In every election cycle a certain number of senators and representatives retire or run for other offices leaving behind open seats for their
parties to defend.
Here are the number of retirements in recent years:
Here is the list of senators who are retiring this cycle that will result in open-seat elections in 2026:
| Michael Bennet |
Democratic |
Colorado |
He is running for governor of Colorado |
| Marsha Blackburn |
Republican |
Tennessee |
She is running for governor of Tennessee |
| Dick Durbin |
Democratic |
Illinois |
Age (80) and pressure for generational change |
| Joni Ernst |
Republicans |
Iowa |
"Well, we're all going to die" is not a great campaign slogan |
| Cynthia Lummis |
Republican |
Wyoming |
She is exhausted by it all |
| Mitch McConnell |
Republican |
Kentucky |
Age (83) and failing health |
| Gary Peters |
Democratic |
Michigan |
He is only 66 but says it is time for a new generation |
| Jeanne Shaheen |
Democratic |
New Hampshire |
She is 78 and has been in public office for 35 years |
| Tina Smith |
DFL |
Minnesota |
She was originally apppointed and never really liked the job |
| Thom Tillis |
Republican |
North Carolina |
Trump threatened him and he caved |
| Tommy Tuberville |
Republican |
Alabama |
He is running for head coach (governor) of Alabama |
Here are the announced House retirements that will result in open-seat elections in 2026,
sorted on PVI (Cook Partisan Voting Index) based on the original 2024 districts.
When an immediate retirement occurs early in the cycle, it will be filled in a special election
and not be an open-seat election in 2026.
Any seat between R+5 and D+5 is a swing district
that has to be fought over, even more so if occupied by the "wrong" party.
Note: Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) is also retiring at 88 but she is a nonvoting member of the House.
| Barry Moore |
Republican |
AL-01 |
R+27 |
He is running for Tommy Tuberville's open Senate seat |
| Jodey Arrington |
Republican |
TX-19 |
R+25 |
Hard to say since he is 53 and chairman of the Budget Committee |
| Harriet Hageman |
Republican |
WY-AL |
R+23 |
She is running for Cynthis Lummis' open Senate seat |
| Julia Letlow |
Republican |
LA-05 |
R+18 |
She is challenging Bill Cassidy for the Senate |
| John Rose |
Republican |
TN-06 |
R+17 |
He is running for governor of Tennessee |
| Morgan Luttrell |
Republican |
TX-08 |
R+16 |
He has had enough |
| Randy Feenstra |
Republican |
IA-04 |
R+15 |
He is running for governor of Iowa |
| Dusty Johnson |
Republican |
SD-AL |
R+15 |
He is running for governor of South Dakota |
| Byron Donalds |
Republican |
FL-19 |
R+13 |
He is running for governor of Florida |
| Barry Loudermilk |
Republican |
GA-11 |
R+12 |
God wants him to spend more time with family; also being in the minority is no fun |
| Mike McCaul |
Republican |
TX-10 |
R+12 |
He wants to use his national security expertise to make more money |
| Mike Collins |
Republican |
GA-10 |
R+11 |
He is running to challenge Jon Ossoff for the Senate |
| Ralph Norman |
Republican |
SC-05 |
R+11 |
He is running for governor of South Carolina |
| Chip Roy |
Republican |
TX-21 |
R+11 |
He is running for Texas attorney general |
| Tom Tiffany |
Republican |
WI-07 |
R+11 |
He is running for governor of Wisconsin |
| Andy Biggs |
Republican |
AZ-11 |
R+10 |
He is running for governor of Arizona |
| Wesley Hunt |
Republican |
TX-38 |
R+10 |
