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List of youngest members of the United States Congress

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Left: Jon Ossoff, currently the youngest U.S. senator
Right: Maxwell Frost, currently the youngest U.S. representative

The following are historical lists of the youngest members of the United States Congress, in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. These members would be the equivalent to the "Baby of the House" in the parliaments of Commonwealth countries; the U.S. Congress does not confer a similar title upon its youngest members.

The youngest U.S. congressman tends to be older than the youngest MPs in Commonwealth countries. This is partly because the minimum age requirements enumerated in Article One of the United States Constitution bar persons under the age of 25 years and 30 years from serving in the House and Senate, respectively. Additionally, the political culture of the United States encourages young politicians to gain experience in state and local offices before running for Congress. Although the vast majority of members of Congress gained state and local experience before being elected to Congress, members lacking state and local experience have increased recently.[1]

Maxwell Frost is the youngest member of the 118th Congress at age 27. He succeeded one-term representative Madison Cawthorn, who was the youngest person elected to the U.S. Congress since Jed Johnson Jr. in 1964, the second-youngest congressman in United States history.[2]

Jon Ossoff is the youngest sitting senator at 37,[3] replacing Josh Hawley, who at 41 was the youngest senator of the 116th Congress.[4] Ossoff is the youngest person elected to the U.S. Senate since Don Nickles in 1980.[5][6] The average age of senators is higher now than in the past.[7] In the 19th century, several state legislatures elected senators in their late twenties despite the Constitutional minimum age of 30, such as Henry Clay, who was sworn into office at age 29, and John Henry Eaton, the youngest U.S. senator in history, who took his oath of office when he was 28 years, 4 months and 29 days old.[8]

List of youngest U.S. senators

[edit]

For senators elected to a regular session, the starting date is the date on which the new Congress convened. From 1789 to 1935, this is March 4 (with the previous Congress ending on March 3); from 1937 onward, this is January 3.

For senators appointed to a vacancy or elected in a special election, the starting date represents their swearing-in date.

