In a closely divided Congress, aging lawmakers are a problem for Democrats

Rep. Jerry Nadler, the 18-term Democratic incumbent running for reelection in New York, began his political career more than 20 years before Liam Elkind, his primary opponent, was born. Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images

The 2026 midterms are more than a year away, but some high-profile primary election battles in the Democratic Party are gaining national attention. Much of that attention is focused on the age of the candidates.

Thanks to Texas’ proposed mid-decade redistricting, a showdown is looming between two Democrats serving in the U.S. House of Representatives from that state: 36-year-old Rep. Greg Casar has made clear his intention to run against a colleague, Rep. Lloyd Doggett, despite Doggett’s public pressure on Casar to run in a different district. Doggett is 78 years old and has served in the House since 1994.