THE ANALYSIS
Long-form, data-first, still not partisan.
Every piece here ties a current news story to actuarial data pulled from the site's own methodology. Nothing runs until it clears the same fact-verification gate as the rest of the site.
SEPTEMBER 2, 2026 · EDWARD J. MARKEY
Ed Markey Beat 'Generational Change' Again. He's 80 and Has Served 51 Years.
Ed Markey survived a primary built around his age. Here's what the actuarial numbers say about a 51-year Senate career at 80 years old.
AUGUST 31, 2026 · ANGUS S. KING, JR.
A King Dies at 89. Another King, Age 82, Has a 46% Shot at Finishing His Term
King Harald V of Norway died at 89. Senator Angus King is 82 with a 46% chance of finishing his term. The math is worth sitting with.
AUGUST 23, 2026
Which States Send the Oldest and Youngest Delegations to Congress?
See which states send the oldest and youngest delegations to Congress, ranked by average age, and learn how Too Damn Old calculates it.
AUGUST 18, 2026
Five Seats, Coin-Flip Odds, and a $131 Million Question Nobody's Asking
Five members of Congress are below 50% odds of finishing their term. Here's what that risk actually costs, and who's already lining up to run.
AUGUST 16, 2026
What Would It Cost Taxpayers If Congress Members' Seats Went Vacant?
Too Damn Old estimates $131M in special-election vacancy risk across Congress. Here's how that number is built and why it matters.
AUGUST 14, 2026
What Is the Age Gap Between the Oldest and Youngest Members of Congress?
Chuck Grassley is 92. Maxwell Frost is 29. That's a 63-year gap in the same Congress. Here's what that number actually means.
AUGUST 9, 2026
Which Members of Congress Have Served the Longest in Office?
Chuck Grassley and Ed Markey have each served 51 years in Congress. Here's how Too Damn Old tracks the longest tenures on Capitol Hill.
AUGUST 7, 2026 · MITCH MCCONNELL
Mitch McConnell Has a 36% Chance of Finishing His Term. Now There's a Health Emergency.
McConnell faces calls to disclose his health status. Our data shows just a 36% chance he completes a term that ends at age 85.
AUGUST 4, 2026
5 Members. 50/50 Odds. Here's Where the Movement Stands Today
5 members of Congress have less than a 50% chance of finishing their term. Here's the full State of the Movement update, numbers and all.
AUGUST 4, 2026 · MARCY KAPTUR
Marcy Kaptur, 80, Hospitalized After Hit-and-Run: What It Says About the House's Oldest Ranks
Rep. Marcy Kaptur, 80, was hospitalized after a hit-and-run. Here's what the actuarial data says about her seat, her tenure, and Congress's age problem.
AUGUST 2, 2026 · MITCH MCCONNELL
Speak or Resign: The Math Behind Beshear's Demand on McConnell's Health
Kentucky's governor wants McConnell to disclose his health status or step down. Here's what the actuarial numbers say about the odds he finishes his term.
AUGUST 1, 2026
Why Do Special Election Costs Vary So Much Between States?
California's special elections can cost $100M while Wyoming's cost $4M. Here's why the price tag swings so wildly by state, and what it means for you.
JULY 31, 2026
Who Are the Longest-Serving Members of Congress Right Now?
Chuck Grassley and Ed Markey have each served 51 years in Congress. Here's how Too Damn Old tracks the longest tenures on Capitol Hill.
JULY 30, 2026
What Would It Cost Taxpayers If Congress Members Left Early?
Too Damn Old estimates $128M in taxpayer risk from potential special elections. Here's how we calculate the cost of an aging Congress.
JULY 29, 2026
Which States Have the Oldest and Youngest Congressional Delegations?
See which states send the oldest and youngest lawmakers to Congress, ranked by average delegation age using Too Damn Old's live dataset.
JULY 29, 2026 · MITCH MCCONNELL
Beshear Tells McConnell to Prove He's Fit or Resign: What the Numbers Already Say
Kentucky's governor is publicly demanding McConnell prove his fitness to serve. Our actuarial data already had the odds at 36 percent.