Duration as youngest Name State Party Start age End age
March 4, 1789 – July 25, 1789 James Gunn GA Anti-Administration 35 years, 356 days 36 years, 134 days
July 25, 1789 – December 6, 1790 Rufus King NY Pro-Administration 34 years, 123 days 35 years, 257 days
December 6, 1790 – March 4, 1791 James Monroe VA Anti-Administration 32 years, 222 days 32 years, 310 days
March 4, 1791 – December 2, 1793 John Rutherfurd NJ Pro-Administration 30 years, 165 days 33 years, 73 days
December 2, 1793 – February 28, 1794 Albert Gallatin[a] PA Anti-Administration 32 years, 307 days 33 years, 30 days
February 28, 1794 – April 24, 1794 John Rutherfurd NJ Pro-Administration 33 years, 161 days 33 years, 216 days
April 24, 1794 – December 6, 1796 James Ross PA Federalist 31 years, 286 days 34 years, 147 days
April 12, 1796 – December 6, 1796[b] Josiah Tattnall GA Democratic-Republican 33–34 33–34
December 6, 1796 – November 22, 1797 Richard Stockton NJ Federalist 32 years, 233 days 33 years, 219 days
November 22, 1797 – April 1, 1798 Andrew Jackson TN Democratic-Republican 30 years, 252 days 31 years, 17 days
April 1, 1798 – February 4, 1799 Ray Greene RI Federalist 33 years, 58 days 34 years, 2 days
February 4, 1799 – March 3, 1801 William Wells DE Federalist 30 years, 28 days 32 years, 56 days
March 4, 1801 – October 17, 1803 Samuel White DE Federalist 30 years, 93 days 32 years, 320 days
October 17, 1803 – December 29, 1806 Thomas Worthington OH Democratic-Republican 30 years, 93 days 33 years, 166 days
December 29, 1806 – March 4, 1807 Henry Clay[c] KY Democratic-Republican 29 years, 261 days 29 years, 326 days
March 4, 1807 – September 1807 James Fenner RI Democratic-Republican 36 years, 41 days 36 years, 222 days
September 1807 – December 9, 1807 Samuel White DE Federalist 36 years, 274 days 37 years, 8 days
December 9, 1807 – January 12, 1810 William Crawford GA Democratic-Republican 35 years, 288 days 37 years, 322 days
May 26, 1809 – January 12, 1810[d] Jenkin Whiteside TN Democratic-Republican 36–37 37–38
January 12, 1810 – March 3, 1813 Alexander Campbell OH Democratic-Republican 30–31 33–34
March 4, 1813 – May 27, 1813 Outerbridge Horsey DE Federalist 35 years, 364 days 36 years, 80 days
May 24, 1813 – May 27, 1813[e] William Bulloch GA Democratic-Republican 35–36 35–36
May 27, 1813 – December 6, 1813 Robert Goldsborough MD Federalist 34 years, 143 days 34 years, 336 days
December 6, 1813 – April 9, 1814 William Bibb[f][g] GA Democratic-Republican 32 years, 65 days 32 years, 189 days
April 9, 1814 – February 2, 1815 Jesse Wharton[g] TN Democratic-Republican 31 years, 254 days 32 years, 188 days
February 2, 1815 – January 22, 1816 William Barry[g] KY Democratic-Republican 30 years, 362 days 31 years, 351 days
January 22, 1816 – March 3, 1817 Armistead Mason[h] VA Democratic-Republican 28 years, 171 days 29 years, 212 days
March 4, 1817 – November 16, 1818 John Crittenden[i] KY Democratic-Republican 29 years, 175 days 31 years, 67 days
November 16, 1818 – March 3, 1821 John Eaton[j] TN Democratic-Republican 28 years, 151 days 30 years, 259 days
March 4, 1821 – December 3, 1821 Samuel Southard NJ Democratic-Republican 33 years, 268 days 34 years, 177 days
December 3, 1821 – March 3, 1823 John Eaton TN Democratic-Republican 31 years, 168 days 32 years, 259 days
March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825 Robert Hayne SC Democratic-Republican 31 years, 114 days 33 years, 114 days
March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1829 Elias Kane IL Jacksonian 30 years, 270 days 34 years, 270 days
March 4, 1829 – December 16, 1833 John Clayton DE Anti-Jacksonian 32 years, 223 days 37 years, 145 days
December 16, 1833 – December 31, 1833 Lewis Linn MO Jacksonian 37 years, 41 days 37 years, 56 days
December 31, 1833 – March 3, 1835 John King GA Jacksonian 34 years, 272 days 35 years, 335 days
March 4, 1835 – December 5, 1836 Robert Walker MS Jacksonian 33 years, 228 days 35 years, 139 days
December 5, 1836 – February 2, 1837 Ambrose Sevier[g] AR Jacksonian 35 years, 31 days 35 years, 90 days
February 2, 1837 – March 3, 1837 Alexandre Mouton LA Jacksonian 32 years, 75 days 32 years, 105 days
March 4, 1837 – January 11, 1841 Franklin Pierce NH Democratic 32 years, 101 days 36 years, 49 days
