henry Clay[lower-alpha 4] | Kentucky | Democratic-Republican | 29 | |
March 4, 1807 – September 1807 | James Fenner | Rhode Island | Democratic-Republican | 34 | |
September 1807 – December 9, 1807[lower-alpha 5] | John Pope | Kentucky | Democratic-Republican | 36/37 (est) | |
September 1807 – December 9, 1807 | Samuel White | Delaware | Federalist | 36/37 (est) | |
December 9, 1807 – January 12, 1810 | William Harris Crawford | Georgia | Democratic-Republican | 35–37 | |
May 26, 1809 – January 12, 1810[lower-alpha 6] | Jenkin Whiteside | Tennessee | Democratic-Republican | 37–38 (est) | |
January 12, 1810 – March 3, 1813 | Alexander Campbell | Ohio | Democratic-Republican | 30–34 (est) | |
March 4, 1813 – May 27, 1813 | Outerbridge Horsey | Delaware | Federalist | 35–36 | |
May 24, 1813 – May 27, 1813[lower-alpha 7] | William Bellinger Bulloch | Georgia | Democratic-Republican | 36 (est) | |
May 27, 1813 – December 6, 1813 | Robert Henry Goldsborough | Maryland | Federalist | 34 | |
December 6, 1813 – April 9, 1814 | William Wyatt Bibb[lower-alpha 8][lower-alpha 9] | Georgia | Democratic-Republican | 32 | |
April 9, 1814 – February 2, 1815 | Jesse Wharton[lower-alpha 9] | Tennessee | Democratic-Republican | 31–32 | |
February 2, 1815 – January 22, 1816 | William Taylor Barry[lower-alpha 9] | Kentucky | Democratic-Republican | 30–31 | |
January 22, 1816 – March 3, 1817 | Armistead Thomson Mason[lower-alpha 10] | Virginia | Democratic-Republican | 28–29 | |
March 4, 1817 – November 16, 1818 | John Jordan Crittenden | Kentucky | Democratic-Republican | 29–31 | |
November 16, 1818 – March 3, 1821 | John Henry Eaton[lower-alpha 11] | Tennessee | Democratic-Republican | 28–30 | |
March 4, 1821 – December 3, 1821 | Samuel Lewis Southard | New Jersey | Democratic-Republican | 33–34 | |
December 3, 1821 – March 3, 1823 | John Henry Eaton | Tennessee | Democratic-Republican | 31–32 | |
March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825 | Robert Young Hayne | South Carolina | Jacksonian Republican | 31–33 | |
March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1829 | Elias Kent Kane | Illinois | Jacksonian | 30–34 | |
March 4, 1829 – December 16, 1833 | John Middleton Clayton | Delaware | Anti-Jacksonian | 32–37 | |
December 16, 1833 – December 31, 1833 | Lewis Fields Linn | Missouri | Jacksonian | 37 | |
December 31, 1833 – March 3, 1835 | John Pendleton King | Georgia | Jacksonian | 34–35 | |
March 4, 1835 – December 5, 1836 | Robert John Walker | Mississippi | Jacksonian | 34–35 | |
December 5, 1836 – February 2, 1837 | Ambrose H. Sevier[lower-alpha 9] | Arkansas | Jacksonian | 35 | |
February 2, 1837 – March 3, 1837 | Alexander Mouton | Louisiana | Jacksonian | 32 | |
March 4, 1837 – January 11, 1841 | Franklin Pierce | New Hampshire | Democratic | 32–36 | |
January 11, 1841 – February 7, 1842 | Alfred O. P. Nicholson | Tennessee | Democratic | 32–33 | |
February 7, 1842 – February 28, 1842 | Franklin Pierce | New Hampshire | Democratic | 37 | |
February 28, 1842 – March 1, 1842 | Alexander Mouton | Louisiana | Democratic | 37 | |
March 1, 1842 – April 14, 1842 | William Alexander Graham | North Carolina | Whig | 37 | |
April 14, 1842 – July 6, 1842 | Charles Magill Conrad | Louisiana | Whig | 37 | |
July 6, 1842 – March 3, 1843 | William L. Dayton | New Jersey | Whig | 35–36 | |
March 4, 1843 – December 4, 1843 | Edward A. Hannegan | Indiana | Democratic | 35–36 | |
December 4, 1843 – March 3, 1845 | David Rice Atchison | Missouri | Democratic | 36–37 | |
March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1847 | Jesse D. Bright | Indiana | Democratic | 32–34 | |
March 4, 1847 – June 26, 1848 | Stephen A. Douglas | Illinois | Democratic | 33–35 | |
June 26, 1848 – December 14, 1853 | Isaac Pigeon Walker | Wisconsin | Democratic | 32–38 | |
December 14, 1853 – March 3, 1855 | Clement Claiborne Clay Jr. | Alabama | Democratic | 37–38 | |
March 3, 1855 – March 5, 1860 | George Ellis Pugh | Ohio | Democratic | 32–37 | |
March 5, 1860 – January 22, 1863 | Milton Slocum Latham[lower-alpha 9] | California | Democratic | 32–35 | |
January 22, 1863 – March 3, 1863 | David Turpie | Indiana | Democratic | 34 | |
March 4, 1863 – June 23, 1868 | William Sprague IV | Rhode Island | Republican | 32–37 | |
June 23, 1868 – June 30, 1868 | Alexander McDonald | Arkansas | Republican | 36 | |
June 30, 1868 – July 25, 1868 | Thomas Ward Osborn | Florida | Republican | 35 | |
July 25, 1868 – March 3, 1873 | George Eliphaz Spencer | Alabama | Republican | 31–36 | |
March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1879 | Stephen Wallace Dorsey | Arkansas | Republican | 31–37 | |
