This is a list of United States Congressmen by longevity of service. It is meant to only cover those congressmen who have set records for longevity of service (over 36 years). It is divided up into several categories.

Key:
+ = Currently Serving
H = Served in House (only shown for House and Senate combined categories)
S = Served in Senate (only shown for House and Senate combined categories)
I = interruptions in service (only shown for total tenure categories)

Amongst currently sitting congressman, there are 9 on these lists, Robert Byrd, John Dingell, Daniel Inouye, Ted Kennedy, John Conyers, Ted Stevens, Dave Obey, Charles B. Rangel, and Bill Young.
Amongst retired congressman on these lists, there are 9 still living including, Jack Brooks, Robert H. Michel, Ernest Hollings, Claiborne Pell, William Broomfield, Dan Rostenkowski, Neal Edward Smith, Joseph McDade, and Paul Sarbanes.

Uninterrupted service (House and Senate)

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  1. Carl T. Hayden (H,S) — 56 years, 319 days
  2. Robert Byrd (H,S) — +71 years, 167 days
  3. Jamie L. Whitten (H) — 53 years, 60 days
  4. John Dingell (H) — +68 years, 188 days
  5. Carl Vinson (H) — 50 years, 61 days
  6. Emanuel Celler (H) — 49 years, 305 days
  7. Sam Rayburn (H) — 48 years, 257 days
  8. Daniel Inouye (H,S) — +64 years, 302 days
  9. Wright Patman (H) — 47 Years, 3 Days
  10. Strom Thurmond (S) — 46 years, 57 days
  11. Adolph J. Sabath (H) — 45 years, 247 days
  12. Ted Kennedy (S) — +61 years, 225 days
  13. J. Lister Hill (H,S) — 45 years, 142 days
  14. George H. Mahon (H) — 44 years, 0 days
  15. Warren G. Magnuson (H,S) — 44 years, 0 days
  16. Charles Edward Bennett (H) — 44 years, 0 days
  17. Justin Smith Morrill (H,S) — 43 years, 299 days
  18. Charles Melvin Price (H) — 43 years, 110 days
  19. John Conyers (H) — +59 years, 167 days
  20. Henry M. Jackson (H,S) — 42 years, 241 days
  21. John William McCormack (H) — 42 years, 58 days
  22. John Sparkman (H,S) — 42 years, 0 days
  23. William R. Poage (H) — 42 years, 0 days
  24. Jack Brooks (H) — 42 years, 0 days
  25. Robert L. Doughton (H) — 41 years, 305 days
  26. Joseph William Martin, Jr. (H) — 41 years, 305 days
  27. Clarence Cannon (H) — 41 years, 69 days
  28. John C. Stennis (S) — 41 years, 47 days
  29. Kenneth McKellar (H,S) — 41 years, 30 days
  30. William Huston Natcher (H) — 40 years, 240 days
  31. William P. Frye (H,S) — 40 years, 157 days
  32. Carl Curtis (H,S) — 40 years, 0 days
  33. Peter W. Rodino (H) — 40 Years, 0 Days
  34. Leslie C. Arends (H) — 39 years, 362 days
  35. Daniel A. Reed (H) — 39 years, 352 days
  36. George William Norris (H,S) — 39 years, 305 days
  37. John Taber (H) — 39 years, 305 days
  38. William M. Colmer (H) — 39 years, 305 days
  39. Ted Stevens (S) — +55 years, 177 days
  40. Dave Obey (H) — +55 years, 78 days
  41. Morris Sheppard (H,S) — 38 years, 145 days
  42. Ernest Hollings (S) — 38 years, 55 days
  43. Richard Russell, Jr. (S) — 38 years, 9 days
  44. Russell B. Long (S) — 38 years, 3 days
  45. Wilbur Mills (H) — 38 years, 0 days
  46. Dante Fascell (H) — 38 years, 0 days
  47. Robert H. Michel (H) — 38 years, 0 days
  48. Frederick H. Gillett (H,S) — 37 years, 364 days
  49. Henry Cabot Lodge (H,S) — 37 years, 250 days
  50. Nathaniel Macon (H,S) — 37 years, 255 days
  51. Charles B. Rangel (H) — +53 years, 167 days
  52. Bill Young (H) — +53 years, 167 days
  53. Henry B. Gonzalez (H) — 37 years, 60 days
  54. Henry L. Dawes (H,S) — 36 Years, 0 days
  55. Alben W. Barkley (H,S) — 36 Years, 0 days
  56. Felix Edward Hébert (H) — 36 Years, 0 days
  57. Edward Boland (H) — 36 Years, 0 days
  58. William Broomfield (H) — 36 Years, 0 days
  59. Dan Rostenkowski (H) — 36 Years, 0 days
  60. Neal Edward Smith (H) — 36 Years, 0 days
  61. Claiborne Pell (S) — 36 Years, 0 days
  62. Joseph McDade (H) — 36 Years, 0 days
  63. Paul Sarbanes (H,S) — 36 years, 0 days