January 11, 1841 – February 7, 1842 Alfred Nicholson TN Democratic 32 years, 133 days 33 years, 160 days
February 7, 1842 – February 28, 1842 Franklin Pierce NH Democratic 37 years, 76 days 37 years, 97 days
February 28, 1842 – March 1, 1842 Alexandre Mouton LA Democratic 37 years, 101 days 37 years, 102 days
March 1, 1842 – April 14, 1842 William Graham NC Whig 37 years, 177 days 37 years, 221 days
April 14, 1842 – July 6, 1842 Charles Conrad LA Whig 37 years, 111 days 37 years, 194 days
July 6, 1842 – March 3, 1843 William Dayton NJ Whig 35 years, 139 days 36 years, 15 days
March 4, 1843 – December 4, 1843 Ned Hannegan IN Democratic 35 years, 252 days 36 years, 162 days
December 4, 1843 – March 3, 1845 David Atchison MO Democratic 36 years, 115 days 37 years, 205 days
March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1847 Jesse Bright IN Democratic 32 years, 76 days 34 years, 76 days
March 4, 1847 – June 26, 1848 Stephen Douglas IL Democratic 33 years, 315 days 35 years, 64 days
June 26, 1848 – December 14, 1853 Isaac Walker WI Democratic 32 years, 237 days 38 years, 42 days
December 14, 1853 – March 3, 1855 Clement Clay AL Democratic 37 years, 1 day 38 years, 81 days
March 3, 1855 – March 5, 1860 George Pugh OH Democratic 32 years, 96 days 37 years, 98 days
March 5, 1860 – January 22, 1863 Milton Latham[g] CA Democratic 32 years, 287 days 35 years, 244 days
January 22, 1863 – March 3, 1863 David Turpie IN Democratic 34 years, 198 days 34 years, 239 days
March 4, 1863 – June 23, 1868 William Sprague RI Republican 32 years, 173 days 37 years, 285 days
June 23, 1868 – June 30, 1868 Alexander McDonald AR Republican 36 years, 74 days 36 years, 81 days
June 30, 1868 – July 25, 1868 Thomas Osborn FL Republican 35 years, 113 days 35 years, 138 days
July 25, 1868 – March 3, 1873 George Spencer AL Republican 31 years, 267 days 36 years, 123 days
March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1879 Stephen Dorsey AR Republican 31 years, 4 days 37 years, 4 days
March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1881 Blanche Bruce[k] MS Republican 38 years, 3 days 40 years, 3 days
March 4, 1881 – October 11, 1881 Arthur Gorman MD Democratic 41 years, 358 days 42 years, 214 days
October 11, 1881 – March 3, 1883 Nelson Aldrich RI Republican 39 years, 339 days 41 years, 118 days
March 4, 1883 – December 2, 1889 John Kenna[g] WV Democratic 34 years, 328 days 41 years, 236 days
December 2, 1889 – March 3, 1891 Richard Pettigrew SD Republican 41 years, 132 days 42 years, 224 days
March 4, 1891 – January 24, 1895 John Irby SC Democratic 36 years, 175 days 40 years, 136 days
January 24, 1895 – March 3, 1895 Jeter Pritchard NC Republican 37 years, 196 days 37 years, 235 days
March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1901 Marion Butler NC Populist 31 years, 288 days 37 years, 288 days
March 4, 1901 – March 3, 1905[l] Albert Beveridge IN Republican 38 years, 149 days 42 years, 149 days
Joseph W. Bailey[g] TX Democratic 38 years, 149 days 42 years, 149 days
March 4, 1905 – January 30, 1907 Elmer Burkett NE Republican 37 years, 93 days 39 years, 60 days
January 30, 1907 – March 3, 1907 Frederick Mulkey OR Republican 33 years, 24 days 33 years, 57 days
March 4, 1907 – December 11, 1907 Simon Guggenheim CO Republican 39 years, 64 days 39 years, 346 days
December 11, 1907 – December 26, 1907 Thomas Gore OK Democratic 37 years, 1 day 37 years, 16 days
December 26, 1907 – March 22, 1908 William Bryan[m] FL Democratic 31 years, 77 days 31 years, 164 days
March 22, 1908 – January 9, 1911 Thomas Gore OK Democratic 37 years, 103 days 40 years, 30 days
January 9, 1911 – January 31, 1911 Davis Elkins WV Republican 34 years, 350 days 35 years, 7 days
January 31, 1911 – March 3, 1911 Thomas Gore OK Democratic 40 years, 52 days 40 years, 84 days
March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1917 Luke Lea TN Democratic 31 years, 326 days 37 years, 326 days
March 4, 1917 – July 8, 1918 Peter Gerry RI Democratic 37 years, 167 days 38 years, 293 days
July 8, 1918 – November 5, 1918 Christie Benet SC Democratic 38 years, 194 days 38 years, 314 days
November 5, 1918 – March 3, 1919 Peter Gerry RI Democratic 39 years, 48 days 39 years, 167 days
March 4, 1919 – March 3, 1923 Pat Harrison MS Democratic 37 years, 187 days 41 years, 187 days
March 4, 1923 – March 3, 1925 Clarence Dill WA Democratic 38 years, 164 days 40 years, 164 days
