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This is a complete list of current United States representatives based on seniority. For the most part, representatives are ranked by the beginning of their terms in office. Representatives whose terms begin the same day are ranked alphabetically by last name.
Seniority calculation
Seniority is calculated by:
- Number of total terms served (subtracting one term from the number of non-consecutive terms)
- Number of consecutive terms served
- Alphabetically by last name[1]
An additional clause applies for representatives that have a prior tenure of less than two terms. In this case, they will have preference over all other members who are freshmen by tenure.
An example of this ranking system is Rep. Pete Sessions, who had previously served eleven terms, from 1997 to 2019; after his defeat in the 2018 midterms, he was once again elected in 2020. Instead of holding seniority with others whose terms began January 3, 2021, he was credited with ten terms, and holds seniority above all representatives whose terms began on or after January 3, 2001.
Benefits of seniority
Committee leadership in the House is often associated with seniority, especially in the Democratic Caucus. The Republican leadership, in comparison with the Democratic Party, prioritizes voting records and campaign fundraising over seniority for committee leadership.[2] Party leadership in the House is not strictly associated with seniority.
The more senior a representative is, the more likely the representative is to receive desirable committee assignments or leadership posts. Seniority also affects access to more desirable office space in the House Office Buildings:[3] after an office is vacated, members next in seniority can choose whether to move into it. Only after allocations for existing members are complete can incoming members be assigned offices via the congressional office lottery.[4]
Vacancies
- California 14: Eric Swalwell (D) resigned on April 14, 2026.[5] The special election will be held on June 16, 2026. A runoff is scheduled on August 18, 2026, if no candidate receives a majority of the vote.[6]
- Texas 23: Tony Gonzales (R) resigned on April 14, 2026.[5] The special election will be held on a date to be determined.
- Florida 20: Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D) resigned on April 21, 2026.[7] The special election will be held on a date to be determined.
- Georgia 13: David Scott (D) died on April 22, 2026.[8] The special election will be held on July 28, 2026.
Current seniority list
Delegates
Delegates are non-voting members of the United States House of Representatives.
| Rank | Delegate | Party | District | Seniority date (previous service, if any) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eleanor Holmes Norton | D | District of Columbia at-large | January 3, 1991 |
| 2 | Stacey Plaskett | D | United States Virgin Islands at-large | January 3, 2015 |
| 3 | Amata Coleman Radewagen | R | American Samoa at-large | |
| 4 | James Moylan | R | Guam at-large | January 3, 2023 |
| 5 | Pablo Hernández Rivera | PPD/D | Puerto Rico at-large | January 3, 2025 |
| 6 | Kimberlyn King-Hinds | R | Northern Mariana Islands at-large |
See also
Notes
- Members elected with substantial prior service receive credit for part of that service when calculating seniority.
- A party change does not affect seniority.
References
- "Terms of Service for Members of the House of Representatives". Historian of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
- "House Seniority and Committee Leadership". U.S. News & World Report. December 8, 2006.
- Goodwin, George (1959). "The Seniority System in Congress". The American Political Science Review. pp. 412–436. doi:10.2307/1952154. JSTOR 1952154. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
- Langhorne, Thomas B. (October 16, 2018). "Scramble for office space in Congress is about status". Evansville Courier & Press. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
- Solender, Andrew (April 14, 2026). "Reps. Eric Swalwell and Tony Gonzales formally submit resignations from Congress". Axios. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
- "Special Election to replace Eric Swalwell in House set for August". KXTV. April 14, 2026. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
- Freking, Kevin; Groves, Stephen (April 21, 2026). "Democratic Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick of Florida resigns amid ethics investigation". AP News. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
- Mitchell, Tia (April 22, 2026). "Georgia U.S. Rep. David Scott has died". AJC. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
External links
- "Terms of Service for Members of the House of Representatives in the 116th Congress" (PDF). September 24, 2019. Retrieved September 26, 2019 – via Clerk of the House of Representatives.