Total tenure of service (House and Senate)

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  1. Carl T. Hayden (H,S) — 56 years, 319 days
  2. Robert Byrd (H,S) — +71 years, 167 days
  3. Jamie L. Whitten (H) — 53 years, 60 days
  4. John Dingell (H) — +68 years, 188 days
  5. Carl Vinson (H) — 50 years, 61 days
  6. Emanuel Celler (H) — 49 years, 305 days
  7. Sam Rayburn (H) - 48 years, 257 days
  8. Daniel Inouye (H,S) — +64 years, 302 days
  9. Joseph Gurney Cannon (H,I) - 48 years, 0 days
  10. Sidney R. Yates (H,I) — 48 years, 0 days
  11. Strom Thurmond (S,I) — 47 years, 159 days
  12. Wright Patman (H) — 47 Years, 3 Days
  13. Adolph J. Sabath (H) — 45 years, 247 days
  14. Ted Kennedy (S) — +61 years, 225 days
  15. J. Lister Hill (H,S) - 45 years, 142 days
  16. George H. Mahon (H) — 44 years, 0 days
  17. Warren G. Magnuson (H,S) — 44 years, 0 days
  18. Charles Edward Bennett (H) - 44 years, 0 days
  19. Justin Smith Morrill (H,S) — 43 years, 299 days
  20. William B. Allison (H,S,I) - 43 years, 152 days
  21. Charles Melvin Price (H) - 43 years, 110 days
  22. John Conyers (H) — +59 years, 167 days
  23. Henry M. Jackson (H,S) - 42 years, 241 days
  24. Carter Glass (H,S,I) - 42 years, 157 days
  25. John William McCormack (H) - 42 years, 58 days
  26. John Sparkman (H,S) - 42 years, 0 days
  27. William R. Poage (H) — 42 years, 0 days
  28. Jack Brooks (H) - 42 years, 0 days
  29. Robert L. Doughton (H) - 41 years, 305 days
  30. Joseph William Martin, Jr. (H) - 41 years, 305 days
  31. Clarence Cannon (H) - 41 years, 69 days
  32. John C. Stennis (S) — 41 years, 47 days
  33. Kenneth McKellar (H,S) — 41 years, 30 days
  34. William Huston Natcher (H) — 40 years, 240 days
  35. Claude Pepper (H,S,I) — 40 years, 207 days
  36. William P. Frye (H,S) — 40 years, 157 days
  37. Carl Curtis (H,S) - 40 years, 0 days
  38. Peter W. Rodino (H) - 40 Years, 0 Days
  39. Jennings Randolph (H,S,I) — 39 years, 364 days
  40. Leslie C. Arends (H) — 39 years, 362 days
  41. Eugene Hale (H,S,I) - 39 years, 363 days
  42. Daniel A. Reed (H) — 39 years, 352 days
  43. George William Norris(H,S) - 39 years, 305 days
  44. John Taber (H) - 39 years, 305 days
  45. William M. Colmer (H) - 39 years, 305 days
  46. Ted Stevens (S) — +55 years, 177 days
  47. Dave Obey (H) — +55 years, 78 days
  48. Samuel Smith (H,S,I) - 39 years, 9 days
  49. John Little McClellan (H,S,I) - 38 years, 329 days
  50. Morris Sheppard (H,S) - 38 years, 145 days
  51. Ernest Hollings (S) - 38 years, 55 days
  52. Richard Russell, Jr. (S) - 38 years, 9 days
  53. John Sherman (H,S,I) - 38 years, 4 days
  54. Russell B. Long (S) — 38 years, 3 days
  55. Wilbur Mills (H) - 38 years, 0 days
  56. Dante Fascell (H) - 38 years, 0 days
  57. Robert H. Michel (H) - 38 years, 0 days
  58. Frederick H. Gillett (H,S) - 37 years, 364 days
  59. Robert Crosser (H,I) - 37 years, 304 days
  60. Robert L. F. Sikes (H,I) - 37 years, 290 days
  61. Henry Cabot Lodge (H,S) — 37 years, 250 days
  62. Nathaniel Macon (H,S) - 37 years, 255 days
  63. Charles B. Rangel (H) — +53 years, 167 days
  64. Bill Young (H) — +53 years, 167 days
  65. Alben W. Barkley (H,S,I) - 37 years, 74 days
  66. Henry B. Gonzalez (H) - 37 years, 60 days
  67. Francis E. Warren (S,I) — 37 Years, 6 Days
  68. James Eastland (S,I) - 36 years, 83 days
  69. Henry L. Dawes (H,S) - 36 Years, 0 days
  70. Felix Edward Hébert (H) - 36 Years, 0 days
  71. Edward Boland (H) - 36 Years, 0 days
  72. William Broomfield (H) - 36 Years, 0 days
  73. Dan Rostenkowski (H) - 36 Years, 0 days
  74. Neal Edward Smith (H) - 36 Years, 0 days
  75. Claiborne Pell (S) — 36 Years, 0 days
  76. Joseph McDade (H) - 36 Years, 0 days
  77. Paul Sarbanes (H,S) — 36 years, 0 days
  78. Shelby M. Cullom (H,S,I) — 36 Years, 0 days
  79. Henry A. Cooper (H,I) — 36 Years, 0 days