March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1881 | Blanche Kelso Bruce[lower-alpha 12] | Mississippi | Republican | 38–40 | |
March 4, 1881 – October 11, 1881 | Arthur Pue Gorman | Maryland | Democratic | 41–42 | |
October 11, 1881 – March 3, 1883 | Nelson W. Aldrich | Rhode Island | Republican | 39–41 | |
March 4, 1883 – December 2, 1889 | John E. Kenna[lower-alpha 9] | West Virginia | Democratic | 34–41 | |
December 2, 1889 – March 3, 1891 | Richard F. Pettigrew | South Dakota | Republican | 41–42 | |
March 4, 1891 – January 24, 1895 | John L. M. Irby | South Carolina | Democratic | 36–40 | |
January 24, 1895 – March 3, 1895 | Jeter C. Pritchard | North Carolina | Republican | 37 | |
March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1901 | Marion Butler | North Carolina | Populist | 31–37 | |
March 4, 1901 – March 3, 1905[lower-alpha 13] | Albert J. Beveridge | Indiana | Republican | 38–42 | |
Joseph Weldon Bailey[lower-alpha 9] | Texas | Democratic | 38–42 | ||
March 4, 1905 – January 30, 1907 | Elmer J. Burkett | Nebraska | Republican | 37–39 | |
January 30, 1907 – March 3, 1907 | Frederick W. Mulkey | Oregon | Republican | 33 | |
March 4, 1907 – December 11, 1907 | Simon Guggenheim | Colorado | Republican | 39 | |
December 11, 1907 – December 26, 1907 | Thomas Gore | Oklahoma | Democratic | 37 | |
December 26, 1907 – March 22, 1908 | William James Bryan[lower-alpha 14] | Florida | Democratic | 31 | |
March 22, 1908 – January 9, 1911 | Thomas Gore | Oklahoma | Democratic | 37–40 | |
January 9, 1911 – January 31, 1911 | Davis Elkins | West Virginia | Republican | 34–35 | |
January 31, 1911 – March 3, 1911 | Thomas Gore | Oklahoma | Democratic | 40 | |
March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1917 | Luke Lea | Tennessee | Democratic | 31–37 | |
March 4, 1917 – July 8, 1918 | Peter Goelet Gerry | Rhode Island | Democratic | 37–38 | |
July 8, 1918 – November 5, 1918 | Christie Benet | South Carolina | Democratic | 38 | |
November 5, 1918 – March 3, 1919 | Peter Goelet Gerry | Rhode Island | Democratic | 39 | |
March 4, 1919 – March 3, 1923 | Pat Harrison | Mississippi | Democratic | 37–41 | |
March 4, 1923 – March 3, 1925 | Clarence Dill | Washington | Democratic | 38–40 | |
March 4, 1925 – December 7, 1925 | Sam G. Bratton | New Mexico | Democratic | 36–37 | |
December 7, 1925 – January 12, 1933 | Robert M. La Follette Jr. | Wisconsin | Republican | 30–37 | |
January 12, 1933 – June 21, 1935 | Richard B. Russell Jr. | Georgia | Democratic | 35–37 | |
June 21, 1935 – October 17, 1940 | Rush Dew Holt Sr.[lower-alpha 15] | West Virginia | Democratic | 30–35 | |
October 17, 1940 – December 12, 1940 | Joseph H. Ball | Minnesota | Republican | 34–35 | |
December 12, 1940 – December 6, 1942 | Berkeley L. Bunker | Nevada | Democratic | 34–36 | |
December 6, 1942 – January 3, 1943 | Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. | Massachusetts | Republican | 40 | |
January 3, 1943 – November 14, 1944 | Joseph H. Ball | Minnesota | Republican | 37–39 | |
November 14, 1944 – January 3, 1945 | William E. Jenner | Indiana | Republican | 36 | |
January 3, 1945 – January 18, 1945 | Joseph H. Ball | Minnesota | Republican | 39 | |
January 18, 1945 – August 26, 1945 | Hugh B. Mitchell | Washington | Democratic | 37–38 | |
August 26, 1945 – January 3, 1947 | William Knowland | California | Republican | 37–38 | |
January 3, 1947 – December 31, 1948 | Joseph McCarthy | Wisconsin | Republican | 38–40 | |
December 31, 1948 – January 3, 1957 | Russell Long[lower-alpha 16] | Louisiana | Democratic | 30–38 | |
January 3, 1957 – June 15, 1961 | Frank Church | Idaho | Democratic | 32–36 | |
June 15, 1961 – December 7, 1961 | John Tower | Texas | Republican | 35–36 | |
December 7, 1961 – November 6, 1962 | Maurice J. Murphy Jr. | New Hampshire | Republican | 34–35 | |
November 7, 1962 – January 3, 1969 | Ted Kennedy | Massachusetts | Democratic | 30–36 | |
January 3, 1969 – January 2, 1971 | Bob Packwood[lower-alpha 17] | Oregon | Republican | 36–38 | |
January 2, 1971 – January 3, 1973 | John V. Tunney | California | Democratic | 36–38 | |
January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1979 | Joe Biden[lower-alpha 18] | Delaware | Democratic | 30–36 | |
January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1981 | Bill Bradley | New Jersey | Democratic | 35–37 | |
January 3, 1981 – March 11, 1987 | Don Nickles[lower-alpha 19] | Oklahoma | Republican | 32–38 | |
March 11, 1987 – November 8, 1988 | David Kemp Karnes | Nebraska | Republican | 38–39 | |