He is running for the GOP nomination for the Senate |
| Dan Newhouse |
Republican |
WA-04 |
R+10 |
He voted to impeach Trump and being in the House is probably no fun |
| Elise Stefanik |
Republican |
NY-21 |
R+10 |
Lost her leadership slot, No U.N. job, no chance to be governor |
| Troy Nehls |
Republican |
TX-22 |
R+9 |
After 30 years as a cop and 6 years in Congress, he has had it |
| Buddy Carter |
Republican |
GA-01 |
R+8 |
He is running to challenge Jon Ossoff for the Senate |
| Neal Dunn |
Republican |
FL-02 |
R+8 |
He might have to fight hard this time and for what? |
| Andy Barr |
Republican |
KY-06 |
R+7 |
He is running for Mitch McConnell's open Senate Seat |
| Vern Buchanan |
Republican |
FL-16 |
R+7 |
He is vice chair of Ways & Means; being in the minority would end that |
| Mark Amoedei |
Republican |
NV-02 |
R+7 |
He presumably expects the Republicans to be in the minority next year |
| Nancy Mace |
Republican |
SC-01 |
R+6 |
She is running for governor of South Carolina |
| Districts from R+5 to D+5 are all in play |
| Jared Golden |
Democratic |
ME-01 |
R+4 |
He actually hates politics |
| Ashley Hinson |
Republican |
IA-02 |
R+4 |
She is running for Joni Ernst's open Senate seat |
| John James |
Republican |
MI-10 |
R+3 |
He is running for governor of Michigan |
| David Schweikert |
Republican |
AZ-01 |
R+1 |
He is running for governor of Arizona |
| Chris Pappas |
Democratic |
NH-01 |
D+2 |
He is running for Jeanne Shaheen's open Senate seat |
| Josh Gottheimer |
Democratic |
NJ-05 |
D+2 |
He ran for governor of New Jersey and lost the primary |
| Angie Craig |
Democratic |
MN-02 |
D+3 |
She is running for Tina Smith's open Senate seat |
| Don Bacon |
Republican |
NE-02 |
D+3 |
He doesn't agree with Trump on much and it would be a tough fight |
| Raja Krishnamoorthi |
Democratic |
IL-08 |
D+5 |
He is running for Dick Durbin's open Senate seat |
| |
| Julia Brownley |
Democratic |
CA-26 |
D+8 |
After seven terms at 73, she has just had enough |
| Haley Stevens |
Democratic |
MI-11 |
D+9 |
She is running for Gary Peters' open Senate seat |
| Seth Moulton |
Democratic |
MA-06 |
D+11 |
He is challenging Ed Markey for the Senate |
| Bonnie Watson Coleman |
Democratic |
NJ-12 |
D+13 |
At 80, she thought it was time for fresh blood |
| Jesus Garcia |
Democratic |
IL-04 |
D+17 |
At 69, he decided it is time for someone younger |
| Steny Hoyer |
Democratic |
MD-05 |
D+17 |
He realizes that he is old and obsolete |
| Robin Kelly |
Democratic |
IL-02 |
D+18 |
She is running for Dick Durbin's open Senate seat |
| Marc Veasey |
Democratic |
TX-33 |
D+19 |
He is running to be a county judge |
| Jan Schakowsky |
Democratic |
IL-09 |
D+19 |
She is 81 and retiring from politics |
| Eric Swalwell |
Democratic |
CA-14 |
D+20 |
He is running for governor of California |
| Jasmine Crockett |
Democratic |
TX-30 |
D+25 |
She is running for John Cornyn's Senate seat |
| Nydia Velazquez |
Democratic |
NY-07 |
D+25 |
After 16 terms, she thinks it is time for fresh blood |
| Lloyd Doggett |
Democratic |
TX-37 |
D+26 |
Redistricting split up his district |
| Jerry Nadler |
Democratic |
NY-12 |
D+33 |
He is way past his best-by date |
| Danny Davis |
Democratic |
IL-07 |
D+34 |
He is 83 and has had enough |
| Nancy Pelosi |
Democratic |
CA-11 |
D+36 |
At 85, she is turning over the seat to the younger generation |
| Dwight Evans |
Democratic |
PA-03 |
D+40 |
He had a stroke last year and is retiring at 71 |
