Politics
10 Oldest Women Currently in Congress (Updated 2025)
In 1916, Jeannette Rankin made history when she became the first woman to hold federal office in the United States. Rankin was a suffragist and fought for women’s rights. Serving as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Rankin paved the way for every woman who has served in Congress since then.
All the women on this list have had long careers as politicians and public servants. Many of them started out in education and went on to start political careers to make a difference in their local communities. These women range in age from their late 70s to late 80s and show women and girls everywhere that it’s never too late to go after what you want.
As of February 2023, this list is as accurate as possible and will be updated as needed.
10. Jan Schakowsky (May 26, 1944 – Present)
Current Age (as of February 2023): 78 years 8 months 27 daysChamber: House of Representatives
State: Illinois’s 9th District
Political Party: Democratic
Assumed Office: January 3, 1999
Jan Schakowsky has served as the Representative of Illinois’s 9th district since 1999. Schakowsky has been a politician since 1991 and previously served in the Illinois House of Representatives.
Before that, Schakowsky was Program Director of Illinois Public Action, Illinois’s largest public interest group, from 1976 to 1985. She then worked as the executive director of the Illinois State Council of Senior Citizens.
Did You Know?
Jan Schakowsky is the co-chair of the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues.9. Virginia Foxx (June 29, 1943 – Present)
Current Age (as of February 2023): 79 years, 7 months, 24 daysChamber: House of Representatives
State: North Carolina’s 5th District
Political Party: Republican
Assumed Office: January 3, 2005
Virginia Foxx has been a member of the U.S. House of Representatives since 2005. Foxx entered politics in 1995 when she served in the North Carolina Senate; she held this position until she was voted to Congress.
Before becoming a politician, Foxx worked as an instructor and university administrator at a few different colleges. Between 1987 – 1994, Foxx was president of Maryland Community College.
Did You Know?
Virginia Foxx served as the Chair of the House Committee on Education and Labor between 2017 – 2019; she was reinstated to this role in 2023 after Republicans won the House majority.8. Rosa DeLauro (March 2, 1943 – Present)
Current Age (as of February 2023): 79 years, 11 months, 20 daysChamber: House of Representatives
State: Connecticut’s 3rd District
Political Party: Democratic
Assumed Office: January 3, 1991
Rosa DeLauro has served in Congress for over 30 years and represents Connecticut’s 3rd
District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Before being elected to Congress, DeLauro worked as Senator Chris Dodd’s chief of staff and campaign manager, was the executive director of EMILY’s List, and coordinated the tri-state area campaign of 1988 Democratic presidential nominee Michael Dukakis.
DeLauro is part of the progressive wing of the House’s Democratic Party and is one of the founding members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
Did You Know?
In 2020, Rosa DeLauro was selected as the Chair of the House Appropriations Committee for the 117th Congress, succeeding Nita Lowey and becoming the second woman to hold the position.7. Kay Granger (January 18, 1943 – Present)
Current Age (as of February 2023): 80 years, 1 month, 4 daysChamber: House of Representatives
State: Texas’s 12th District
Political Party: Republican
Assumed Office: January 3, 1997
Kay Granger is a long-serving U.S. House of Representatives member from Texas’s 12th District. Granger was the first Republican woman to represent Texas in the House of Representatives and has since earned a reputation for her conservative politics.
Currently, Granger is the ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee and the Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference. Before entering politics, Granger was a teacher and the owner of a successful small business in her hometown of Fort Worth, Texas.
Did You Know?
In 1991, Kay Granger became the first female mayor of Fort Worth, Texas, and served two terms.6. Anna Eshoo (December 13, 1942 – Present)
Current Age (as of February 2023): 80 years, 2 months, 9 daysChamber: House of Representatives
State: California’s 18th District
Political Party: Democratic
Assumed Office: January 3, 1993
Anna Eshoo is the U.S. House Representative for California’s Silicon Valley area, a position she has held since 1993. Eshoo’s political career started in 1978 when she became the Chair of the San Mateo Democratic Party. She then went on to become a member of the Democratic National Committee.
After this, Eshoo was chief of staff to Speaker pro tempore Leo McCarthy of the California State Assembly. Eshoo first made a bid for the House of Representatives in 1988 but ended up losing.
Did You Know?
Anna Eshoo — of Assyrian and Armenian descent — is the only Assyrian American in Congress and is also one of only two congresswomen of Armenian descent, with Jackie Speier being the other.5. Frederica Wilson (November 5, 1942 – Present)
Current Age (as of February 2023): 80 years, 3 months, 17 daysChamber: House of Representatives
State: Florida’s 24th District
Political Party: Democratic
Assumed Office: January 3, 2011
Frederica Wilson has served Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2011. Before becoming a Congresswoman, Wilson was a member of Florida’s Senate and the state’s House of Representatives. Wilson was also a teacher, principal, and a member of the Miami-Dade County School Board.
