Pew Research: The 119th Congress Marks a Generational Shift with Fewer Boomers and More Gen Xers
As the 119th U.S. Congress convenes, a significant generational shift is unfolding on Capitol Hill. While the median age of the House of Representatives has slightly decreased, the Senate's median age has remained relatively high. Notably, Baby Boomers (born 1946–1964) are no longer the dominant generation in the House, as Generation X (born 1965–1980) now leads the chamber. This demographic change is accompanied by an increase in Millennials (born 1981–1996) and a growing sense of diversity in both age and background among lawmakers.
Key Age Trends in the 119th Congress
House of Representatives:
Median Age: The median age of voting members in the House of Representatives has decreased slightly to 57.5 years, down from 57.9 years in the previous Congress. This marks a modest, but significant, shift towards younger representation in the House.
New Members: Of the 61 new House members sworn in, the vast majority are younger than the chamber’s median age, with a median age of 50.2 for first-time representatives. This is a notable increase from the 46.3 median age of new members in the 118th Congress.
Generational Breakdown: A large portion of these newcomers—30 are in their 30s and 40s. Among them, Brandon Gill, a Republican from Texas, stands out as the youngest at 31 years old. The oldest freshman members are in their early 70s, including George Latimer and Sylvester Turner.
Republican vs. Democrat: New Republican representatives tend to be slightly older than their Democratic counterparts, with a median age of 51.7 compared to 50.2 for Democrats. However, the overall median age in the House remains nearly identical between Republicans (57.5) and Democrats (57.6).
U.S. Senate:
Median Age: The median age of senators has dipped slightly to 64.7 years, down from 65.3 in the 118th Congress. The Senate had seen a gradual increase in median age over previous sessions, so this shift represents a reversal of that trend.
New Senators: As of January 3, 2025, 11 new senators have joined the chamber, with a median age of 53.9, which is notably younger than the Senate’s overall median. These new members include four senators in their 40s, and one—Tim Sheehy of Montana—is in his 30s. Jim Justice, the governor of West Virginia, joined the Senate later in the month at the age of 73 as the oldest freshman member.
Generational Composition of Congress
House of Representatives:
Generation X Takes the Lead: For the first time, Generation X has become the largest generational group in the House, with 180 members (41% of the chamber). This marks a shift from the dominance of Baby Boomers, who still represent 39% of the House with 170 members. Additionally, there are 66 Millennials (15%) and 17 Silent Generation members (4%).
New Generational Trends: Of the 61 first-time representatives, 35 are from Gen X, while 19 are Millennials, and 7 are Boomers.
Party Breakdown: Republicans outnumber Democrats in both the Boomer and Gen X categories, but Millennials are almost evenly split between the two parties.
U.S. Senate:
Baby Boomers Hold the Majority: Despite the generational shift in the House, Baby Boomers still make up the majority in the Senate, comprising 60 out of 99 senators. The Senate remains heavily skewed toward older generations, with 28 Gen Xers, 6 members of the Silent Generation, and 5 Millennials.
New Senate Members: Among the 11 new senators, 6 are from Gen X, 3 are Baby Boomers, and 2 are Millennials.
The Changing Face of Congress: More Youth and Diversity
The generational shift in Congress is more than just a matter of age—it’s also indicative of broader changes in the demographic and political landscape of the nation’s legislature.
The younger generations also align with an increase in racial and ethnic diversity within Congress. As older, predominantly white lawmakers give way to younger, more diverse voices, the 119th Congress reflects the evolving face of America.
The Decline of Veterans in Congress
One notable side effect of this generational shift is the declining number of veterans in Congress. Many members of the Baby Boomer and Silent Generations were shaped by military service during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, but younger generations have fewer military veterans among their ranks.
Conclusion: A Younger, More Diverse Congress
As the 119th Congress gets underway, it’s clear that age and generational makeup are evolving on Capitol Hill. With more Gen Xers and Millennials, and fewer Baby Boomers, the composition of the House and Senate is starting to look more like the country it represents. These changes are likely to have lasting effects on policymaking, as younger generations bring new ideas and priorities to the forefront of American politics.