More U.S. Senators in their seventh term chose to seek reelection than to retire

Kentucky U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell announced last week that he would not seek an eighth term in the chamber next year, ending many months of speculation as to his potential retirement plans.

The Republican Party bench is a lot deeper in Kentucky than when McConnell was first elected in 1984 and, with one exception, the state’s senior senator has cruised to GOP renomination victories each cycle. [In 2014, McConnell won only 60.2 percent against businessman Matt Bevin in a five-candidate primary – the worst showing in a primary by any Kentucky U.S. Senator since Democrat Alben Barkley in 1938 (56.1 percent).

The open U.S. Senate seat is just the third in Kentucky since the 1974 cycle (following the retirements of Democrat Wendell Ford in 1998 and Republican Jim Bunning in 2010).

McConnell’s decision places him in a slight minority among U.S. Senators who served into their seventh term.

Of the 18 to accomplish this feat – six (including McConnell, should he serve until January 3, 2027) retired at the end of their seventh term. The other five are:

  • Arizona Democrat Carl Hayden (1927-1969)
  • Mississippi Democrat John Stennis (1947-1989)
  • Louisiana Democrat Russell Long (1948-1987)
  • South Carolina Democrat Fritz Hollings (1966-2005)
  • Utah Republican Orrin Hatch (1977-2019)

A plurality of seven, however, chose to seek an eighth term:

  • South Carolina Democrat-turned-Republican Strom Thurmond in 1996 (won)
  • West Virginia Democrat Robert Byrd in 2000 (won)
  • Massachusetts Democrat Ted Kennedy in 2000 (won)
  • Hawaii Democrat Dan Inouye in 2004 (won)
  • Alaska Republican Ted Stevens in 2006 (lost)
  • Vermont Democrat Patrick Leahy in 2016 (won)
  • Iowa Republican Chuck Grassley in 2024 (won)

Meanwhile, three U.S. Senators resigned in the midst of their seventh term:

  • Virginia Democrat Harry Byrd, Sr. (1933-1965; resigned due to declining health)
  • Delaware Democrat Joe Biden (1973-2009; elected vice-president)
  • Mississippi Republican Thad Cochran (1978-2018; declining health)

Finally, two members of the seven-term club died in office:

  • Wyoming Republican Francis Warren in 1929 (having served in seven non-consecutive terms: 1890-1893, 1895-1929)
  • Georgia Democrat Richard Russell in 1971

Washington Democrat Patty Murray and Oregon Democrat Ron Wyden could also join the seven-timers club if reelected in 2026.

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Posted in Kentucky, U.S. Senate and tagged ,

2 Comments

  1. Geoff Gamble on February 25, 2025 at 8:55 am

    – “AK…in 2006 (lost)”. {he lost in *2008* – which was/is his second loss in a general election}
    “WA Democrat…in 2026”. {Their seats are next up in *2028*.}

    Proofreading one’s own written work is always desired, though not 100% fool-proof indeed.

    – William Thad Cochran was an EIGHT-term US senator; he began his service by finishing out the unexpired term of J Eastland via “appointment”.

    Reply
    • Connor Cobb on February 25, 2025 at 9:57 am

      Another error, Chuck Grassley was up in 2022 not 2024.

      Reply

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