As a Congresswoman, Wilson has fought to improve the quality of life for her constituency by creating jobs with dignity, improving education, stopping home foreclosures, safeguarding Medicare and Social Security, and strengthening ties with Haiti and the Caribbean.
Did You Know?
While working as an educator, Frederica Wilson founded the 5000 Role Models program, which seeks to bring down dropout rates.4. Nancy Pelosi (March 26, 1940 – Present)
Current Age (as of February 2023):82 years, 10 months, 27 daysChamber: House of Representatives
State: California’s 12th District
Political Party: Democratic
Assumed Office: June 2, 1987
Nancy Pelosi made history in 2007 when she became the first woman to ever serve as Speaker of the House, one of the most powerful positions in the U.S. government. Pelosi was Speaker for the first time from 2007 to 2011. When the Democrats won the majority in the House in the 2018 midterm elections, Pelosi was again appointed Speaker at the start of the next year.
Before becoming Speaker of the House, Pelosi served as House minority leader from 2003 – 2007 and again from 2011 – 2019. Pelosi was the first woman ever to lead a party in Congress.
Did You Know?
During her first time as Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi was instrumental in passing many landmark bills, including the Affordable Care Act, the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and the 2010 Tax Relief Act.3. Maxine Waters (August 15, 1938 – Present)
Current Age (as of February 2023): 84 years, 6 months, 7 daysChamber: House of Representatives
State: California’s 43rd District
Political Party: Democratic
Assumed Office: January 3, 1991
Maxine Waters is another long-serving Democratic member of the House of Representatives from California. Waters is the most senior member of the twelve Black women currently serving in Congress.
Beginning her political career in the 1970s, Waters has made a name for herself by being outspoken and critical of Republican presidents George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Donald Trump. Additionally, Waters has always advocated for women, children, people of color, and the poor.
Did You Know?
In 2019, Maxine Waters became the first woman and first African American Chair of the House Financial Services Committee.2. Grace Napolitano (December 4, 1936 – Present)
Current Age (as of February 2023): 86 years, 2 months, 18 daysChamber: House of Representatives
State: California’s 32nd District
Political Party: Democratic
Assumed Office: January 3, 1999
Grace Napolitano is another woman in her 80s who has been in Congress since the 1990s. Although Napolitano’s district has been redrawn a few times since she first assumed office in 1999, she has been able to win each of her reelection campaigns. Napolitano began her political career in 1986 when she became a member of the Norwalk City Council.
Over the years, Napolitano has been a part of many committees, including the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands; Subcommittee on Water and Power; Subcommittee on Highways and Transit; and many more.
Did You Know?
Grace Napolitano had previously worked for the Ford Motor Company and worked her way up, holding various positions in the company, and retired in 1992.1. Dianne Feinstein (June 22, 1933 – Present)
Current Age (as of February 2023): 89 years, 8 monthsChamber: Senate
State: California
Political Party: Democratic
Assumed Office: November 4, 1992
Dianne Feinstein is the oldest woman currently in Congress, at the age of 89. Feinstein has been the California Senator since 1992 and has worked for the government since the 1960s.
Before being elected to the Senate, Feinstein was Mayor of San Francisco from 1978 – 1988. She was the first woman ever to hold that position.
During the 1992 special election, Feinstein was on the same ballot as Barbara Boxer. Both women became California’s first female senators.
Feinstein recently announced that she would not run for reelection. She plans to finish her current term, which expires in 2025.
And here's the old guys.
10 Oldest Male Members of the Current U.S. House of Representatives (Updated 2025)
Additionally, everyone on this list has been serving for several decades due to winning consecutive reelections.
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9. John Carter (November 6, 1941 – Present)
Current Age (as of February 2023): 81 years, 3 months, 11 daysState: Texas’s 31st District
Party: Republican
Assumed Office: January 3, 2003
John Carter is the second-oldest Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives after Hal Rogers. Cater graduated with a history degree from Texas Tech University in 1964; he followed this up with a law degree the University of Texas School of Law in 1969.
After earning his law degree, Carter worked as the first general counsel to the Texas House of Representatives’ Agriculture Committee. He eventually a private law practice. In 1981, Carter was appointed as judge of the 277th District Court of Williamson County; he was reelected to this position four times.
Cater retired as a judge in 2001 and decided to run for Congress. He has served as the representative for Texas’s 31st district since 2003.
Did You Know?
