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Q: Who holds the record for longest time in Congress?


February 7, 2019

A: U.S. Representative John Dingell, from Michigan, is the longest-serving member of Congress in U.S. history.

The lawmaker retired from the U.S. House of Representatives in 2015 at the age of 87 after serving since 1955. Dingell holds the record for longest serving member of Congress at 59 years, 21 days. That’s 30 terms in office.

Elected to Michigan’s 12th congressional district via a special election, Dingell assumed the seat vacated by his father who died while in office after serving for 22 years. Due to redistricting, he held congressional districts 12, 15 and 16.

John Dingell, Jr. served under seven presidents from Dwight D. Eisenhower to Barrack Obama.

Former President Clinton once quipped when Dingell celebrated 50 years in Congress, “Presidents come and presidents go. John Dingell goes on forever.”

Dingell retired in January 2015. “I’m not going to be carried out feet first,” Dingell said. “I don’t want people to say I stayed too long.”

Dingell Familty Tenure
Dingell Family Tenure from 1933-present

The office is currently held by his wife, Debbie Dingell who succeeded him. This means that the southeastern Michigan area has been represented by a Dingell since 1933 (85 years).

John Dingell, Sr: March 4, 1933 – September 19, 1955
John Dingell, Jr: December 13, 1955 – January 3, 2015
Debbie Dingell: January 3, 2015 – present

 

by Stacey Selleck, U.S. Term Limits

Filed Under: Blog

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