NewsNPR PoliticsMay 7, 2026United States
New Poll Shows Broad Public Support for Congressional Age and Term Limits
A recent NPR/PBS News/Marist poll indicates that 80% of Americans support implementing age caps and term limits for members of Congress. This sentiment spans across party lines and age groups, reflecting a growing public desire for generational change in federal leadership.
Read the full story at NPR PoliticsWhy It Matters
While no legislation is currently pending, the poll highlights a significant public consensus that could influence future political discourse and candidate selection regarding the age and tenure of federal lawmakers.
Key Facts
- 80% of Americans support setting age caps and term limits for members of Congress.
- 78% of Democrats and 83% of Republicans support maximum age limits for Congress members.
- Nearly 9 in 10 Republicans support term limits for Congress members.
- The median age of a U.S. worker is 42, compared to 58 for House members and 65 for Senators.
- The current Congress is the third oldest in U.S. history.
- Five members of Congress have died since March 2025, all aged 65 or older.
- The NPR/PBS News/Marist poll surveyed 1,322 respondents between April 27 and April 30, 2026.
- The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points.
- An AlphaROC survey found that over 60% of 18-29 year olds believe politicians do not represent their interests.
Who's Mentioned
organizationMarist“Co-sponsor of the poll”personJoe Biden“Former president who left office at age 82”organizationPBS News“Co-sponsor of the poll”personChuck Grassley“Senate Judiciary Committee Chair, age 92”organizationNPR“Co-sponsor of the poll”personDonald Trump“President who returned to office at age 78”organizationAlphaROC“Research company that conducted a survey of 18-29 year olds”personJean Twenge“Professor of psychology at San Diego State University”personChuck Schumer“Senate Minority Leader, age 75”personMichael Hatch“18-year-old survey respondent from Eudora, Kansas”