A few months ago Texas junior senator Ted Cruz, along with Florida representative Ron DeSantis, proposed a Constitutional amendment to impose term limits on the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Senators would be limited to two elected six-year terms while representatives would only be able to serve three elected two-year terms. Although I appreciate the reasons for term limits and think that there is a problem with career politicians sitting forever in their positions in the House, I'm not quite sure about the Senate. In the House, the districts are usually drawn up by state legislatures, often with outrageous partisan gerrymandering, to help keep incumbents entrenched in power. But with the Senate, the elections are statewide and, as you should be able to see by the list below, there is a lot of turnover there. After all, Patrick Leahy, the senior senator, was first elected in 1974. Since then there have been about 300 senators in that 100-member body...
Below is a list of all senators put into office since that 1974 election, which I greatly simplified from a cumbersome list on the U.S. Senate website. Current senators I have listed in blue and bold-type. Each name is followed by their party affiliation (R: Republican, D: Democrat, I: Independent), their state, and their years in office. You'll notice that the overwhelming majority of today's Senate (71, to be exact) have served less than twelve years...which to me makes Cruz's proposal seem unnecessary. Sure, you have a few like Leahy and Hatch with long stints of service...but maybe it's a good thing to have a few like them in there with their experience and historical perspective on things. I suspect, though, that term limits would make more sense in the House of Representatives, although I believe they should be for longer than only six years...how about ten?
Laxalt, Paul D. (R-NV) 1974-87
Garn, E. J. "Jake" (R-UT) 1974-93
Glenn, John H., Jr. (D-OH) 1974-99
Ford, Wendell H. (D-KY) 1974-99
Wyman, Louis C. (R-NH) 1974-75
Stone, Richard (D-FL) 1975-80
Culver, John C. (D-IA) 1975-81
Bumpers, Dale (D-AR) 1975-99
Morgan, Robert (D-NC) 1975-81
Hart, Gary (D-CO) 1975-87
Leahy, Patrick (D-VT) Jan 3, 1975-
Cotton, Norris (R-NH) Jan-Sep, 1975 (First served 1954-1974)
Durkin, John A. (D-NH) 1975-80
Danforth, John C. (R-MO) 1976-95
Zorinsky, Edward (D-NE) 1976-87
Chafee, John H. (R-RI) 1976-99
Metzenbaum, Howard (D-OH) 1976-95 (First served 1974)
Riegle, Donald W., Jr. (D-MI) 1976-95
Anderson, Wendell R. (D-MN) 1976-78
Hayakawa, S. I. (R-CA) 1977-83
Matsunaga, Spark M. (D-HI) 1977-90
Melcher, John (D-MT) 1977-89
Heinz, H. John, III (R-PA) 1977-91
Sarbanes, Paul S. (D-MD) 1977-2007
Moynihan, Daniel P. (D-NY) 1977-2001
Lugar, Richard G. (R-IN) 1977-2013
Sasser, James R. (D-TN) 1977-95
DeConcini, Dennis (D-AZ) 1977-95