March 4, 1925 – December 7, 1925 Sam Bratton NM Democratic 36 years, 197 days 37 years, 110 days
December 7, 1925 – January 12, 1933 Bob La Follette Jr. WI Republican 30 years, 304 days 37 years, 341 days
January 12, 1933 – June 21, 1935 Richard Russell GA Democratic 35 years, 71 days 37 years, 231 days
June 21, 1935 – October 17, 1940 Rush Holt[n] WV Democratic 30 years, 2 days 35 years, 120 days
October 17, 1940 – December 12, 1940 Joseph Ball MN Republican 34 years, 349 days 35 years, 39 days
December 12, 1940 – December 6, 1942 Berkeley Bunker NV Democratic 34 years, 122 days 36 years, 116 days
December 6, 1942 – January 3, 1943 Henry Lodge MA Republican 40 years, 154 days 40 years, 182 days
January 3, 1943 – November 14, 1944 Joseph Ball MN Republican 37 years, 61 days 39 years, 11 days
November 14, 1944 – January 3, 1945 William Jenner IN Republican 36 years, 116 days 36 years, 166 days
January 3, 1945 – January 18, 1945 Joseph Ball MN Republican 39 years, 61 days 39 years, 76 days
January 18, 1945 – August 26, 1945 Hugh Mitchell WA Democratic 37 years, 302 days 38 years, 157 days
August 26, 1945 – January 3, 1947 William Knowland CA Republican 37 years, 61 days 38 years, 191 days
January 3, 1947 – December 31, 1948 Joseph McCarthy WI Republican 38 years, 50 days 40 years, 47 days
December 31, 1948 – January 3, 1957 Russell Long[o] LA Democratic 30 years, 58 days 38 years, 61 days
January 3, 1957 – June 15, 1961 Frank Church ID Democratic 32 years, 162 days 36 years, 325 days
June 15, 1961 – December 7, 1961 John Tower TX Republican 35 years, 259 days 36 years, 69 days
December 7, 1961 – November 6, 1962 Moe Murphy NH Republican 34 years, 65 days 35 years, 35 days
November 7, 1962 – January 3, 1969 Ted Kennedy MA Democratic 30 years, 258 days 36 years, 316 days
January 3, 1969 – January 2, 1971 Bob Packwood OR Republican 36 years, 114 days 38 years, 113 days
January 2, 1971 – January 3, 1973 John Tunney CA Democratic 36 years, 190 days 38 years, 191 days
January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1979 Joe Biden[p] DE Democratic 30 years, 44 days 36 years, 44 days
January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1981 Bill Bradley NJ Democratic 35 years, 159 days 37 years, 159 days
January 3, 1981 – March 11, 1987 Don Nickles[q] OK Republican 32 years, 28 days 38 years, 95 days
March 11, 1987 – January 3, 1989 David Karnes NE Republican 38 years, 89 days 40 years, 22 days
January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1993 Don Nickles OK Republican 40 years, 28 days 44 years, 28 days
January 3, 1993 – January 3, 1995 Russ Feingold WI Democratic 39 years, 307 days 41 years, 307 days
January 3, 1995 – January 3, 1999 Rick Santorum PA Republican 36 years, 238 days 40 years, 238 days
January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2003 Peter Fitzgerald IL Republican 38 years, 75 days 42 years, 75 days
January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2009 John Sununu NH Republican 38 years, 115 days 44 years, 115 days
January 3, 2009 – January 22, 2009 Mark Pryor[r] AR Democratic 45 years, 359 days 46 years, 12 days
January 22, 2009 – January 27, 2009 Michael Bennet CO Democratic 44 years, 55 days 44 years, 60 days
January 27, 2009 – September 10, 2009 Kirsten Gillibrand NY Democratic 42 years, 49 days 42 years, 275 days
September 10, 2009 – July 20, 2010 George LeMieux FL Republican 40 years, 112 days 41 years, 60 days
July 20, 2010 – November 15, 2010 Carte Goodwin WV Democratic 36 years, 143 days 36 years, 261 days
November 15, 2010 – January 3, 2011 George LeMieux FL Republican 41 years, 178 days 41 years, 227 days
January 3, 2011 – December 26, 2012 Mike Lee UT Republican 39 years, 213 days 41 years, 205 days
December 26, 2012 – January 3, 2013 Brian Schatz HI Democratic 40 years, 67 days 40 years, 75 days
January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2015 Chris Murphy CT Democratic 39 years, 153 days 41 years, 153 days
January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2019 Tom Cotton AR Republican 37 years, 235 days 41 years, 235 days
January 3, 2019 – January 20, 2021 Josh Hawley MO Republican 39 years, 3 days 41 years, 20 days
January 20, 2021 – present Jon Ossoff GA Democratic 33 years, 339 days 37 years, 291 days

