U.S. Term Limits
menu
  • Donate
  • Resources
    • Facts
    • Term Limits
    • Article V
    • Term Limits Research Library
    • State legislatures with term limits
    • USTL Term Limits Resolutions in Congress
    • Historical TL Resolutions in Congress
    • Term Limits Election Results (includes local) Since 2008
    • State Term Limits Initiatives Since 2012
    • Governors with term limits
    • Nine of the ten largest U.S. cities have term limits
  • PODCAST
    • Latest Podcast Episodes
    • No Uncertain Terms Podcast Library
  • Supporters
    • Current Actions
    • Supporter petition
    • Collect Petitions
    • Volunteer for USTL
    • Digital Toolkit
    • Social Media
    • State Facebook Pages
    • Take Action on Term Limits Day 2/27
    • SHOP
  • Candidates/Lawmakers
    • Champion a Winning Issue
    • I am Running for Congress
    • I am Running for State Legislature
  • News
    • Nick testifies in D.C. on term limits for Congress
    • USTL Blog Articles
    • No Uncertain Terms Newsletter
    • Term Limits Breaking News Episode Library
    • Press Releases
    • Pledge Press Releases
    • Press Contact
  • About
    • Progress Map
    • Board of Directors
    • Team
    • State Chairs
    • Term Limits Hall of Fame
    • Rense Johnson
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Book a Term Limits Speaker
    • Contact USTL
  • Search

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

  • ABOUT
  • PODCAST
  • BLOG
  • PETITION
  • CONTACT US
  • DONATE
Subscribe to our email list
Copyright © 2025 US Term Limits - All Rights Reserved

by U.S. Term Limits



Privacy Policy
1250 Connecticut Avenue NW Suite 700
Washington, D.C.20036
(202) 261-3532
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok