Chuck Grassley, 93, nonetheless does his job amid age considerations in Congress

Published On: September 18, 2026

Sept. 17, 2026Up to date Sept. 18, 2026, 9:00 a.m. ET

A brown-frosted, white piping-lined, red-lettered “Completely happy Birthday Senator Grassley” Dairy Queen ice cream cake is within the U.S. Capitol right this moment, as Congress’ oldest – Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley – celebrates his 93rd birthday from his Washington, D.C., workplace and Senate voting chambers.

The senator began his 93rd birthday with a two-mile stroll, which his workplace says he does each morning earlier than work. The senator was once a runner, however says he stopped that previously 4 years.

“Check out me. Do not I look fairly good?” Grassley advised USA TODAY when requested how he feels about his age and the remainder of his time period. He added: “I am 93 years previous. I acquired nice grandchildren older than you,” in a joking response to USA TODAY’s 23-year-old reporter.

Grassley’s milestone birthday comes amid Individuals’ rising concern in regards to the well being of elected officers and whereas most Individuals assist a most age restrict for members of Congress.

Apart from Grassley, there are different near-90-year-old members, together with Kentucky Rep. Hal Rogers at 88, Washington, D.C., Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton at 89, and others. Notably, 84-year-old Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, returned to Congress the week of Grassley’s 93rd birthday, after a hiatus from Congress that left Individuals speculating about McConnell’s well being and psychological acuity.

The common age of senators within the present 119th Congress session is 63.9, whereas the common age of members of the Home of Representatives is 57.9, based on knowledge revealed by Congress. The median American age is 39.4 years previous, based on the U.S. Census Bureau, which makes use of median – not common, or imply – to stop outliers affecting inhabitants demographic knowledge.

Eight in 10 Individuals assist a most age restrict for officers in Congress, based on a Might 2026 NPR/PBS Information/Marist ballot. The assist for age limits spans ideological traces, with 78% of Democrats, 83% of Republicans, and 79% of independents in favor, based on the ballot.

Grassley started serving as a U.S. senator from Iowa in 1981, placing the Iowa Republican at over 44 years within the workplace. He serves as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and so far is the sixth-longest-serving senator, with two years remaining in his present time period, based on Senate knowledge. As essentially the most senior member of the bulk occasion, he serves the position of president professional tempore of the Senate, which places him third within the line of succession for the presidency – behind the vp and the speaker of the Home.

Across the halls of the U.S. Capitol, Grassley is thought for his distinctive X posting type – utilizing the digit “2” for something with “to,” heavy abbreviations and frequent minor small private life, soccer or official enterprise updates – and the not too long ago mourned lack of his trusty workplace vacuum “Beth,” (who’s believed to have been in Congress for over 40 years). The Iowa senator’s love for Dairy Queen blizzards can be frequent data within the nation’s capital.

“Gr8ful for my fellow Senator for Iowa who brings me my favourite Dairy Queen cake every yr,” Grassley posted on his birthday, accompanied by a photograph of him in a Dairy Queen hoodie with Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst holding a cake.

Lawmakers making age historical past

Lately, lawmakers’ ages have more and more grow to be a difficulty, with then-70-year-old President Donald Trump in his first time period breaking the report for the oldest president to serve, then former President Joe Biden bumping Trump down for the title, ending his time period at 82 years and a pair of months previous. Trump, now 80, is about to reclaim the title earlier than his present time period ends, at a projected 82 years and seven months, narrowly dethroning Biden.

Well being considerations about McConnell have been the speak of Washington for months, after the senator has fallen within the Capitol and he was absent from Congress for months, prompting on-line hypothesis about his well-being. McConnell returned to Capitol Hill on Monday, Sept. 14, utilizing a wheelchair, and has been voting this week.

Grassley’s age has not prevented him from finishing up his elected position. His workplace famous that on Sept. 16 – the day earlier than his 93rd birthday – Grassley chaired a Senate Judiciary Committee listening to, voted within the Agriculture Committee on the Farm Invoice, held press calls with Iowa-based journalists, met with constituents visiting Capitol Hill and went to the Senate ground to vote.

“When he’s house in Iowa he travels the state holding Q&As with Iowans and retains his followers up to date on the farm’s progress,” a spokesperson from the workplace advised USA TODAY in an e-mail.

The senator hasn’t divulged whether or not he’ll run for reelection in 2028 for one more six-year time period. If he did, that might imply that in two years, at 95, he may very well be reelected. If he was, and accomplished his time period, he’d be 101 – probably dethroning the oldest-ever senator, former South Carolina Republican Sen. Strom Thurmond, who left workplace in 2003 at age 100.