Are more people dying while serving in Congress? What to know after 3rd lawmaker death this year

Brendan Rascius, The Charlotte Observer on May 22, 2025

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Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly died this week at age 75, becoming the third member of Congress to die while in office this year. Is this unusual?

Connolly, a Democrat who was first elected in 2009, “passed away peacefully at his home” on Wednesday, according to a statement from his family.

He revealed in 2024 that he was battling esophageal cancer. And in April, he announced that he would not seek re-election, though he remained on at his post as the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee.

His death comes after the deaths of two other representatives — both Democrats — so far in 2025.

In early March, Texas Rep. Sylvester Turner died following “enduring health complications,” his family said, as reported by the Associated Press. He was 70 years old.

Less than two weeks later, Arizona Rep. Raúl Grijalva, 77, died after complications from his treatment for cancer.

Are deaths in office increasing?

According to an analysis from McClatchy News, deaths in office have become slightly more common in recent years.

Between 2020 and 2025, 14 sitting lawmakers died, most of whom were Democrats. By comparison, between 2010 and 2019 — a period nearly twice as long — 12 members died.

Like this year, three lawmakers died in 2024. These were: New Jersey Democratic Rep. Bill Pascrell, 87; Texas Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, 74; and New Jersey Democratic Rep. Donald Payne Jr., 65.

And in 2023, one lawmaker died: California Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the only sitting senator to die this decade. At age 90, she was the oldest sitting senator.

Four deaths in office came in 2022: Virginia Democratic Rep. Donald McEachin, 61; Indiana Republican Rep. Jackie Walorski, 58; Alaska Republican Rep. Don Young, 88; and Minnesota Republican Rep. Jim Hagedorn, 59.

In 2021, Texas Republican Rep. Ron Wright, 67, died, followed by Florida Democratic Rep. Alcee Hastings, 84. And in 2020, Democratic Georgia Rep. John Lewis, 80, died.

On average, there were fewer deaths between 2010 and 2019, with no more than two deaths in office per year. Those who died during that time span include Maryland Democratic Rep. Elijah Cummings, 68, and Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain, 81.

And in previous years, deaths in office averaged about two per year, with 84 members dying between 1973 and 2012, according to a Congressional Research Service report released in 2012.

Age of lawmakers

The slight uptick in deaths in office comes as the average age of lawmakers has risen in recent decades.

According to an NBC News analysis, the average age of a senator in 2025 was 63.8 years old, while the average age of a representative was 57.7 years old, making it the third oldest Congress in U.S. history.

These averages have largely remained steady in recent years, but they have risen significantly over the long term. For example, in 1995, the average senator was 58.6 years old — marking a difference of five years — while the average representative was 51.5 years old — marking a difference of six years, per the analysis.

Why has Congress gotten older? Increased life expectancy, a dearth of young candidates and the advantage of incumbency — with sitting members rarely losing reelection — are a few key reasons, according to a 2024 PBS News analysis.

Congress also has no term limits, allowing some members to remain in office for decades. That said, several bills have been put forward in recent years to enact term limits, though none have prevailed.

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