John Carter is the ranking member on the Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies.8. Danny K. Davis (September 6, 1941 – Present)
Current Age (as of February 2023): 81 years, 5 months, 11 daysState: Illinois’s 7th District
Party: Democratic
Assumed Office: January 3, 1997
Danny Davis has represented the 7th district of Illinois since 1997 — this district covers most of western Chicago, including the Loop. After earning various degrees, Davis worked as a government clerk, a high school teacher, executive director of the Greater Lawndale Conservation Commission, director of training at the Martin L. King Neighborhood Health Center, and executive director of the Westside Health Center.
He first entered politics when he was elected to the Chicago City Council representing the 29th ward in 1979; he served in this role until 1990. Following his time on the Chicago City Council, Davis served on the Cook County Board of Commissioners between 1990 – 1997.
Did You Know?
Danny Davis has a reputation for taking several trips; he is the 15th most prolific traveler in Congress.7. Jim Clyburn (July 21, 1940 – Present)
Current Age (as of February 2023): 82 years, 6 months, 27 daysState: South Carolina’s 6th District
Party: Democratic
Assumed Office: January 3, 1993
Jim Clyburn has been the third-ranking Democrat behind Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer since 2007. Clyburn has served as Majority Whip since 2019 after Democrats regained control of the House of Representatives. He previously held this same position from 2007 – 2011. During Republican control of the House, Clyburn served as Assistant Minority Leader.
Before becoming a Congressman, Clyburn graduated from what is now South Carolina State University with a degree in history. After college, Clyburn taught at C.A. Brown High School in Charleston and first became involved in politics during the 1969 Charleston hospital strike.
Clyburn then served as the advisor to Governor John C. West and was eventually appointed as South Carolina’s human affairs commissioner, a position he held until he was elected to Congress.
Did You Know?
Since the departure of John Spratt in 2011, Jim Clyburn has been the only Democrat in South Carolina’s house delegation.Did You Know?
Under President Barack Obama’s administration, Nancy Pelosi was instrumental in passing many landmark bills, including the Affordable Care Act, the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and the 2010 Tax Relief Act.5. Steny Hoyer (June 14, 1939 – Present)
Current Age (as of February 2023): 83 years, 8 months, 3 daysState: Maryland’s 5th District
Party: Democratic
Assumed Office: May 19, 1981
Steny Hoyer is a the long-serving member of the U.S .House of Representatives, who was first elected in 1981. Hoyer is also the current House Majority Leader, a position he has held since 2019. He was previously House Majority Leader from 2007 to 2011. Additionally, Hoyer is the Dean of the Maryland Congressional delegation and the most senior Democrat in the House.
Hoyer has spent pretty much his entire adult life in politics. In the early 1960s, Hoyer was a member of the staff of United States Senator Daniel Brewster. He was then elected to the Maryland State Senate. In 1975 he became the President of the Maryland State Senate, the youngest person ever to hold that position in state history.
Did You Know?
Steny Hoyer was the lead sponsor of the the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), which was signed into law on July 26, 1990, and has helped millions of disabled Americans enter the workforce, achieve independence, and go as far as their talents take them.3. Hal Rogers (December 31, 1937 – Present)
Current Age (as of February 2023): 85 years, 1 months, 17 daysState: Kentucky’s 5th District
Party: Republican
Assumed Office: January 3, 1981
Hal Rogers has represented Kentucky’s 5th district since 1981, which amounts to 20 consecutive terms. Rogers is currently the Dean of the Kentucky congressional delegation. As a young man, Rogers received a law degree from the University of Kentucky of Lexington and went into private practice. He also served in the Kentucky and North Carolina Army National Guard.
As a lawyer, Rogers was elected serve as Commonwealth’s Attorney for Pulaski and Rockcastle counties in Kentucky, an office he held from 1969 until his election to Congress in 1980. From 2011 to 2016, Rogers served as the Chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee.
Did You Know?
Hal Rogers has been a member of the House Appropriations Committee for more than 30 years, and has served on eight different subcommittees, including leadership roles as Chairman or Ranking Member of three.2. Bill Pascrell (January 25, 1937 – Present)
Current Age (as of February 2023): 86 years, 23 daysState: New Jersey’s 9th District
Party: Democratic
Assumed Office: January 3, 1997
Bill Pascrell is another long-serving Congressman, who has been around since the 1990s. Hailing from Paterson, New Jersey, Pascrell is currently the representative of New Jersey’s 9th district. Before the redistricting after the 2010 Census, Pascrell represented the state’s 8th district.
Prior to joining the U.S. House of Representatives, Pascrell was a member of the New Jersey General Assembly, as well as mayor of Paterson. Before his political career, Pascrell was a high school teacher and eventually became a professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Pascrell was appointed to the Paterson Board of Education, and served as president of the board.
Did You Know?
Since 2007, Bill Pascrell has served on the powerful, tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, overseeing numerous economic issues including Social Security, taxes, Medicare, health policy, and international trade.
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