November 8, 1988 – January 3, 1993 | Don Nickles | Oklahoma | Republican | 39–44 | |
January 3, 1993 – January 3, 1995 | Russ Feingold | Wisconsin | Democratic | 39–41 | |
January 3, 1995 – January 3, 1999 | Rick Santorum | Pennsylvania | Republican | 36–40 | |
January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2003 | Peter Fitzgerald | Illinois | Republican | 38–42 | |
January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2009 | John E. Sununu | New Hampshire | Republican | 38–44 | |
January 3, 2009 – January 22, 2009 | Mark Pryor[lower-alpha 20] | Arkansas | Democratic | 45–46 | |
January 22, 2009 – January 27, 2009 | Michael Bennet | Colorado | Democratic | 44 | |
January 27, 2009 – September 10, 2009 | Kirsten Gillibrand[lower-alpha 21] | New York | Democratic | 42 | |
September 10, 2009 – July 20, 2010 | George LeMieux | Florida | Republican | 40–41 | |
July 20, 2010 – November 15, 2010 | Carte Goodwin | West Virginia | Democratic | 36 | |
November 15, 2010 – January 3, 2011 | George LeMieux | Florida | Republican | 41 | |
January 3, 2011 – December 26, 2012 | Mike Lee | Utah | Republican | 39–41 | |
December 26, 2012 – January 3, 2013 | Brian Schatz | Hawaii | Democratic | 40 | |
January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2015 | Chris Murphy | Connecticut | Democratic | 39–41 | |
January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2019 | Tom Cotton | Arkansas | Republican | 37–41 | |
January 3, 2019 – present | Josh Hawley | Missouri | Republican | 39–40 |
List of youngest members of the U.S. House of Representatives
Time as youngest member[6] | Congress(es) | Name | State-District | Party | Age[7] | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
March 4, 1789 – April 19, 1790 | 1st | Richard Bland Lee | Virginia 4 | Pro-Administration | 28–29 | |
April 19, 1790 – March 3, 1793 | 1st – 2nd | John Steele | North Carolina 4 North Carolina 1[8] |
Pro-Administration | 25–28 | |
March 4, 1793 – March 3, 1795 | 3rd | Francis Preston | Virginia 4 | Anti-Administration | 27–29 | |
March 4, 1795 – May 5, 1796 | 4th | Nathaniel Freeman Jr. | Massachusetts 5 | Federalist | 28–30 | |
May 5, 1796 – March 3, 1797 | 4th | Richard Sprigg Jr. | Maryland 2 | Democratic-Republican | 27–28 (est) | |
March 4, 1797 – November 23, 1797 | 5th | John Dennis | Maryland 8 | Federalist | 25 | |
November 23, 1797 – March 3, 1801 | 5th – 6th | William C. C. Claiborne[9] | Tennessee's at-large | Democratic-Republican | 22–28 (est) | |
March 4, 1801 – December 6, 1802 | 7th | John Stanly | North Carolina 10 | Federalist | 26–28 | |
December 6, 1802 – March 3, 1803 | 7th | Samuel Thatcher | Massachusetts 12 | Federalist | 26 | |
March 4, 1803 – December 1, 1806[10] | 8th – 9th | John G. Jackson | Virginia 1 | Democratic-Republican | 25–29 | |
March 4, 1805 – December 1, 1806[10] | 9th | John Claiborne | Virginia 17 | Democratic-Republican | 28–29 (est) | |
December 12, 1805 – December 1, 1806[10] | 9th | Benjamin Parke | Indiana Territory at-large[11] | Federalist | 28–29 | |
December 1, 1806 – January 26, 1807 | 9th | William A. Burwell | Virginia 13 | Democratic-Republican | 26 | |
January 26, 1807 – March 3, 1807 | 9th | William Wyatt Bibb[12][13] | Georgia's at-large | Democratic-Republican | 25 | |
March 4, 1807 – March 3, 1809 | 10th | Jesse Wharton[13][14] | Tennessee 3 | Democratic-Republican | 24–26 | |
March 4, 1809 – November 27, 1809 | 11th | William Wyatt Bibb[12][13] | Georgia's at-large | Democratic-Republican | 27–28 | |
November 27, 1809 – March 3, 1811[15] | 11th | Jonathan Jennings | Indiana Territory at-large[11] | Democratic-Republican | 25–27 (est) | |
December 13, 1810 – March 3, 1811[15] | 11th | William T. Barry[13] | Kentucky 5 | Democratic-Republican | 26–27 | |
March 4, 1811 – November 4, 1811 | 12th | William R. King[16] | North Carolina 5 | Democratic-Republican | 24–25 | |
November 4, 1811 – March 3, 1815 | 12th – 13th | Stevenson Archer | Maryland 6 | Democratic-Republican | 25–28 | |
March 4, 1815 – December 17, 1816 | 14th | Richard Henry Wilde | Georgia's at-large | Democratic-Republican | 25–27 | |
December 17, 1816 – March 3, 1817 | 14th | John Tyler | Virginia 23 | Democratic-Republican | 26 | |
March 4, 1817 – December 4, 1818 | 15th | George Robertson | Kentucky 7 | Democratic-Republican | 26–28 | |
December 4, 1818 – March 3, 1819 | 15th | John McLean | Illinois's at-large | Democratic-Republican | 27–28 | |
March 4, 1819 – March 3, 1823[17] | 16th – 17th | Daniel Pope Cook | Illinois's at-large | Democratic-Republican | 25–29 (est) | |
