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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhy US Senators Are So Old
That's simple. As elected offices go, the Senate is #2 in the hierarchy, topped only by the Presidency. The House of Representatives is #3. A successful run for the Senate almost always requires that the candidate has held a long string of elected public offices. Very few Senators are elected for whom a Senate seat is the first or second public elected office they have held.
The most typical route for becoming a Senator is to start with a state legislative office or even a lower-grade elected local office. After building a reputation in a state house, the next step is typically a run for state senate, where you get to build even more political credibility. Then, you can run for a seat in the US House of Representatives. Each step usually requires multiple terms in the lower office to build that credibility to make you a viable candidate for the next level. After being in the House of Representative for a few terms, you can begin thinking about running for the Senate.
Each step up involves a larger group of voters who need to know who you are, what you stand for, and whether you are capable of doing the job you seek. In the case of a US Senatorial candidate, your constituency is an entire state.
The need to expand your political credibility means that you need to hold lower offices and advance through hard work that benefits your constituency.
So, that credibility building takes many years. By the time you run successfully for the Senate for the first time, you're likely to be in your 50s at a minimum. Once in the Senate, you can win re-election, primarily through valuable service to your constituency.
Being a US Senator is a job that demands a great deal of experience and public approval. That is true in almost every case. There are few exceptions to that path. John Glenn is an excellent example of someone who came to the Senate through a different path that wasn't political. But, there are few such examples.
VarryOn
(2,343 posts)People powder your ass constantly while you have a easy, hardly accountable job with a staff that does what little 'work' there is. A sweet gig if you can get it. No wonder they never want to leave!
MineralMan
(146,308 posts)You don't do much, but what you do affects an entire nation, doesn't it?
VarryOn
(2,343 posts)MineralMan
(146,308 posts)Since Senators have to run for re-election only every six years, voters get used to them being in that office. Incumbency is a very powerful thing in that office. That explains why we have so many superannuated Senators still in office.
Note: I wrote that last sentence just so I could use the word, "superannuated."
blm
(113,061 posts)He went to work investigating the corruption of Reagan and Bush administrations that led to exposing IranContra, BCCI, and CIA drug running. He surrounded himself with an excellent staff to help him pursue these crimes. He angered and alienated most of DC during those first two senate terms. He never slacked during any of his terms of office.
MerryHolidays
(7,715 posts)That is a great aspiration for many in Congress (House and Senate).
MineralMan
(146,308 posts)I'd have to look and see how many Governors in the 50 states have served in Congress before they became Governor. I think it is probably a smaller number than you might think. The Governor's office is part of another hierarchy that comes from state legislatures primarily, I believe.
IbogaProject
(2,815 posts)It becomes an aged perpetuity as many leave in death and their replacement is nominated and get to run as an incumbent.
PoindexterOglethorpe
(25,857 posts)Altogether a total of 301 Senators have died while in office.
But only 12 in the past 30 plus years. So no, many do not get appointed.
Ocelot II
(115,693 posts)of incumbency - depending on how long they've held the seat before having to run for a full term. The vast majority are elected, usually after they've been around for awhile in some other office so they are already fairly well-known. But once they hit the senate they've scored a sinecure and it becomes very difficult to dislodge them.
Buckeyeblue
(5,499 posts)We've had people from both political parties spend 30-40 years in the Senate. That far to long. New people bring new ideas (both good and bad).
The House should have a limit, the Senate should have a limit, along with the limit that exists for the presidency. And let's not forget the limit that should apply to SC justices.
People get addicted to the attention of being in office. It's dangerous, really.
MineralMan
(146,308 posts)Putting a limit on the number of terms for the House and Senate would require a constitutional amendment. And making that happen is highly, highly unlikely. Both are constitutional offices, you see, and such an amendment would stand no chance if initiated by Congress itself. So, it's not going to happen, most likely. The way Senators were chosen, however, was changed by a constitutional amendment, Amendment 17, which was passed by Congress in 1912 and ratified by the states in 1913. Before that amendment came into effect, Senators were chosen by state legislatures, instead of being elected by voters.
Anyhow, what you suggest would require a new constitutional amendment.
Buckeyeblue
(5,499 posts)It's just another example of how our constitution and virtual inability to change it has in many ways hamstrung us as a country.
Hekate
(90,690 posts)
end up with tenure.
Better to ban lobbyists.
inthewind21
(4,616 posts)would have been sufficient.
Why US senators are so old - Money
dpibel
(2,831 posts)Patty Murray. Maria Cantwell. John Ossoff. Raphael Warnock. Joe Biden. Hilary Clinton.
I suppose the validity of your proposition depends on your definition of "few exceptions" and "few such examples."
I've added six to your one, and done it off the top of my head, without research.
I'm not convinced it's as rare as you're making it out to be.
MineralMan
(146,308 posts)"Few" out of 100 works. You're welcome to create a detailed list of those who don't match my statement. It will still be few, percentage-wise.
We had one from my own state, actually. For a while, anyhow. Al Franken certainly didn't come up through the ranks. He's not a Senator any longer, though.
Celerity
(43,379 posts)NONE of these 29 were ever Governors, State cabinet level elected officers, Lt Govs or US House reps
Tuberville
Mark Kelly
Murkowski
Feinstein
Michael Bennet
Coons
Rubio
Ossoff
Warnock
Braun
Ernst
Mitch McConnell
Rand Paul
Susan Collins
Warren
Klobuchar
Tester
Fischer
Sasse
Booker
Tillis
Merkley
Bill Hagerty
Ted Cruz
Mike Lee
Pat Leahy
Patty Murray
Ron Johnson
John Barrasso
dsc
(52,162 posts)though without political experience. Biden was an out and out fluke. When he was nominated no one thought he could win since the incumbent was popular and then the GOP fell apart. He ran in the best Democratic year in my lifetime. Both Murray and Cantwell were accomplished women when they ran and won. Though both were in the late 30's early 40's. But they are still Senators now in their 60's and 70's.
ripcord
(5,399 posts)MineralMan
(146,308 posts)That's also part of it. If a Senator serves his or her constituency well, he or she tends to get re-elected for additional terms.
Voters can replace Senators every six years. Most often, they don't choose to do so, though. Funny how democracy works, isn't it?
There have been term limits since the beginning. House representatives serve for two years. Senators serve for six. If either wants to stay in that job, they have to win another election. The voters can fire them at the end of their term. Simple.
ripcord
(5,399 posts)Like in this forum people want limiting older people and have no interest on just leaving it to the voters to judge qualifications, that is why it is blatant ageism.
MineralMan
(146,308 posts)Too many old people! We need a constitutional amendment!
Leith
(7,809 posts)considering the etymology of the word senator.
It shares the Latin root sen-, meaning "old." Other words with that root are senior and senile.