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