December 4, 1822 – March 3, 1823[17] | 17th | Andrew R. Govan | South Carolina 4 | Democratic-Republican | 28–29 | |
March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825 | 18th | Thomas Patrick Moore | Kentucky 7 | Jacksonian Republican | 26–28 (est) | |
March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1827 | 19th | John Heritage Bryan | North Carolina 4 | Jacksonian | 26–28 | |
March 4, 1827 – February 13, 1828 | 20th | William Thompson Nuckolls | South Carolina 7 | Jacksonian | 26 | |
February 13, 1828 – March 3, 1829 | 20th | Ambrose Hundley Sevier[13] | Arkansas Territory at-large[18] | Jacksonian | 26–27 | |
March 4, 1829 – March 3, 1831[19] | 21st | Dixon Hall Lewis | Alabama 3 | Jacksonian | 26–28 | |
Spencer Darwin Pettis | Missouri's at-large | Jacksonian | 27–29 (est) | |||
March 4, 1831 – March 3, 1833 | 22nd | Albert Gallatin Hawes | Kentucky 11 | Jacksonian | 26–28 | |
March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1835 | 23rd | David W. Dickinson[20] | Tennessee 8 | Jacksonian | 24–26 | |
March 4, 1835 – March 3, 1837 | 24th | John F. H. Claiborne | Mississippi's at-large | Jacksonian | 25–27 | |
March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1839 | 25th | Joseph Lanier Williams | Tennessee 3 | Whig | 26–28 | |
March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1841 | 26th | Albert Gallatin Brown | Mississippi's at-large | Democratic | 25–27 | |
March 4, 1841 – March 3, 1843 | 27th | John Thomson Mason Jr. | Maryland 6 | Democratic | 25–27 | |
March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1845 | 28th | Alexander Ramsey | Pennsylvania 14 | Whig | 27–29 | |
March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1847 | 29th | Lucien Bonaparte Chase | Tennessee 9 | Democratic | 27–29 | |
March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1849 | 30th | Richard Spaight Donnell | North Carolina 8 | Whig | 26–28 | |
March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1851 | 31st | James Lawrence Orr | South Carolina 2 | Democratic | 26–28 | |
March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1853 | 32nd | William Montgomery Churchwell | Tennessee 3 | Democratic | 25–27 | |
March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1855 | 33rd | Milton Slocum Latham[13] | California's at-large | Democratic | 25–27 | |
March 4, 1855 – July 23, 1856 | 34th | William Cumback | Indiana 4 | People's | 25–27 | |
July 23, 1856 – March 3, 1857 | 34th | Miguel Antonio Otero[21] | New Mexico Territory at-large[22] | Democratic | 27 | |
March 4, 1857 – December 3, 1860 | 35th – 36th | Albert Gallatin Jenkins[23] | Virginia 11 | Democratic | 26–30 | |
December 3, 1860 – March 3, 1861 | 36th | John Young Brown[23] | Kentucky 5 | Democratic | 25 | |
March 4, 1861 – January 13, 1862 | 37th | Edward McPherson | Pennsylvania 17 | Republican | 30–31 | |
January 13, 1862 – March 3, 1863 | 37th | Andrew Jackson Clements | Tennessee 4 | Unionist | 29–30 | |
March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1865 | 38th | John Rogers McBride | Oregon's at-large | Republican | 30–32 | |
March 3, 1865 – March 3, 1867 | 39th | Thomas Estes Noell[24] | Missouri 3 | Republican | 25–27 | |
March 4, 1867 – October 3, 1867 | 40th | Thomas Estes Noell[25] | Missouri 3 | Democratic | 27–28 | |
October 3, 1867 – June 24, 1868 | 40th | Charles Haight | New Jersey 2 | Democratic | 29–30 | |
June 24, 1868 – March 3, 1869 | 40th | Logan Holt Roots | Arkansas 1 | Republican | 27 | |
March 4, 1869 – March 31, 1870 | 41st | Clinton Levering Cobb | North Carolina 1 | Republican | 26–27 | |
March 31, 1870 – March 3, 1871 | 41st | John Coggswell Conner | Texas 2 | Democratic | 27–28 | |
March 4, 1871 – January 29, 1873 | 42nd | Josiah Thomas Walls[26] | Florida's at-large | Republican | 28–30 | |
January 29, 1873 – March 3, 1873 | 42nd | John Coggswell Conner | Texas 2 | Democratic | 30 | |
March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875 | 43rd | John Ambler Smith | Virginia 3 | Republican | 25–27 | |
March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1877 | 44th | John Daugherty White | Kentucky 9 | Republican | 26–28 | |
March 4, 1877 – February 20, 1878 | 45th | John Edward Kenna[13] | West Virginia 3 | Democratic | 28–29 | |
February 20, 1878 – March 3, 1879 | 45th | Joseph Hayes Acklen | Louisiana 3 | Democratic | 27–28 | |
March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1881 | 46th | Richard Graham Frost | Missouri 3 | Democratic | 27–29 | |
March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1883 | 47th | Philip Henry Dugro | New York 7 | Democratic | 25–27 | |