List of youngest U.S. representatives

[edit]

For representatives elected to a regular session, the starting date is the date at which the new Congress convened. From 1789 to 1935, this is March 4 (with the previous Congress ending on March 3); from 1937 onward, this is January 3.

For representatives elected in a special election, the starting date represents their swearing-in date.

Duration as youngest Congress Name District Party Start age[s] End age
March 4, 1789 – April 19, 1790 1st Richard Lee VA-04 Pro-Administration 28 years, 43 days 29 years, 89 days
April 19, 1790 – March 3, 1793 1st–2nd John Steele NC-04, 01 Pro-Administration 25 years, 154 days 28 years, 108 days
March 4, 1793 – March 3, 1795 3rd Francis Preston VA-04 Anti-Administration 27 years, 214 days 29 years, 214 days
March 4, 1795 – May 5, 1796 4th Nathaniel Freeman MA-05 Federalist 28 years, 307 days 30 years, 4 days
May 5, 1796 – March 3, 1797 4th Richard Sprigg MD-02 Democratic-Republican 26–27 27–28
March 4, 1797 – November 23, 1797 5th John Dennis MD-08 Federalist 25 years, 77 days 25 years, 341 days
November 23, 1797 – March 3, 1801 5th–6th William Claiborne[t] TN-AL Democratic-Republican 21–22 25–26
March 4, 1801 – December 6, 1802 7th John Stanly NC-10 Federalist 26 years, 329 days 28 years, 241 days
December 6, 1802 – March 3, 1803 7th Samuel Thatcher MA-12 Federalist 26 years, 158 days 26 years, 246 days
March 4, 1803 – March 4, 1805 8th–9th John Jackson VA-01 Democratic-Republican 25 years, 163 days 27 years, 163 days
March 4, 1805 – December 1, 1806 9th John Claiborne VA-17 Democratic-Republican 27 years, 37 days 28 years, 309 days
December 1, 1806 – January 26, 1807 9th William Burwell VA-13 Democratic-Republican 26 years, 261 days 26 years, 317 days
January 26, 1807 – March 3, 1807 9th William Bibb[f][u] GA-AL Democratic-Republican 25 years, 116 days 25 years, 153 days
March 4, 1807 – March 3, 1809 10th Jesse Wharton[u][v] TN-03 Democratic-Republican 24 years, 218 days 26 years, 218 days
March 4, 1809 – November 27, 1809 11th William Bibb[f][u] GA-AL Democratic-Republican 27 years, 153 days 28 years, 56 days
November 27, 1809 – March 3, 1811 11th Jonathan Jennings IN-AL[w] Democratic-Republican 25 years, 245 days 26 years, 342 days
March 4, 1811 – November 4, 1811 12th William King[x] NC-05 Democratic-Republican 24 years, 331 days 25 years, 211 days
November 4, 1811 – March 3, 1815 12th–13th Stevenson Archer MD-06 Democratic-Republican 25 years, 24 days 28 years, 144 days
March 4, 1815 – December 17, 1816 14th Richard Wilde GA-AL Democratic-Republican 25 years, 161 days 27 years, 84 days
December 17, 1816 – March 3, 1817 14th John Tyler VA-23 Democratic-Republican 26 years, 263 days 26 years, 340 days
March 4, 1817 – December 4, 1818 15th George Robertson KY-07 Democratic-Republican 26 years, 106 days 28 years, 16 days
December 4, 1818 – March 3, 1819 15th John McLean IL-AL Democratic-Republican 27 years, 303 days 28 years, 28 days
March 4, 1819 – March 3, 1823[y] 16th–17th Daniel Cook IL-AL Democratic-Republican 24–25 28–29
December 4, 1822 – March 3, 1823[y] 17th Andrew Govan SC-04 Democratic-Republican 28 years, 325 days 29 years, 50 days
March 4, 1823 – March 3, 1825 18th Thomas Moore KY-07 Democratic-Republican 25–26 27–28
March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1827 19th John Bryan NC-04 Jacksonian 26 years, 120 days 28 years, 120 days
March 4, 1827 – February 13, 1828 20th William Nuckolls SC-07 Jacksonian 26 years, 9 days 26 years, 355 days
February 13, 1828 – March 3, 1829 20th Ambrose Sevier[u] AR-AL[z] Jacksonian 26 years, 101 days 27 years, 120 days
March 4, 1829 – March 3, 1831[aa] 21st Dixon Lewis AL-03 Jacksonian 26 years, 206 days 28 years, 206 days
Spencer Pettis MO-AL Jacksonian 26–27 28–29
March 4, 1831 – March 3, 1833 22nd Albert Hawes KY-11 Jacksonian 26 years, 337 days 28 years, 337 days
March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1835 23rd David Dickinson[ab] TN-08 Jacksonian 24 years, 267 days 26 years, 267 days
March 4, 1835 – March 3, 1837 24th John Claiborne MS-AL Jacksonian 25 years, 314 days 27 years, 314 days
March 4, 1837 – March 3, 1839 25th Joseph Williams TN-03 Whig 26 years, 132 days 28 years, 132 days
March 4, 1839 – March 3, 1841 26th Albert Brown MS-AL Democratic 25 years, 277 days 27 years, 277 days
March 4, 1841 – March 3, 1843 27th John Mason MD-06 Democratic 25 years, 299 days 27 years, 299 days
March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1845 28th Alexander Ramsey PA-14 Whig 27 years, 177 days 29 years, 177 days
March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1847 29th Lucien Chase TN-09 Democratic 27 years, 89 days 29 years, 89 days
March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1849 30th Richard Donnell NC-08 Whig 26 years, 165 days 28 years, 165 days
March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1851 31st James Orr SC-02 Democratic 26 years, 296 days 28 years, 296 days
March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1853 32nd William Churchwell TN-03 Democratic 25 years, 12 days 27 years, 12 days
March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1855 33rd Milton Latham[u] CA-AL Democratic 25 years, 285 days 27 years, 285 days
March 4, 1855 – July 23, 1856 34th William Cumback IN-04 People's 25 years, 345 days 27 years, 121 days
July 23, 1856 – March 3, 1857 34th Miguel Otero[ac] NM-AL[ad] Democratic 27 years, 32 days 27 years, 256 days
March 4, 1857 – December 3, 1860 35th–36th Albert Jenkins[ae] VA-11 Democratic 26 years, 114 days 30 years, 23 days
December 3, 1860 – March 3, 1861 36th John Brown[ae] KY-05 Democratic 25 years, 158 days 25 years, 249 days
