Thanks to an onslaught of gossipy new tell-all books, President Joe Biden’s age and the effect it had on his ultimately failed re-election campaign are back in the news. This is in turn reigniting the sometimes uncomfortable but important conversation about gerontocracy in politics, and way in which leaders staying long past their ability to capably serve has hurt our country.
Back in February, I made the public call for Democrats in Congress over the age of 70 to consider making this their last term. And now, just a few months later, the tide is beginning to turn.
A growing number of the party’s leaders are choosing to step aside: Senators Gary Peters, Dick Durbin, Jeanne Shaheen and Tina Smith have all announced that they won’t seek re-election in 2026. Representatives Gerry Connolly and Jan Schakowsky have done the same.
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