March 4, 1883 – December 1, 1884 | 48th | George Adams Post | Pennsylvania 15 | Democratic | 28–30 | |
December 1, 1884 – March 3, 1885 | 48th | Benjamin Franklin Shively[27] | Indiana 13 | Anti-Monopolist/Greenbacker | 27 | |
March 4, 1885 – February 2, 1887 | 49th | Robert Marion La Follette Sr. | Wisconsin 3 | Republican | 29–31 | |
February 2, 1887 – March 3, 1887 | 49th | Hugh Hiram Price | Wisconsin 8 | Republican | 27 | |
March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1889 | 50th | Benjamin Franklin Shively[27] | Indiana 13 | Democratic | 29–31 | |
March 4, 1889 – December 9, 1889 | 51st | Thomas Francis Magner | New York 5 | Democratic | 28–29 | |
December 9, 1889 – March 3, 1891 | 51st | Charles Henry Turner | New York 6 | Democratic | 28–29 | |
March 4, 1891 – May 5, 1892 | 52nd | Joseph Weldon Bailey[13] | Texas 5 | Democratic | 28–29 | |
May 5, 1892 – March 3, 1893 | 52nd | Joseph Morgan Kendall | Kentucky 10 | Democratic | 28–29 | |
March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1895 | 53rd | Thomas Settle III | North Carolina 5 | Republican | 27–29 | |
March 4, 1895 – December 19, 1896 | 54th | Norman Adolphus Mozley | Missouri 14 | Republican | 29–31 | |
December 19, 1896 – March 3, 1897 | 54th | Charles Robert Crisp | Georgia 3 | Democratic | 26 | |
March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1899 | 55th | Thomas Joseph Bradley | New York 9 | Democratic | 27–29 | |
March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1901 | 56th | John Joseph Fitzgerald | New York 2 | Democratic | 26–28 | |
March 4, 1901 – March 3, 1903 | 57th | John Joseph Feely | Illinois 2 | Democratic | 25–27 | |
March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1905 | 58th | Burton Lee French | Idaho's at-large | Republican | 27–29 | |
March 4, 1905 – March 3, 1907 | 59th | Anthony Michalek | Illinois 5 | Republican | 27–29 | |
March 4, 1907 – March 3, 1909 | 60th | Harry Benjamin Wolf | Maryland 3 | Democratic | 26–28 | |
March 4, 1909 – November 23, 1909 | 61st | Charles Gordon Edwards | Georgia 1 | Democratic | 30–31 | |
November 23, 1909 – March 3, 1911 | 61st | Manuel L. Quezon | Philippines Territory at-large[28] | Nacionalista | 31–32 | |
March 4, 1911 – June 2, 1911 | 62nd | James Francis Byrnes | South Carolina 2 | Democratic | 28–29 | |
June 2, 1911 – March 3, 1913 | 62nd | William Stuart Reyburn | Pennsylvania 2 | Republican | 28–30 | |
March 4, 1913 – December 7, 1914 | 63rd | M. Clyde Kelly | Pennsylvania 30 | Republican | 29–31 | |
December 7, 1914 – March 3, 1915 | 63rd | Carl Vinson | Georgia 10 | Democratic | 31 | |
March 4, 1915 – March 3, 1917 | 64th | Thomas Woodnutt Miller | Delaware's at-large | Republican | 28–30 | |
March 4, 1917 – August 10, 1917 | 65th | J. Marvin Jones | Texas 13 | Democratic | 31 | |
August 10, 1917 – August 19, 1919 | 65th – 66th | John Miller Baer[29] | North Dakota 1 | Republican | 31–33 | |
August 19, 1919 – December 6, 1920 | 66th | King Swope | Kentucky 8 | Republican | 26–27 | |
December 6, 1920 – March 3, 1921 | 66th | Clarence John McLeod | Michigan 13 | Republican | 25 | |
March 4, 1921 – March 3, 1923 | 67th | Thomas Jefferson Ryan | New York 15 | Republican | 30–32 | |
March 4, 1923 – March 3, 1925 | 68th | Clarence John McLeod | Michigan 13 | Republican | 27–29 | |
March 4, 1925 – March 3, 1927 | 69th | Samuel James Montgomery | Oklahoma 1 | Republican | 28–30 | |
March 4, 1927 – March 3, 1929 | 70th | George Hamilton Combs Jr. | Missouri 5 | Democratic | 27–29 | |
March 4, 1929 – March 7, 1932 | 71st – 72nd | Fred Allan Hartley Jr. | New Jersey 8 | Republican | 27–30 | |
March 7, 1932 – March 3, 1933 | 72nd | W. Carlton Mobley | Georgia 6 | Democratic | 25–26 | |
March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1935 | 73rd | Joseph Patrick Monaghan | Montana 1 | Democratic | 26–28 | |
January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1937 | 74th | Elmer James Ryan | Minnesota 2 | Democratic | 27–29 | |
January 3, 1937 – January 3, 1939 | 75th | Jerry Joseph O'Connell | Montana 1 | Democratic | 27–29 | |
January 3, 1939 – January 3, 1941 | 76th | Lindley Garrison Beckworth Sr. | Texas 3 | Democratic | 25–27 | |
January 3, 1941 – January 3, 1943 | 77th | William Grant Stratton | Illinois's at-large | Republican | 26–28 | |
January 3, 1943 – January 21, 1943 | 78th | Lindley Garrison Beckworth Sr. | Texas 3 | Democratic | 29 | |
January 21, 1943 – January 3, 1947 | 78th – 79th | Marion Tinsley Bennett | Missouri 6 | Republican | 28–32 | |
January 3, 1947 – December 4, 1948 | 80th | George William Sarbacher Jr. | Pennsylvania 5 | Republican | 27–29 | |