Uninterrupted service (Senate only)

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  1. Robert Byrd — +65 years, 167 days
  2. Strom Thurmond — 46 years, 57 days
  3. Ted Kennedy — +61 years, 225 days
  4. Daniel Inouye — +61 years, 167 days
  5. Carl T. Hayden — 41 years, 305 days
  6. John C. Stennis — 41 years, 47 days
  7. Ted Stevens — +55 years, 177 days
  8. Ernest Hollings - 38 years, 55 days
  9. Richard Russell, Jr. - 38 years, 9 days
  10. Russell B. Long — 38 years, 3 days
  11. Warren G. Magnuson — 36 years, 20 days
  12. Claiborne Pell — 36 Years, 0 days

Total tenure of service (Senate only)

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  1. Robert Byrd — +65 years, 167 days
  2. Strom Thurmond(I) — 47 years, 159 days
  3. Ted Kennedy — +61 years, 225 days
  4. Daniel Inouye — +61 years, 167 days
  5. Carl T. Hayden — 41 years, 305 days
  6. John C. Stennis — 41 years, 47 days
  7. Ted Stevens — +55 years, 177 days
  8. Ernest Hollings - 38 years, 55 days
  9. Richard Russell, Jr. - 38 years, 9 days
  10. Russell B. Long — 38 years, 3 days
  11. Francis E. Warren(I) — 37 Years, 6 Days
  12. James Eastland(I) - 36 years, 83 days
  13. Warren G. Magnuson — 36 years, 20 days
  14. Claiborne Pell — 36 Years, 0 days

Uninterrupted service (House only)