Hatch, Orrin G. (R-UT) 1977-
Schmitt, Harrison H. (R-NM) 1977-83
Wallop, Malcolm (R-WY) 1977-95
Hodges, Kaneaster, Jr. (D-AR) 1977-79
Hatfield, Paul G. (D-MT) Jan-Dec, 1978
Humphrey, Muriel (D-MN) Jan-Nov, 1978
Allen, Maryon (D-AL) Jun-Nov, 1978
Stewart, Donald W. (D-AL) 1978-81
Durenberger, David F. (R-MN) 1978-95
Baucus, Max (D-MT) 1978-2014
Kassebaum, Nancy L. (R-KS) 1978-97
Cochran, Thad (R-MS) 1978-
Boschwitz, Rudy (R-MN) 1978-91
Simpson, Alan K. (R-WY) 1979-97
Warner, John W. (R-VA) 1979-2009
Pryor, David H. (D-AR) 1979-97
Armstrong, William L. (R-CO) 1979-91
Cohen, William S. (R-ME) 1979-97
Tsongas, Paul E. (D-MA) 1979-85
Pressler, Larry (R-SD) 1979-97
Boren, David L. (D-OK) 1979-94
Exon, J. James (D-NE) 1979-97
Levin, Carl M. (D-MI) 1979-2015
Bradley, Bill (D-NJ) 1979-97
Heflin, Howell T. (D-AL) 1979-97
Jepsen, Roger W. (R-IA) 1979-85
Humphrey, Gordon J. (R-NH) 1979-90
Mitchell, George J. (D-ME) 1980-95
Rudman, Warren B. (R-NH) 1980-93
Hawkins, Paula (R-FL) 1981-87
Denton, Jeremiah A. (R-AL) 1981-87
Murkowski, Frank H. (R-AK) 1981-2002
Dodd, Christopher J. (D-CT) 1981-2011
Mattingly, Mack F. (R-GA) 1981-87
Symms, Steven D. (R-ID) 1981-93
Dixon, Alan J. (D-IL) 1981-93
Quayle, J. Danforth (R-IN) 1981-89
Grassley, Charles E. (R-IA) 1981-
D'Amato, Alfonse M. (R-NY) 1981-99
East, John P. (R-NC) 1981-86
Andrews, Mark (R-ND) 1981-87
Nickles, Don (R-OK) 1981-2005
Specter, Arlen (R/D-PA) 1981-2011
Abdnor, James (R-SD) 1981-87
Gorton, Slade (R-WA) 1981-87 (Served again 1989-2001)
Kasten, Robert W., Jr. (R-WI) 1981-93
Brady, Nicholas F. (R-NJ) Apr-Dec, 1982
Lautenberg, Frank R. (D-NJ) 1982-2001 (Served again starting in 2003)
Trible, Paul S., Jr. (R-VA) 1983-89
Bingaman, Jeff (D-NM) 1983-2013
Hecht, Chic (R-NV) 1983-89
Wilson, Pete (R-CA) 1983-91
Evans, Daniel J. (R-WA) 1983-89
Kerry, John F. (D-MA) 1985-2013
Simon, Paul (D-IL) 1985-97
Harkin, Tom (D-IA) 1985-2015
Gore, Albert, Jr. (D-TN) 1985-93
Gramm, Phil (R-TX) 1985-2002
McConnell, Mitch (R-KY) 1985-
Rockefeller, John D. IV (D-WV) 1985-2015
Broyhill, James T. (R-NC) Jul-Nov, 1986
Sanford, Terry (D-NC) January 3, 1993
Breaux, John (D-LA) 1987-2005
Adams, Brock (D-WA) 1987-93
Wirth, Timothy E. (D-CO) 1987-93
Mikulski, Barbara (D-MD) 1987-2017
Fowler, Wyche (D-GA) 1987-93
Shelby, Richard (D/R-AL) 1987-
Daschle, Tom (D-SD) 1987-2005
McCain, John (R-AZ) 1987-
Reid, Harry (D-NV) 1987-2017
Graham, Bob (D-FL) 1987-2005
Bond, Kit (R-MO) 1987-2011
Conrad, Kent (D-ND) 1987- Sep 92 (Served again starting in Dec 1992)
Karnes, David (R-NE) 1987-89
Gorton, Slade (R-WA) 1989-2001 (First served 1981-1987)
Lott, Trent (R-MS) 1989-2007
Jeffords, Jim (R/I-VT) 1989-2007
Coats, Dan (R-IN) 1989-99 (Served again starting in 2011)
Mack, Connie (R-FL) 1989-2001
Bryan, Richard (D-NV) 1989-2001
Robb, Charles (D-VA) 1989-2001
Kerrey, Bob (D-NE) 1989-2001