December 4, 1948 – January 3, 1949 | 80th | Lloyd Bentsen[30] | Texas 15 | Democratic | 27 | |
January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1951 | 81st | Hugo Sheridan Sims Jr. | South Carolina 2 | Democratic | 27–29 | |
January 3, 1951 – January 3, 1953 | 82nd | Patrick Jerome Hillings | California 12 | Republican | 27–29 | |
January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1955 | 83rd | William Creed Wampler Sr. | Virginia 9 | Republican | 26–28 | |
January 3, 1955 – December 13, 1955 | 84th | Kenneth James Gray | Illinois 25 | Democratic | 30–31 | |
December 13, 1955 – January 3, 1959 | 84th – 85th | John David Dingell Jr.[31] | Michigan 15 | Democratic | 29–32 | |
January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1961 | 86th | Dan Rostenkowski | Illinois 8 | Democratic | 31–33 | |
January 3, 1961 – January 3, 1963 | 87th | Ralph R. Harding | Idaho 2 | Democratic | 31–33 | |
January 3, 1963 – May 12, 1964 | 88th | Ed Foreman | Texas 16 | Republican | 29–30 | |
May 12, 1964 – January 3, 1965 | 88th | William J. Green III | Pennsylvania 5 | Democratic | 25–26 | |
January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1967 | 89th | Jed Joseph Johnson Jr. | Oklahoma 6 | Democratic | 25–27 | |
January 3, 1967 – April 3, 1969 | 90th – 91st | William J. Green III | Pennsylvania 5 | Democratic | 28–30 | |
April 3, 1969 – November 16, 1970 | 91st | David R. Obey | Wisconsin 7 | Democratic | 30–32 | |
November 16, 1970 – January 3, 1971 | 91st | Robert Hampton Steele | Connecticut 2 | Republican | 32 | |
January 3, 1971 – April 29, 1971 | 92nd | M. Dawson Mathis | Georgia 2 | Democratic | 30 | |
April 29, 1971 – October 12, 1972 | 92nd | Mendel Jackson Davis | South Carolina 1 | Democratic | 28–29 | |
October 12, 1972 – January 3, 1975 | 92nd – 93rd | John B. Breaux | Louisiana 7 | Democratic | 28–30 | |
January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1977 | 94th | Thomas Joseph Downey | New York 2 | Democratic | 25–27 | |
January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1979 | 95th | Nick Joe Rahall II | West Virginia 4 | Democratic | 27–29 | |
January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1981 | 96th | James Michael Shannon | Massachusetts 5 | Democratic | 26–28 | |
January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1983 | 97th | John LeBoutillier | New York 6 | Republican | 27–29 | |
January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1985[32] | 98th | Jim Cooper | Tennessee 4 | Democratic | 28–30 | |
November 6, 1984 – January 3, 1985 | 98th | Carl C. Perkins[32] | Kentucky 7 | Democratic | 30 | |
January 3, 1985 – March 20, 1990 | 99th – 101st | John G. Rowland[33] | Connecticut 5 | Republican | 27–32 | |
March 20, 1990 – January 3, 1991 | 101st | Susan Molinari[34] | New York 14 | Republican | 31–32 | |
January 3, 1991 – January 3, 1993 | 102nd | Jim Nussle | Iowa 2 | Republican | 30–32 | |
January 3, 1993 – January 3, 1995 | 103rd | Cleo Fields | Louisiana 4 | Democratic | 30–32 | |
January 3, 1995 – January 3, 1997 | 104th | Patrick Kennedy | Rhode Island 1 | Democratic | 27–29 | |
January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2001 | 105th – 106th | Harold Ford Jr. | Tennessee 9 | Democratic | 26–30 | |
January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2005 | 107th – 108th | Adam Putnam | Florida 12 | Republican | 26–30 | |
January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2009 | 109th – 110th | Patrick T. McHenry | North Carolina 10 | Republican | 29–33 | |
January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2013 | 111th – 112th | Aaron Schock | Illinois 18 | Republican | 27–31 | |
January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2015 | 113th | Patrick Murphy | Florida 18 | Democratic | 29–31 | |
January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2019 | 114th – 115th | Elise Stefanik[35] | New York 21 | Republican | 30–34 | |
January 3, 2019 – present | 116th | Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez[36] | New York 14 | Democratic | 29–30 | |
Notes
- Some of the starting dates reflect the actual date of the swearing-in of U.S. Senator (if appointed by the Governor to a vacancy or if by special elections) as opposed to the date of their elections, which can often vary from anywhere from days to months. If elected to a regular session, note that from 1789 until 1935, the starting date will reflect March 4 (through to March 3 for a two-year Congress). Starting with 1937, Congress convened on January 3.
