10 Long-Time Congress Members You Should Know About

Congress is the legislative branch of the US Government, the other two being the Judicial Branch (SCOTUS) and Executive (POTUS). It is one third of our Federal Government, one of only two elected branches, yet there are NO term limits, with the longest currently serving over 50 years.

There are 535 members of Congress, 100 serve in the US Senate, and 435 Serve in the House of Representatives. Senators serve six year terms; however, members of the House of Representatives are up  for reelection every two years This means that every election, your Representative is up for reelection, and likely, someone is running against them.

If you don’t like the way things have been going, look and see if someone from your state and district is on this list, and consider making a change. Just because someone is “Red” or “Blue” doesn’t mean they always vote party lines, and there could be a 3rd party or independent that really stands for something you believe in. To see who else is running and how your Congressperson has voted in the past, you can check here. Here are the 10 Long-Time Congress Members You Should Know About.

10

Lamar Smith

Source: https://lamarsmith.house.gov/ & https://ballotpedia.org/ Image Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamar_S._Smith

Smith is a member of the House of Representatives. A Republican from Texas, Smith was first sworn in in 1987 and has been serving for 29 years. He is currently the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. He is seeking reelection in 2016. Democrat Thomas Wakely, Libertarian Mark Loewe, and Green Party Candidate Antonio Diaz are running against him.

9

Louise McIntosh Slaughter

Source: https://louise.house.gov/ & https://ballotpedia.org/ Image Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_Slaughter

Louise McIntosh Slaughter is a member of the House of Representatives. A Democrat from New York, she was sworn in in 1987 and has been serving for 29 years. She is seeking reelection in 2016, and Republican Mark Assini, Libertarian Tony D’Orazio, and Independent Brandon Kirshner are running against her.

8

Nancy Pelosi

Source: http://pelosi.house.gov/ & https://ballotpedia.org Image Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Pelosi

Pelosi is a member of the House of Representatives. A Democrat from California, she was first sworn in in 1987 and has served for 29 years. Pelosi was formerly the Speaker of the House until Republicans took control after the 2010 elections. She remains as House Minority Leader and is seeking re election in 2016. Independent Preston Picus, Republican Bob Miller, and Green Party Candidate Barry Hermanson are running against her.

7

Peter DeFazio

Source: http://defazio.house.gov/ & https://ballotpedia.org Image Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_DeFazio

Peter DeFazio is a member of the House of Representatives. A Democrat from Oregon, he was first sworn in in 1987 and has served 29 years. He is seeking reelection in 2016.

6

John Lewis

Source: https://johnlewis.house.gov/ & https://ballotpedia.org Image Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lewis_(Georgia_politician)

Lewis is a member of the House of Representatives. A Democrat from Georgia, he was first sworn in in 1987 and has served 29 years. He is seeking reelection in 2016.

5

Fred Upton

Source: http://upton.house.gov/ &https://ballotpedia.org Image Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Upton

Fred Upton is a member of the House of Representatives. A Republican from Michigan, he was first sworn in in 1987 and has served 29 years. He is seeking reelection in 2016.

4

John McCain

Source: http://www.johnmccain.com/ & https://ballotpedia.org/ Image Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCain

John McCain is a member of the United States Senate. A Republican from Arizona, McCain was first sworn in in 1987 and has served 29 years. In 2008, he ran for President of the United States and was defeated by Barack Obama. He is seeking reelection in 2016.

3

Harry Reid

Source: http://www.reid.senate.gov/ & https://ballotpedia.org/ Image Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Reid

Reid is a member of the United State Senate. A Democrat from Nevada, he was first sworn in in 1987 and has served 29 years as a Senator, but previously had served one term in the House of Representatives. Senator Reid is currently the Senate Minority Leader, and he has announced he will not be seeking reelection in 2016.

2

Barbara Mikulski

Source: https://www.mikulski.senate.gov/ & https://ballotpedia.org/ Image Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Mikulski

Barbara Mikulski is a member of the United States Senate. A Democrat from Maryland, Senator Mikulski was sworn in in 1987 and has served 29 years. Her current term ends in 2017, and she has announced she will not be seeking reelection.

1

Peter Visclosky

Source: http://visclosky.house.gov/ & https://ballotpedia.org/ Image Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Visclosky

Peter Visclosky is a member of the House of Representatives. A Democrat from Indiana, Visclosky was sworn in in 1985 and has served 31 years. He is seeking reelection in 2016.