27 people have served more than 40 years in the House, including two who began their 41st year of service as the 117th Congress began: Hal Rogers (R-KY) and Chris Smith (R-NJ)
First elected in 1980, Rogers and Smith are tied for second in House seniority behind “Dean of the House” Don Young (R-AK), who’s nearing 48 years of House service.
Young is 87. Rogers is 83. Smith, first elected at 27 in 1980, is just 67 (younger than almost 100 House members in the 117th Congress including NJ colleague Jeff Van Drew, who’s 9 days older).
Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) reaches the 40-year mark on May 19. On that date in 1981, Hoyer won a special election to succeed Gladys Spellman.
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