- Some resources regard Gallatin only as a Senator-elect because of the challenge to his credentials, hence John Rutherfurd (F-NJ) could be considered the youngest official senator during this period. Gallatin was ultimately disqualified from service.
- Sen. Josiah Tattnall's (Democratic-Republican, Georgia) precise birthdate in 1762 is unknown. Since both he and James Ross (F-PA) were born the same year, credited both with the designation for youngest for the period from the swearing-in of Tattnall in April 1796 until the swearing-in of Richard Stockton (F-NJ) in December 1796, who was younger than both.
- Sen. Henry Clay (Democratic-Republican, Kentucky) elected and served in the U.S. Senate while under the Constitutional age requirement of 30 at the age of 29 years.
- Sen. John Pope's (Democratic-Republican, Kentucky) precise birthdate in 1770 is unknown. Since both he and Samuel White (F-DE) were born the same year, credited both with the designation for youngest for the period from the resignation of James Fenner (Democratic-Republican, Rhode Island) in September 1807 until the swearing-in of William H. Crawford (Democratic-Republican, Georgia) in December 1809, who was younger than both.
- Sen. Jenkin Whiteside's (Democratic-Republican, Tennessee) precise birthdate in 1772 is unknown. Since both he and William H. Crawford (Democratic-Republican, Georgia) were born the same year, credited both with the designation for youngest for the period from the swearing-in of Whiteside in 1809 until the swearing-in of Alexander Campbell (Democratic-Republican, Ohio) in 1810, who was younger than both.
- Sen. William Bulloch's (Democratic-Republican, Georgia) precise birthdate in 1777 is unknown. Since both he and Outerbridge Horsey (F-DE) were born the same year, credited both with the designation for youngest for the 3 days from Bulloch's swearing-in until the swearing-in of Robert H. Goldsborough (F-MD), who was younger than both.
- William Wyatt Bibb was the first person to be both the youngest member of the U.S. House and the youngest senator.
- Also held title of youngest member of the U.S. House.
- Sen. Armistead Mason (Democratic-Republican, Virginia) elected and served in the U.S. Senate while under the Constitutional age requirement of 30 at the age of 28 years, 5 months.
- Sen. John Eaton (Democratic-Republican, Tennessee) elected and served in the U.S. Senate while under the Constitutional age requirement of 30. At 28 years, 4 months, he was the youngest ever to serve in that body.
- Sen. Blanche K. Bruce became the first non-White youngest senator.
- Senators Albert J. Beveridge (Republican, Indiana) and Joseph W. Bailey Sr. (Democrat, Texas) were both born on October 6, 1862.
- Sen. William James Bryan was the youngest U.S. Senator to die in office at the age of 31.
- Sen. Rush Holt Sr. was the youngest popularly elected Senator at 29 years and 4 months in November 1934. He was not permitted to take the oath of office until after his 30th birthday in June 1935.
- Russell Long served the longest uninterrupted tenure as the youngest U.S. Senator at 8 years and 3 days. He was surpassed by Don Nickles (Republican, Oklahoma) in overall time, but Nickles's tenure was interrupted.
- Still living as of 2019.
- Joe Biden was elected at the age of 29 years, 11 months, but turned 30 before the start of his term.
- Don Nickles served the longest period as the youngest senator at 10 years, 4 months, 3 days, though this combined tenure was interrupted by David Karnes (Republican, Nevada), who was six days younger, from 1987 to 1988. Russell Long served the longest period uninterrupted at 8 years and 3 days.
- Sen. Mark Pryor set the record as the oldest youngest Senator in the body's history at 46 years until the swearing-in of Michael Bennet (Democrat, Colorado) in January 2009.
- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand became the first female youngest senator.
References
- Steinhauer, Jennifer (2010-11-11). "Many Political Newcomers Joining Congress". New York Times. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
- O'Connor, Ema (November 7, 2018). "An Unprecedented Number Of Women Just Won Elections Across The Country". BuzzFeed.