Kohl, Herbert (D-WI) 1989-2013
Lieberman, Joseph (D-CT) 1989-2013
Burns, Conrad (R-MT) 1989-2007
Akaka, Daniel (D-HI) 1990-2013
Smith, Robert C. (R-NH) 1990-2003
Brown, George Hanks (Hank) (R-CO) 1991-97
Craig, Larry E. (R-ID) 1991-2009
Wellstone, Paul (D-MN) 1991-2002
Seymour, John (R-CA) 1991-1992
Wofford, Harris (D-PA) 1991-1995
Burdick, Jocelyn (D-ND) Sep-Dec, 1992
Feinstein, Dianne (D-CA) 1992-
Conrad, Kent (D-ND) Dec 1992-2013 (First served 1987-1992)
Dorgan, Byron L. (D-ND) 1992-2011
Mathews, Harlan (D-TN) December 1, 1994 1803
Boxer, Barbara (D-CA) 1993-2017
Gregg, Judd (R-NH) 1993-2011
Campbell, Ben Nighthorse (D/R-CO) 1993-2005
Moseley-Braun, Carol (D-IL) 1993-99
Faircloth, D. M. "Lauch" (R-NC) 1993-99
Coverdell, Paul (R-GA) 1993-2000
Murray, Patty (D-WA) 1993-
Feingold, Russell (D-WI) 1993-2011
Bennett, Robert (R-UT) 1993-2011
Kempthorne, Dirk (R-ID) 1993-99
Krueger, Robert C. (D-TX) Jan-Jun, 1993
Hutchison, Kathryn Ann Bailey (R-TX) 1993-2013
Inhofe, James (R-OK) 1994-
Thompson, Fred (R-TN) January 3, 2003
Snowe, Olympia (R-ME) 1995-2013
Kyl, Jon (R-AZ) 1995-2013
DeWine, Mike (R-OH) 1995-2007
Thomas, Craig (R-WY) 1995-2007
Santorum, Rick (R-PA) 1995-2007
Grams, Rod (R-MN) 1995-2001
Ashcroft, John (R-MO) 1995-2001
Abraham, Spencer (R-MI) 1995-2001
Frist, Bill (R-TN) 1995-2007
Wyden, Ron (D-OR) 1996-
Frahm, Sheila (R-KS) Jun-Nov, 1996
Brownback, Sam (R-KS) 1996-2011
Roberts, Pat (R-KS) 1997-
Durbin, Richard (D-IL) 1997-
Torricelli, Robert (D-NJ) 1997-2003
Johnson, Tim (D-SD) 1997-2015
Allard, Wayne (R-CO) 1997-2009
Reed, Jack (D-RI) 1997-
Hutchinson, Tim (R-AR) 1997-2003
Cleland, Max (D-GA) 1997-2003
Landrieu, Mary (D-LA) 1997-2015
Sessions, Jeff (R-AL) 1997-2017
Smith, Gordon (R-OR) 1997-2009
Hagel, Chuck (R-NE) 1997-2009
Collins, Susan (R-ME) 1997-
Enzi, Michael (R-WY) 1997-
Schumer, Charles (D-NY) 1999-
Bunning, Jim (R-KY) 1999-2011
Crapo, Mike (R-ID) 1999-
Lincoln, Blanche L. (D-AR) 1999-2011
Voinovich, George (R-OH) 1999-2011
Bayh, Evan (D-IN) 1999-2011
Fitzgerald, Peter (R-IL) 1999-2005
Edwards, John (D-NC) 1999-2005
Chafee, Lincoln D. (R-RI) 1999-2007
Miller, Zell B. (D-GA) 2000-05
Nelson, Bill (D-FL) 2001-
Carper, Tom (D-DE) 2001-
Stabenow, Debbie (D-MI) 2001-
Ensign, John (R-NV) 2001-11
Allen, George (R-VA) 2001-07
Cantwell, Maria (D-WA) 2001-
Nelson, Ben (D-NE) 2001-13
Clinton, Hillary Rodham (D-NY) 2001-09
Corzine, Jon (D-NJ) 2001-06
Carnahan, Jean (D-MO) 2001-02
Dayton, Mark (D-MN) 2001-07
Barkley, Dean (I-MN) 2002-03
Talent, James (R-MO) 2002-07
Cornyn, John (R-TX) 2002-
Murkowski, Lisa (R-AK) 2002-
Lautenberg, Frank (D-NJ) 2003-13 (First served 1982-2001)
Chambliss, Saxby (R-GA) 2003-15
Graham, Lindsey (R-SC) 2003-
Sununu, John (R-NH) 2003-09
Alexander, Lamar (R-TN)
Dole, Elizabeth (R-NC) 2003-09
Coleman, Norm (R-MN) 2003-09
Pryor, Mark (D-AR) 2003-15
Burr, Richard (R-NC) 2005-
