This fight has been looming for years. But now it’s finally coming to a head.
Because a wave of retirements sent the Democrat Party into total civil war.
Congressional Retirements Signal Shift Amid “Biden Effect”
A wave of retirements among veteran U.S. senators, particularly Democrats, is reshaping the political landscape, with many attributing the trend to the so-called “Biden effect.”
The phenomenon gained traction after President Joe Biden’s faltering debate performance in 2024 against Donald Trump, which led to his replacement by the younger Vice President Kamala Harris. Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin’s recent decision to retire after nearly 40 years in Congress has further fueled discussions about generational change in Washington.
“This is fallout from the ‘Biden Effect,'” said Rutgers University political scientist Ross Baker. “It contaminated old Democrats.” The retirements of Durbin, 80, alongside Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., 78, Tina Smith, D-Wis., 67, Gary Peters, D-Mich., 66, and Republican Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., 83, all set for 2025, highlight a growing exodus of seasoned lawmakers.
Even before Biden’s debate, several Democrats in the 2024 election cycle—former Sens. Benjamin Cardin, 81, Tom Carper, 78, Debbie Stabenow, 74, and Joe Manchin, 77—had already announced their departures, signaling an overall shift.
New Blood Targets Open Seats
Durbin’s exit has already sparked ambition among younger leaders. Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, 20 years younger than Durbin, swiftly announced her candidacy for his seat.
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., 74, faces potential challenges in his 2028 primary, with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 35, emerging as a progressive contender.
Schumer’s approval ratings in New York recently hit a 20-year low, with a Siena College survey showing him 10 points underwater after backlash over his support for a GOP-led government funding bill.
In contrast, Ocasio-Cortez enjoys 47-33 favorability in the state, a significant improvement from 2021.
The push for younger leadership is gaining momentum. DNC vice chair David Hogg, 25, launched Leaders We Deserve, a project to fund primary challengers against older Democratic incumbents.
“Today’s party politics has an unwritten rule – if you win a seat, it’s yours for life. No one serious in your party will challenge you. That is a culture that we have to break,” Hogg wrote on his political website.
Defying the Trend
Not all veteran lawmakers are stepping aside. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, 91, remains untouched by retirement speculation, as does Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who, despite being older than Biden, was noted for his vigor during the 2024 campaign. Sanders has hinted at running for a fourth term in 2030 at age 89, with “Friends of Bernie Sanders” already listed in a Federal Election Commission filing.
On the Republican side, McConnell, 83, stepped down from leadership, replaced by the younger Sen. John Thune, R-S.D. Health concerns surfaced when McConnell froze during a 2024 press event, though aides insisted he was fine. His Senate seat has drawn interest from Rep. Andy Barr, 51, and former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, 39.
As the 2026 elections approach, even younger Democrats like Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., face tough re-election battles in a swing state, with potential Republican challengers like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, backed by Trump, and others like Rep. Earl “Buddy” Carter and Gov. Brian Kemp looming large.