- Republican Josh Hawley unseats Democratic McCaskill in U.S. Senate battle. Fox News.
- Palmer, Brian (January 2, 2013). "Democracy or Gerontocracy: Is Congress getting older?". Slate.
- "Youngest Senator". United States Senate.
- Some of the starting dates reflect the actual date of the swearing-in of the U.S. Congressmember (if due to a special election) as opposed to the date of their elections, which can often vary from anywhere from days to months. If elected to a regular session, note that from 1789 until 1935, the starting date will reflect March 4th (through to March 3rd for a 2-year Congress). Starting with 1937, Congress convened on January 3rd.
- Until about the 34th Congress and rarely after, some members did not have birthyears or birthdates listed, so attempted to ascertain approximate age with available biographical descriptions, though some were very limited. If more than one member had a birthyear but not birthdate listed, credited both with being youngest during a given period until the next confirmed younger member was sworn-in.
- John Steele was elected to the NC 4th district for the 2nd Congress.
- William C.C. Claiborne was the youngest-ever elected and seated member of Congress at approximately the age of 22, despite being below the Constitutional age requirement.
- During part of the 9th Congress, credited Congressmen John G. Jackson, John Claiborne and U.S. Delegate Benjamin Parke with sharing the title of youngest member. Jackson & Parke were born on the same day, but Claiborne had no birthdate listed, but all were born in 1777. They lost the title upon the swearing-in of William Burwell in the same Congress.
- Indiana was not yet a state and this member was a non-voting U.S. Delegate.
- William Wyatt Bibb was the first person to be the youngest member of both the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate.
- Also held title of youngest member of the U.S. Senate.
- Although Wharton was 24 at the time of the official start of the 10th Congress in March 1807, it did not convene until October 1807 after he turned 25.
- U.S. Delegate Jonathan Jennings and Congressman William T. Barry were both born in 1784, but because of unknown birthdate for Jennings, credited both with youngest during part of the 11th Congress.
- Although King was 24 at the time of the official start of the 12th Congress in March 1811, it did not convene until November 1811 after he turned 25.
- During part of the 17th Congress, credited Congressmen Daniel P. Cook and Andrew R. Govan with sharing the title of youngest member. Both were born in 1794, but birthdate for Cook was unknown, so credited both.
- Arkansas was not yet a state and Sevier was a non-voting U.S. Delegate.
- Congressman Dixon Lewis and Spencer Pettis were both born in 1802, but unknown birthdate for Pettis, so credited both with youngest for the 21st Congress.
- Although Dickinson was 24 at the time of the official start of the 23rd Congress in March 1833, it did not convene until November 1833 after he turned 25.
- Otero was the first Hispanic youngest member of the U.S. House.
- New Mexico was not yet a state and Otero was a non-voting U.S. Delegate.
- Although John Young Brown was elected at the start of the 36th Congress, being just 24 at the time of the election, he was not permitted to take his seat until the second session in December 1860 after his 25th birthday, so Albert G. Jenkins retained the title of youngest until Brown's swearing-in.
- Thomas Noell was elected as a Republican to the 39th Congress and reelected to the 40th Congress as a Democrat.
- Thomas Noell was the youngest known member of Congress to die in office at 28 while holding the youngest title.
- Josiah Walls was the first Black youngest member of the U.S. House.
- Benjamin F. Shively was elected to a vacancy in the 48th Congress as an Anti-Monopolist/Greenbacker-supported candidate. He was elected to the 50th Congress as a Democrat.
- As the Philippines was a territory of the U.S., Resident Commissioner Manuel L. Quezon was a non-voting member of Congress.
- Rep. John M. Baer was the oldest youngest member of the U.S. House at the age of 33 years and 133 days at the time he was succeeded in August 1919. This record would be broken by Elise Stefanik in 2017. Baer retains the record of oldest male to be a youngest member.
- Lloyd Bentsen served the shortest period as the youngest member of the U.S. House at just 31 days.
- From 1995–2015, John Dingell Jr. was the Dean of the U.S. House, and in Feb. 2009 became the longest-serving member of the House in history.
- Carl C. Perkins (Democrat, Kentucky) was elected to Congress to fill a vacancy on November 6, 1984, and was younger than titleholder Jim Cooper (Democrat, Tennessee), but owing to the 98th Congress having adjourned sine die, he was not sworn-in until the 99th Congress, by which time John Rowland (Republican, Connecticut), who was younger than Perkins, claimed the title. Credited Cooper until the end of the 99th Congress as an official Congressman, as opposed to a Congressman-elect, but noted Perkins due to the unusual circumstances.
- John Rowland served the longest period as the youngest member of the U.S. House at 5 years, 2 months.
- Susan Molinari was the first woman to hold the title of youngest member of the U.S. House.
- Rep. Elise Stefanik became the oldest youngest member of the U.S. House on November 13, 2017 at the age of 33 years and 134 days, breaking the 98-year record of Rep. John M. Baer. She was 34 years and 185 days old when succeeded in the position of youngest member on January 3, 2019.
- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez is the youngest woman ever elected to Congress and the first Hispanic female to hold the title of youngest member.
Sources: Congressional Biographical Directory and House Document No. 108-222, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress 1774 – 2005