The Gerontocracy Claim/Lie

[JustAnotherGen]

Last edited Tue May 27, 2025, 09:23 AM - Edit history (1)

This past week, ‘progressive’ social media influencers tried to claim that we are in a “Gerontocracy,” so let’s review the age and generational make-up of the 119th Congress.

https://candidlytiff.substack.com/p/analysis-are-we-in-a-gerontocracy

The Senate does skew much older than the House of Representatives, but as a reminder, in 2024 the Democratic Caucus had five retirements. Senators Ben Cardin (MD), Tom Carper (DE) and Debbie Stabenow (MI) did not seek re-election. Independent Senators Joe Manchin (WV) and Kyrsten Sinema (AZ) also did not seek re-election.

With that said, in 2024 six new Democratic Senators were elected to the Senate:

New Jersey: Andy Kim (42) was elected to the seat previously held by Bob Menendez (71) who resigned in 2024
Arizona: Ruben Gallego (45) replaced Krysten Sinema (48)
Maryland: Angela Alsobrooks (54) replaced Ben Cardin (81)
California: Adam Schiff (64) was elected to the seat previously held by Dianne Feinstein (90) who passed away in 2023
Delaware: Lisa Blunt-Rochester (63) replaced Tom Carper (77)
Michigan: Elissa Slotkin (48) replaced Debbie Stabenow (75)

The Silent Generation House Democrats include Representatives:
Maxine Waters (86)
Stent Hoyer (85) [sic]
Nancy Pelosi (85)
Jim Clyburn (84)
Danny Davis (83)
Frederica Wilson (82)
Rosa DeLauro (81)
Jan Schakowsky (80) — not seeking re-election
Delores Matsui (80)
Emmanuel Cleaver (80)
John Garamendi (80)
Bonnie Watson Coleman (80)
Jim Baird (80)

In my opinion, yelling or berating them won’t make them retire any sooner. They should be given the grace to decide whether to seek re-election or not. You cannot bully older people into retirement.

As far as newly elected House members, the median age is around 50 years old for Democrats and 51 for Republicans.

PEW Link:
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/01/16/age-and-generation-in-the-119th-congress-somewhat-younger-with-fewer-boomers-and-more-gen-xers/

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So my question- how old is too old? I've bolded the House Reps who are Black Americans. Those people aren't old, tired and out of touch. They are old warriors. I'd personally like to see David Hogg move to any of their districts and see how far he or any 25 year old white male does in that District.

Senators are always going to skew older. They have to be 30 to take office.

At this point - I think the only way we get to the magical unicorn of a Gen Z Trifecta is for them to.make moves at the local, county, and state level - work their way up, and in 20/25 years make sure they are the House, Senate, and White House.

Being 30 and under doesn't entitle anyone to any Federal office. Show me what you can do in your municipality and /or state Legislature before you demand I cede hard earned power.

Especially those Silent Generation Black members of the house. Representation matters.