March 4, 1861 – January 13, 1862 37th Edward McPherson PA-17 Republican 30 years, 216 days 31 years, 166 days
January 13, 1862 – March 3, 1863 37th Andrew Clements TN-04 Union 29 years, 21 days 30 years, 71 days
March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1865 38th John McBride OR-AL Republican 30 years, 194 days 32 years, 194 days
March 3, 1865 – March 3, 1867 39th Thomas Noell[af] MO-03 Republican 25 years, 335 days 27 years, 335 days
March 4, 1867 – October 3, 1867 40th Thomas Noell[ag] MO-03 Democratic 27 years, 335 days 28 years, 183 days
October 3, 1867 – June 24, 1868 40th Charles Haight NJ-02 Democratic 29 years, 272 days 30 years, 172 days
June 24, 1868 – March 3, 1869 40th Logan Roots AR-01 Republican 27 years, 90 days 27 years, 343 days
March 4, 1869 – March 31, 1870 41st Clinton Cobb NC-01 Republican 26 years, 191 days 27 years, 218 days
March 31, 1870 – March 3, 1871 41st John Conner TX-02 Democratic 27 years, 178 days 28 years, 151 days
March 4, 1871 – January 29, 1873 42nd Josiah Walls[ah] FL-AL Republican 28 years, 64 days 30 years, 20 days
January 29, 1873 – March 3, 1873 42nd John Conner TX-02 Democratic 30 years, 107 days 30 years, 151 days
March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875 43rd John Smith VA-03 Republican 25 years, 162 days 27 years, 162 days
March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1877 44th John White KY-09 Republican 26 years, 47 days 28 years, 47 days
March 4, 1877 – February 20, 1878 45th John Kenna[u] WV-03 Democratic 28 years, 328 days 29 years, 316 days
February 20, 1878 – March 3, 1879 45th Joseph Acklen LA-03 Democratic 27 years, 276 days 28 years, 288 days
March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1881 46th Richard Frost MO-03 Democratic 27 years, 65 days 29 years, 65 days
March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1883 47th Henry Dugro NY-07 Democratic 25 years, 152 days 27 years, 152 days
March 4, 1883 – December 1, 1884 48th George Post PA-15 Democratic 28 years, 184 days 30 years, 91 days
December 1, 1884 – March 3, 1885 48th Benjamin Shively[ai] IN-13 Anti-Monopoly 27 years, 256 days 27 years, 349 days
March 4, 1885 – February 2, 1887 49th Bob La Follette WI-03 Republican 29 years, 263 days 31 years, 233 days
February 2, 1887 – March 3, 1887 49th Hugh Price WI-08 Republican 27 years, 62 days 27 years, 92 days
March 4, 1887 – March 3, 1889 50th Benjamin Shively[ai] IN-13 Democratic 29 years, 349 days 31 years, 349 days
March 4, 1889 – December 9, 1889 51st Thomas Magner NY-05 Democratic 28 years, 361 days 29 years, 276 days
December 9, 1889 – March 3, 1891 51st Charles Turner NY-06 Democratic 28 years, 197 days 29 years, 282 days
March 4, 1891 – May 5, 1892 52nd Joseph W. Bailey[u] TX-05 Democratic 28 years, 149 days 29 years, 212 days
May 5, 1892 – March 3, 1893 52nd Joseph Kendall KY-10 Democratic 28 years, 359 days 29 years, 296 days
March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1895 53rd Thomas Settle NC-05 Republican 27 years, 359 days 29 years, 359 days
March 4, 1895 – December 19, 1896 54th Norman Mozley MO-14 Republican 29 years, 83 days 31 years, 8 days
December 19, 1896 – March 3, 1897 54th Charles Crisp GA-03 Democratic 26 years, 61 days 26 years, 136 days
March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1899 55th Thomas Bradley NY-09 Democratic 27 years, 61 days 29 years, 61 days
March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1901 56th John Fitzgerald NY-02 Democratic 26 years, 359 days 28 years, 359 days
March 4, 1901 – March 3, 1903 57th John Feely IL-02 Democratic 25 years, 215 days 27 years, 215 days
March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1905 58th Burton French ID-AL Republican 27 years, 215 days 29 years, 215 days
March 4, 1905 – March 3, 1907 59th Anthony Michalek IL-05 Republican 27 years, 47 days 29 years, 47 days
March 4, 1907 – March 3, 1909 60th Harry Wolf MD-03 Democratic 26 years, 261 days 28 years, 261 days
March 4, 1909 – November 23, 1909 61st Charles Edwards GA-01 Democratic 30 years, 245 days 31 years, 144 days
November 23, 1909 – March 3, 1911 61st Manuel Quezon PH-AL[aj] Nacionalista 31 years, 96 days 32 years, 197 days
March 4, 1911 – June 2, 1911 62nd James Byrnes SC-02 Democratic 28 years, 306 days 29 years, 31 days
June 2, 1911 – March 3, 1913 62nd William Reyburn PA-02 Republican 28 years, 167 days 30 years, 77 days
March 4, 1913 – December 7, 1914 63rd Clyde Kelly PA-30 Republican 29 years, 212 days 31 years, 125 days
December 7, 1914 – March 3, 1915 63rd Carl Vinson GA-10 Democratic 31 years, 19 days 31 years, 106 days
March 4, 1915 – March 3, 1917 64th Thomas Miller DA-AL Republican 28 years, 251 days 30 years, 251 days
March 4, 1917 – August 10, 1917 65th Marvin Jones TX-13 Democratic 35 years, 6 days 35 years, 165 days
August 10, 1917 – August 19, 1919 65th–66th John Baer ND-01 Republican 31 years, 134 days 33 years, 143 days
August 19, 1919 – December 6, 1920 66th King Swope KY-08 Republican 26 years, 9 days 27 years, 118 days
December 6, 1920 – March 3, 1921 66th Clarence McLeod MI-13 Republican 25 years, 156 days 25 years, 244 days
March 4, 1921 – March 3, 1923 67th Thomas Ryan NY-15 Republican 32 years, 260 days 34 years, 260 days
March 4, 1923 – March 3, 1925 68th Clarence McLeod MI-13 Republican 27 years, 244 days 29 years, 244 days
March 4, 1925 – March 3, 1927 69th Samuel Montgomery OK-01 Republican 28 years, 93 days 30 years, 93 days
March 4, 1927 – March 3, 1929 70th George Combs MO-05 Democratic 27 years, 306 days 29 years, 306 days
