On his 93rd birthday, Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley remains a fixture on Capitol Hill, marking the milestone while balancing his responsibilities in Washington, D.C. The senator, who currently serves as the longest-serving member of the Senate, began his day with a routine two-mile morning walk. His office notes that he maintains this physical regimen daily before heading to work.
Addressing questions regarding his age and the remainder of his term, Grassley expressed confidence in his health, telling a reporter he felt in “pretty good” shape. He joked about his longevity, remarking that he has great-grandchildren who are older than the reporter. His legislative output remains high; on September 16, just one day prior to his birthday, he presided over a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, participated in an Agriculture Committee vote regarding the Farm Bill, conducted press calls with Iowa media, met with visiting constituents, and cast votes on the Senate floor.
Grassley’s milestone arrives as the broader American public increasingly debates the necessity of age limits for federal officials. A May 2026 poll conducted by NPR, PBS News, and Marist revealed that 80% of Americans support establishing a maximum age cap for members of Congress. This sentiment spans political affiliations, with 83% of Republicans, 78% of Democrats, and 79% of independents in favor of such restrictions.
The current 119th Congress reflects an aging cohort, with an average age of 63.9 for senators and 57.9 for members of the House. For context, the U.S. Census Bureau places the median age of the American population at 39.4. Other senior members of Congress include 89-year-old Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton and 88-year-old Representative Hal Rogers. Furthermore, 84-year-old Senator Mitch McConnell recently returned to the Senate following an extended absence, appearing on the floor in a wheelchair.
First elected in 1981, Grassley has served more than 44 years in the Senate. As the most senior member of the majority party, he currently holds the office of president pro tempore, placing him third in the presidential line of succession. While his staff indicates that he maintains a busy schedule when back in Iowa—frequently hosting town halls and keeping constituents informed on his farm activities—the senator has yet to confirm whether he intends to seek another six-year term in 2028.
Should he choose to run and subsequently win in 2028, Grassley would be 95 at the time of his reelection. Completing that term would make him 101, which would surpass the record held by former South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond, who concluded his tenure in 2003 at the age of 100.
Known in the Capitol for his distinct social media presence and his affection for Dairy Queen Blizzards, the senator celebrated his birthday with an ice cream cake provided by Iowa Senator Joni Ernst. Despite the surrounding conversation on age, Grassley continues to engage in the daily rhythms of the Senate, including recent attention to the loss of his long-serving office vacuum, known as “Beth.” The report also notes that but says he stopped that in the past four years, the senator used to be a runner. The report also notes that grassley said when asked how he feels about his age and the rest of his term. The report also notes that i got great grandchildren older than you,” in a joking response to 23-year-old reporter. The report also notes that there are other near-90-year-old members, including Kentucky Rep, besides Grassley. The report also notes that which uses median – not average, or mean – to prevent outliers affecting population demographic data, census Bureau. The report also notes that according to a May 2026 NPR/PBS News/Marist poll, eight in 10 Americans support a maximum age limit for officials in Congress. The report also notes that capitol, Grassley is known for his unique X posting style – using the digit “2” for anything with “to,” heavy abbreviations and frequent minor small personal life, football or official business updates – and the recently mourned loss of his trusty office vacuum “Beth,” (who is believed to have been in Congress for over 40 years).
