Voters Back Age Caps and Term Limits for Congress, Poll Finds

A nationwide poll of 1,322 adults conducted April 27-30 2026 shows that 80 % of respondents favor imposing maximum age limits and term limits on members of Congress. Support crosses party lines: 78 % of Democrats and 83 % of Republicans back age caps, while nearly nine in ten voters from both parties favor term limits. The margin of error is ±3.1 percentage points.

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Public attention to lawmakers’ ages has intensified after President Joe Biden left office at 82 and President Donald Trump returned to the White House at 78. On Capitol Hill, many senior leaders are in their 70s, 80s, and 90s. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is 75; Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley is 92. The current Congress is the third oldest in U.S. history.

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The poll indicates minimal generational differences: older voters support age caps and term limits at rates comparable to younger voters. Generation X (late-40s to early-60s) shows the highest backing. A 62-year-old Democratic respondent from Phoenix emphasized the need for younger voices on issues such as housing and affordability.

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The median age of a U.S. worker is 42. By contrast, the median age of House members is 58 and Senate members 65. Since March 2025, five members of Congress aged 65 or older have died, underscoring the age gap between legislators and the broader electorate.

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NPR’s poll methodology combined live-caller, text, and online outreach. The survey’s findings arrive as voters increasingly demand that long-serving lawmakers “pass the torch” to a new generation they view as more representative of a younger electorate. The poll’s results have not yet translated into formal legislative proposals.

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Both age caps and term limits remain hypothetical; no bills currently advance in either chamber. Critics argue that imposing age limits could reduce experienced leadership, while supporters contend that older legislators may be out of touch with younger constituents. An AlphaROC survey of 18- to 29-year-olds found that more than six in ten believe politicians do not represent their interests and that younger candidates are rarely taken seriously.

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• “I think it makes some sense that [we] do have older office holders, but that has some clear disadvantages,” — Jean Twenge, Professor of Psychology, San Diego State University

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• “People can be in office longer, but should they?” — Jean Twenge, Professor of Psychology, San Diego State University

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• “I feel that they just might be out of touch. You've got 70 and 80-year-olds in Congress … running the country,” — Michael Hatch, 18, Eudora, Kansas

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• “When I think about the current generation of young adults and what they're facing, things like affordability, things like housing …” — Patricia L., 62, Phoenix, Arizona

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• “I think that's why some young people get so disengaged from politics, because they feel like they're not being heard or they're not being taken seriously because they're young,” — Patricia L., 62, Phoenix, Arizona

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The poll provides the only quantitative measure of public support for age caps and term limits at this time. No congressional hearings, bills, or official proposals have been documented, leaving a gap between voter sentiment and legislative action.

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Future polling may track whether sustained public backing prompts congressional committees to consider age-related reforms. Advocacy groups have signaled interest in drafting legislation, but any formal proposal will depend on whether elected officials translate voter preferences into policy.

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