DeMint, James (R-SC) 2005-13
Coburn, Tom (R-OK) 2005-15
Thune, John (R-SD) 2005-
Isakson, Johnny (R-GA) 2005-
Vitter, David (R-LA) 2005-17
Martinez, Mel (R-FL) 2005-09
Obama, Barack (D-IL) 2005-08
Salazar, Ken (D-CO) 2005-09
Menendez, Robert (D-NJ) 2006-
* * * 2007 * * * January 3
Cardin, Ben (D-MD) 2007-
Sanders, Bernie (I-VT) 2007-
Brown, Sherrod (D-OH) 2007-
Webb, Jim (D-VA) 2007-13
Casey, Robert (D-PA) 2007-
Corker, Robert (R-TN) 2007-
McCaskill, Claire (D-MO) 2007-
Klobuchar, Amy (D-MN) 2007-
Whitehouse, Sheldon (D-RI) 2007-
Tester, Jon (D-MT) 2007-
Barrasso, John (R-WY) 2007
Wicker, Roger F. (R-MS) 2007-
Udall, Mark (D-CO) 2009-15
Udall, Tom (D-NM) 2009-
Johanns, Mike (R-NE) 2009-15
Shaheen, Jeanne (D-NH) 2009-
Warner, Mark (D-VA) 2009-
Risch, Jim (R-ID) 2009-
Hagan, Kay (D-NC) 2009-15
Merkley, Jeff (D-OR) 2009-
Begich, Mark (D-AK) 2009-15
Burris, Roland 10 (D-IL) 2009-10
Kaufman, Edward (D-DE) 2009-10
Bennet, Michael (D-CO) 2009-
Gillibrand, Kirsten 11 (D-NY) 2009-
Franken, Al (D-MN) 2009-
LeMieux, George (R-FL) 2009-11
Kirk, Paul G, Jr. (D-MA) 2009-10
Brown, Scott P. (R-MA) 2010-13
Goodwin, Carte P. (D-WV) Jul-Nov, 2010
Manchin, Joe (D-WV) Nov 2010-
Coons, Christopher (D-DE) 2010-
Kirk, Mark (R-IL) 2010-17
Coats, Daniel (R-IN) 2011-17 (First served 1989 to 1999)
Blunt, Roy (R-MO) 2011-
Moran, Jerry (R-KS) 2011-
Portman, Rob (R-OH) 2011-
Boozman, John (R-AR) 2011-
Toomey, Pat (R-PA) 2011-
Hoeven, John (R-ND) 2011-
Rubio, Marco (R-FL) 2011-
Johnson, Ron (R-WI) 2011-
Paul, Rand (R-KY) 2011-
Blumenthal, Richard (D-CT) 2011-
Lee, Mike (R-UT) 2011-
Ayotte, Kelly (R-NH) 2011-17
Heller, Dean (R-NV) 2011-
Schatz, Brian E. (D-HI) 2012-
Scott, Tim (R-SC) 2013-
Baldwin, Tammy (D-WI) 2013-
Flake, Jeff (R-AZ) 2013-
Donnelly, Joe (D-IN) 2013-
Murphy, Chris (D-CT) 2013-
Hirono, Mazie (D-HI) 2013-
Heinrich, Martin (D-NM) 2013-
King, Angus (I-ME) 2013-
Kaine, Tim (D-VA) 2013-
Cruz, Ted (R-TX) 2013-
Warren, Elizabeth (D-MA) 2013-
Fischer, Deb (R-NE) 2013-
Heitkamp, Heidi (D-ND) 2013-
Cowan, William “Mo” (D-MA) Feb-July, 2013
Chiesa, Jeffrey S. (R-NJ) Jun-Oct, 2013
Markey, Edward J. (D-MA) Jul, 2013-
Booker, Cory (D-NJ) Oct, 2013-
Walsh, John (D-MT) 2014-15
Capito, Shelley Moore (R-WV) 2015-
Peters, Gary (D-MI) 2015-
Cassidy, Bill (R-LA) 2015-
Gardner, Cory (R-CO) 2015-
Lankford, James (R-OK) 2015-
Cotton, Tom (R-AR) 2015-
Daines, Steve (R-MT) 2015-
Rounds, Mike (R-SD) 2015-
Perdue, David (R-GA) 2015-
Tillis, Thom (R-NC) 2015-
Ernst, Joni (R-IA) 2015-
Sasse, Ben (R-NE) 2015-
Sullivan, Dan (R-AK) 2015-
Van Hollen, Chris (D-MD) 2017-
Young, Todd (R-IN) 2017-
Duckworth, Tammy (D-IL) 2017-
Hassan, Maggie (D-NH) 2017-
Harris, Kamala (D-CA) 2017-
Kennedy, John (R-LA) 2017-
Cortez Masto, Catherine (D-NV) 2017-
Strange, Luther (R-AL) 2017-
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