March 4, 1929 – March 7, 1932 71st–72nd Fred Hartley NJ-08 Republican 27 years, 10 days 30 years, 14 days
March 7, 1932 – March 3, 1933 72nd Carlton Mobley GA-06 Democratic 25 years, 91 days 26 years, 87 days
March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1935 73rd Joseph Monaghan MT-01 Democratic 26 years, 343 days 28 years, 283 days
January 3, 1935 – January 3, 1937 74th Elmer Ryan MN-02 Democratic 27 years, 222 days 29 years, 222 days
January 3, 1937 – January 3, 1939 75th Jerry O'Connell MT-01 Democratic 27 years, 203 days 29 years, 203 days
January 3, 1939 – January 3, 1941 76th Lindley Beckworth TX-03 Democratic 25 years, 187 days 27 years, 187 days
January 3, 1941 – January 3, 1943 77th William Stratton IL-AL Republican 26 years, 312 days 28 years, 311 days
January 3, 1943 – January 21, 1943 78th Lindley Beckworth TX-03 Democratic 29 years, 187 days 29 years, 205 days
January 21, 1943 – January 3, 1947 78th–79th Marion T. Bennett MO-06 Republican 28 years, 229 days 32 years, 211 days
January 3, 1947 – December 4, 1948 80th George Sarbacher PA-05 Republican 27 years, 95 days 29 years, 65 days
December 4, 1948 – January 3, 1949 80th Lloyd Bentsen[ak] TX-15 Democratic 27 years, 297 days 27 years, 327 days
January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1951 81st Hugo Sims SC-02 Democratic 27 years, 81 days 29 years, 81 days
January 3, 1951 – January 3, 1953 82nd Patrick Hillings CA-12 Republican 27 years, 318 days 29 years, 319 days
January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1955 83rd William Wampler VA-09 Republican 26 years, 277 days 28 years, 277 days
January 3, 1955 – December 13, 1955 84th Kenneth Gray IL-25 Democratic 30 years, 50 days 31 years, 29 days
December 13, 1955 – January 3, 1959 84th–85th John Dingell MI-15 Democratic 29 years, 158 days 32 years, 179 days
January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1961 86th Dan Rostenkowski IL-08 Democratic 31 years, 1 day 33 years, 1 day
January 3, 1961 – January 3, 1963 87th Ralph Harding ID-02 Democratic 31 years, 116 days 33 years, 116 days
January 3, 1963 – May 12, 1964 88th Ed Foreman TX-16 Republican 29 years, 12 days 30 years, 142 days
May 12, 1964 – January 3, 1965 88th William Green PA-05 Democratic 25 years, 323 days 26 years, 193 days
January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1967 89th Jed Johnson OK-06 Democratic 25 years, 7 days 27 years, 7 days
January 3, 1967 – April 3, 1969 90th–91st William Green PA-05 Democratic 28 years, 193 days 30 years, 283 days
April 3, 1969 – November 16, 1970 91st Dave Obey WI-07 Democratic 30 years, 182 days 32 years, 44 days
November 16, 1970 – January 3, 1971 91st Robert Steele CT-02 Republican 32 years, 13 days 32 years, 61 days
January 3, 1971 – April 29, 1971 92nd Dawson Mathis GA-02 Democratic 30 years, 34 days 30 years, 150 days
April 29, 1971 – October 12, 1972 92nd Mendel Davis SC-01 Democratic 28 years, 188 days 29 years, 355 days
October 12, 1972 – January 3, 1975 92nd–93rd John Breaux LA-07 Democratic 28 years, 225 days 30 years, 308 days
January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1977 94th Thomas Downey NY-02 Democratic 25 years, 340 days 27 years, 341 days
January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1979 95th Nick Rahall WV-04 Democratic 27 years, 228 days 29 years, 228 days
January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1981 96th James Shannon MA-05 Democratic 26 years, 274 days 28 years, 274 days
January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1983 97th John LeBoutillier NY-06 Republican 27 years, 222 days 29 years, 222 days
January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1985[al] 98th Jim Cooper TN-04 Democratic 28 years, 198 days 30 years, 198 days
November 6, 1984 – January 3, 1985 98th Carl Perkins[al] KY-07 Democratic 30 years, 92 days 30 years, 150 days
January 3, 1985 – March 20, 1990 99th–101st John Rowland[am] CT-05 Republican 27 years, 224 days 32 years, 300 days
March 20, 1990 – January 3, 1991 101st Susan Molinari[an] NY-14 Republican 31 years, 358 days 32 years, 282 days
January 3, 1991 – January 3, 1993 102nd Jim Nussle IA-02 Republican 30 years, 190 days 32 years, 190 days
January 3, 1993 – January 3, 1995 103rd Cleo Fields LA-04 Democratic 30 years, 42 days 32 years, 42 days
January 3, 1995 – January 3, 1997 104th Patrick Kennedy RI-01 Democratic 27 years, 173 days 29 years, 173 days
January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2001 105th–106th Harold Ford Jr. TN-09 Democratic 26 years, 237 days 30 years, 237 days
January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2005 107th–108th Adam Putnam FL-12 Republican 26 years, 156 days 30 years, 156 days
January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2009 109th–110th Patrick McHenry NC-10 Republican 29 years, 73 days 33 years, 73 days
January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2013 111th–112th Aaron Schock IL-18 Republican 27 years, 220 days 31 years, 220 days
January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2015 113th Patrick Murphy FL-18 Democratic 29 years, 279 days 31 years, 279 days
January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2019 114th–115th Elise Stefanik NY-21 Republican 30 years, 185 days 34 years, 185 days
January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2021 116th Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez[ao] NY-14 Democratic 29 years, 82 days 31 years, 82 days
January 3, 2021 – January 3, 2023 117th Madison Cawthorn NC-11 Republican 25 years, 155 days 27 years, 155 days
January 3, 2023 – present 118th Maxwell Frost FL-10 Democratic 25 years, 351 days 27 years, 352 days

