# Congress faces historic turnover heading into 2026

> Nearly one in five lawmakers are leaving Congress, driven by retirements, defeats, and a push for generational change.
- Title: Congress faces historic turnover heading into 2026 · NPR
- Summary: Nearly one in five lawmakers are leaving Congress, driven by retirements, defeats, and a push for generational change. The 2026 midterm cycle is seeing…
- Keywords: 2026 midterms, congressional retirements, house of representatives, senate, primary elections, incumbents defeated, generational change, trump administration, redistricting, news, Congress, faces
- Source: NPR — https://npr.org/2026/09/16/nx-s1-5971264/congress-retirement-2026-house-senate-primary-defeat
- Published: 2026-09-16T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: 2026 midterms, congressional retirements, house of representatives, senate, primary elections, incumbents defeated, generational change, trump administration, redistricting, news
## Nearly one in five lawmakers leaving
Ninety-nine seats across the House and Senate will have new members next year due to retirements, resignations, and runs for other offices. That's almost one in five lawmakers from the start of 2025.
## Record early retirements reshape Congress
Thirteen senators and sixty House representatives announced retirements or runs for other offices, with announcements coming earlier than ever. The Trump administration's unpopularity and Democratic push for younger lawmakers drove the exodus.
## Pelosi and McConnell among those departing
Longtime leaders like California Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell announced retirements, alongside many politicians seeking state or local offices instead of staying in Washington.
## Ambitious lawmakers lose primary bids
More than thirty members of Congress ran for Senate, governor, or other offices, but just over half won their primaries. Many ambitious lawmakers failed to advance in their new races.
## Six lawmakers died during the cycle
Democratic Reps. Sylvester Turner, Raúl Grijalva, Gerry Connolly, and David Scott died, along with Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa and Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham.
## Trump-backed challengers topple incumbents
Thirteen incumbents lost primary races, including Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw and Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy. Trump-backed candidates won several of these contests, reshaping the Republican caucus.
## Democratic incumbents ousted by progressives
New York's Congressional Hispanic Caucus chair Adriano Espaillat and longtime Colorado Rep. Diana DeGette lost to younger, more progressive challengers in Democratic primaries.
## Redistricting created unexpected casualties
Redistricting changes aimed at eliminating Democratic seats had unintended consequences, including knocking off controversial Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles in his own primary.
## Key takeaway

The 2026 midterm cycle is seeing record departures from Congress, with 99 seats guaranteed to have new members and more losses likely in November's general election.