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  1. Jamie L. Whitten — 53 years, 60 days
  2. John Dingell — +68 years, 188 days
  3. Carl Vinson — 50 years, 61 days
  4. Emanuel Celler — 49 years, 305 days
  5. Sam Rayburn 48 years, 257 days
  6. Wright Patman — 47 Years, 3 Days
  7. Adolph J. Sabath — 45 years, 247 days
  8. George H. Mahon — 44 years, 0 days
  9. Charles Edward Bennett - 44 years, 0 days
  10. Charles Melvin Price - 43 years, 110 days
  11. John Conyers — +59 years, 167 days
  12. John William McCormack - 42 years, 58 days
  13. William R. Poage — 42 years, 0 days
  14. Jack Brooks - 42 years, 0 days
  15. Robert L. Doughton - 41 years, 305 days
  16. Joseph William Martin, Jr. - 41 years, 305 days
  17. Clarence Cannon - 41 years, 69 days
  18. William Huston Natcher — 40 years, 240 days
  19. Peter W. Rodino - 40 Years, 0 Days
  20. Leslie C. Arends — 39 years, 362 days
  21. Daniel A. Reed — 39 years, 352 days
  22. John Taber - 39 years, 305 days
  23. William M. Colmer - 39 years, 305 days
  24. Dave Obey — +55 years, 78 days
  25. Wilbur Mills - 38 years, 0 days
  26. Dante Fascell - 38 years, 0 days
  27. Robert H. Michel - 38 years, 0 days
  28. Charles B. Rangel — +53 years, 167 days
  29. Bill Young — +53 years, 167 days
  30. Henry B. Gonzalez - 37 years, 60 days
  31. Felix Edward Hébert - 36 Years, 0 days
  32. Edward Boland - 36 Years, 0 days
  33. William Broomfield - 36 Years, 0 days
  34. Dan Rostenkowski - 36 Years, 0 days
  35. Neal Edward Smith - 36 Years, 0 days
  36. Joseph McDade - 36 Years, 0 days

Total tenure of service (House only)

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  1. Jamie L. Whitten — 53 years, 60 days
  2. John Dingell — +68 years, 188 days
  3. Carl Vinson — 50 years, 61 days
  4. Emanuel Celler — 49 years, 305 days
  5. Sam Rayburn - 48 years, 257 days
  6. Joseph Gurney Cannon (I) - 48 years, 0 days
  7. Sidney R. Yates(I) - 48 years, 0 days
  8. Wright Patman — 47 Years, 3 Days
  9. Adolph J. Sabath — 45 years, 247 days
  10. George H. Mahon — 44 years, 0 days
  11. Charles Edward Bennett - 44 years, 0 days
  12. Charles Melvin Price - 43 years, 110 days
  13. John Conyers — +59 years, 167 days
  14. John William McCormack - 42 years, 58 days
  15. William R. Poage — 42 years, 0 days
  16. Jack Brooks — 42 years, 0 days
  17. Robert L. Doughton - 41 years, 305 days
  18. Joseph William Martin, Jr. - 41 years, 305 days
  19. Clarence Cannon - 41 years, 69 days
  20. William Huston Natcher — 40 years, 240 days
  21. Peter W. Rodino - 40 Years, 0 Days
  22. Leslie C. Arends — 39 years, 362 days
  23. Daniel A. Reed — 39 years, 352 days
  24. John Taber - 39 years, 305 days
  25. William M. Colmer - 39 years, 305 days
  26. Dave Obey — +55 years, 78 days
  27. Wilbur Mills - 38 years, 0 days
  28. Dante Fascell - 38 years, 0 days
  29. Robert H. Michel - 38 years, 0 days
  30. Robert Crosser (I) - 37 years, 304 days
  31. Robert L. F. Sikes (I) - 37 years, 290 days
  32. Charles B. Rangel — +53 years, 167 days
  33. Bill Young — +53 years, 167 days
  34. Henry B. Gonzalez - 37 years, 60 days
  35. Felix Edward Hébert - 36 Years, 0 days
  36. Edward Boland - 36 Years, 0 days
  37. William Broomfield - 36 Years, 0 days
  38. Dan Rostenkowski - 36 Years, 0 days
  39. Neal Edward Smith - 36 Years, 0 days
  40. Joseph McDade - 36 Years, 0 days
  41. Henry A. Cooper (I) — 36 Years, 0 days

See also

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References

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Longevity