See also

[edit]

Notes

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  1. ^ Some resources regard Gallatin only as a senator-elect because of the challenge to his credentials, hence Rutherfurd could be considered the youngest official senator during this period. Gallatin was ultimately disqualified from service.
  2. ^ Tattnall's precise birthdate in 1762 is unknown. Since both he and Ross were born the same year, they are both credited with the designation for youngest for the period from the swearing-in of Tattnall in April 1796 until the swearing-in of Stockton in December 1796, who was younger than both.
  3. ^ Clay was elected and served in the U.S. Senate while under the Constitutional age requirement of 30 at the age of 29 years.
  4. ^ Whiteside's precise birth date in 1772 is unknown. Since both he and Crawford were born the same year, they are both credited with the designation for youngest for the period from the swearing-in of Whiteside in 1809 until the swearing-in of Campbell in 1810, who was younger than both.
  5. ^ Bulloch's precise birth date in 1777 is unknown. Since both he and Horsey were born the same year, they are both credited with the designation for youngest for the three days from Bulloch's swearing-in until the swearing-in of Goldsborough, who was younger than both.
  6. ^ a b c Bibb was the first person to be both the youngest member of the U.S. House and the youngest senator.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Also held title of youngest member of the U.S. House.
  8. ^ Mason was elected and served in the U.S. Senate while under the Constitutional age requirement of 30 at the age of 28 years, 5 months.
  9. ^ Crittenden was elected and served in the U.S. Senate while under the Constitutional age requirement of 30 at the age of 29 years.
  10. ^ Eaton was elected and served in the U.S. Senate while under the Constitutional age requirement of 30. At 28 years, 4 months, he was the youngest ever to serve in that body.
  11. ^ Bruce became the first non-white youngest senator.
  12. ^ Beveridge and Bailey were both born on October 6, 1862.
  13. ^ Bryan was the youngest U.S. senator to die in office, at the age of 31.
  14. ^ Holt was the youngest popularly elected senator at 29 years and 4 months in November 1934. He was not permitted to take the oath of office until after his 30th birthday in June 1935.
  15. ^ Long held the longest uninterrupted tenure as youngest U.S. senator, eight years and three days. He was surpassed by Nickles in overall time, but Nickles's tenure was interrupted.
  16. ^ Biden was elected at the age of 29 years, 11 months, but turned 30 before the start of his term.
  17. ^ Nickles served the longest period as the youngest senator, ten years, two months and eight days, though this combined tenure was interrupted by Karnes, who was six days younger, from 1987 to 1989. Long served the longest such period uninterrupted, eight years and three days.
  18. ^ Pryor set the record as the oldest youngest senator in the body's history, at 45 years.
  19. ^ Until about the 34th Congress and rarely after, some members did not have birth years or birthdates listed. The approximate age of those members has been attempted to be ascertained using available biographical descriptions, although some of these descriptions were very limited. If more than one member had a birth year but not birthdate listed, both have been credited with being the youngest during the period (until the next confirmed younger member was sworn-in).
  20. ^ Claiborne was the youngest-ever elected and seated member of Congress at approximately the age of 22, despite being below the Constitutional age requirement.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g Also held title of youngest member of the U.S. Senate.
  22. ^ Although Wharton was 24 at the time of the official start of the 10th Congress in March 1807, it did not convene until October 1807 after he turned 25.
  23. ^ Indiana was not yet a state and this member was a non-voting U.S. Delegate.
  24. ^ Although King was 24 at the time of the official start of the 12th Congress in March 1811, it did not convene until November 1811 after he turned 25.
  25. ^ a b During part of the 17th Congress, credited Cook and Govan with sharing the title of youngest member. Both were born in 1794, but birthdate for Cook was unknown, so credited both.
  26. ^ Arkansas was not yet a state and Sevier was a non-voting U.S. Delegate.
  27. ^ Lewis and Pettis were both born in 1802, but unknown birthdate for Pettis, so credited both with youngest for the 21st Congress.
  28. ^ Although Dickinson was 24 at the time of the official start of the 23rd Congress in March 1833, it did not convene until November 1833 after he turned 25.
  29. ^ Otero was the first Hispanic youngest member of the U.S. House.
  30. ^ New Mexico was not yet a state and Otero was a non-voting U.S. Delegate.
  31. ^ a b Although Brown was elected at the start of the 36th Congress, being just 24 at the time of the election, he was not permitted to take his seat until the second session in December 1860 after his 25th birthday, so Jenkins retained the title of youngest until Brown's swearing-in.
  32. ^ Noell was elected as a Republican to the 39th Congress and reelected to the 40th Congress as a Democrat.
  33. ^ Noell was the youngest known member of Congress to die in office at 28 while holding the youngest title.
  34. ^ Walls was the first Black youngest member of the U.S. House.
  35. ^ a b Shively was elected to a vacancy in the 48th Congress as an Anti-Monopolist/Greenbacker-supported candidate. He was elected to the 50th Congress as a Democrat.
  36. ^ As the Philippines was a territory of the U.S., Quezon was a non-voting member of Congress.
  37. ^ Bentsen served the shortest period as the youngest member of the U.S. House at just 31 days.
  38. ^ a b Perkins was elected to Congress to fill a vacancy on November 6, 1984, and was younger than titleholder Cooper, but owing to the 98th Congress having adjourned sine die, he was not sworn-in until the 99th Congress, by which time Rowland, who was younger than Perkins, claimed the title. Cooper is credited until the end of the 99th Congress as an official congressman, as opposed to a congressman-elect, but Perkins is noted due to the unusual circumstances.
  39. ^ Rowland served the longest period as the youngest member of the U.S. House at 5 years, 2 months.
  40. ^ Molinari was the first woman to hold the title of youngest member of the U.S. House.
  41. ^ Ocasio-Cortez is the youngest woman ever elected to Congress and the first Hispanic woman to hold the title of youngest member.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Steinhauer, Jennifer (November 11, 2010). "Many Political Newcomers Joining Congress". The New York Times. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  2. ^ "America's youngest Congressman: What Maxwell Frost is most looking forward to". MSNBC. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  3. ^ Thanawala, Sudhin (January 6, 2021). "Ossoff seals Democrats' sweep; will be youngest US senator". Associated Press. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  4. ^ Republican Josh Hawley unseats Democratic McCaskill in U.S. Senate battle. Fox News.
  5. ^ Rogers, Alex (November 7, 2018). "Democrats to take Senate as Ossoff wins runoff, CNN projects". CNN.
  6. ^ Bostock, Bill (January 6, 2021). "Jon Ossoff is the youngest Democrat elected to the Senate since Joe Biden in 1973". Business Insider India. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  7. ^ Palmer, Brian (January 2, 2013). "Democracy or Gerontocracy: Is Congress getting older?". Slate.
  8. ^ "Youngest Senator". United States Senate.

Sources: Congressional Biographical Directory and House Document No. 108-222, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress 1774 – 2005

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