JULY 28, 2026
How Accurate Are Too Damn Old's Death-in-Office Predictions So Far?
Too Damn Old tracks predicted vs. actual outcomes when members die in office. Here's the early track record, based on just one case so far.
JULY 27, 2026
How Does Too Damn Old Calculate the Odds a Member of Congress Finishes Their Term?
Too Damn Old uses SSA actuarial life tables to estimate the odds a member of Congress survives their term. Here's exactly how the math works.
JULY 26, 2026
What Is the Age Gap Between the Oldest and Youngest Members of Congress?
The oldest and youngest members of Congress are 63 years apart. Here's what that gap looks like and why it matters for how you read the numbers.
JULY 24, 2026
What Is the Average Age of Congress by Party?
A plain breakdown of Congress's age numbers by party: averages, how many are 65+, and how many are 80+. No spin, just the data.
JULY 24, 2026 · JOHN JAMES
R. James Woolsey Dies at 84: What a CIA Director's Death Says About Congress's Age Problem
R. James Woolsey's death at 84 is a reminder that age catches everyone. Here's what that means for a Congress with 192 members 65 and older.
JULY 23, 2026
House vs. Senate: Which Chamber Is Older and Less Likely to Finish Its Term?
Senate members average 65 years old with an 84% term-completion rate. House members average 58 with 96%. Here is how the two chambers compare.
JULY 22, 2026
State of the Movement: 88 Alternatives, 4,871 Challengers, $128M at Risk
A cold accounting of the movement toward a younger Congress: alternatives identified, challengers declared, and the taxpayer cost of vacancy risk.
JULY 22, 2026
Why Do Special Election Costs Vary So Much by State?
California's special elections run $100M, Wyoming's run $4M. Here's the data on why special-election costs vary so much by state.
JULY 21, 2026
Which States Have the Oldest and Youngest Congressional Delegations?
A state-by-state look at which congressional delegations skew oldest and youngest, ranked by average member age using Too Damn Old's live dataset.
JULY 20, 2026
How Does Too Damn Old Calculate the Odds a Member of Congress Finishes Their Term
How Too Damn Old uses SSA actuarial life tables to estimate the probability a senator or representative survives their current term.
JULY 20, 2026 · MITCH MCCONNELL
McConnell's Hospitalization and the 36% Question: What the Actuarial Table Says
Mitch McConnell confirms a fall caused his hospitalization. Too Damn Old runs the numbers on his 36% completion probability and what a vacancy would cost.
JULY 19, 2026
Do Members of Congress Die in Office? Too Damn Old's Predicted-vs-Actual Track Record
Too Damn Old tracks predicted vs actual outcomes for members who die in office. Here is the full track record so far: one case, and a lot of caveats.
JULY 17, 2026
How Much Would Congressional Vacancies Cost Taxpayers? A $128M Look
A breakdown of the $128M in projected special-election costs tied to congressional vacancy risk, and how Too Damn Old calculates it.
JULY 17, 2026 · MITCH MCCONNELL
McConnell Breaks Silence on Fall, Hospitalization: What the Actuarial Math Says
Mitch McConnell confirms a fall led to hospitalization. A look at the actuarial numbers behind his seat, and what they mean for Kentucky and Congress.
JULY 15, 2026
How Big Is the Age Gap Between Congress's Oldest and Youngest Members?
Chuck Grassley is 92. Maxwell Frost is 29. That's a 63-year gap in Congress right now. Here's how Too Damn Old tracks it.
JULY 13, 2026 · MITCH MCCONNELL
McConnell's Hospitalization and the 36% Question: What the Actuarial Math Says
Mitch McConnell, 84, breaks silence on his hospitalization. Too Damn Old runs the numbers on completion probability, term risk, and the $11M question.
JULY 12, 2026 · LINDSEY GRAHAM
Lindsey Graham Dies at 71: When an 82% Completion Probability Meets Reality
Sen. Lindsey Graham has died at 71. A look at the actuarial data behind his term, the $12M vacancy cost, and what it says about an aging Congress.
JULY 12, 2026 · MITCH MCCONNELL
Mitch McConnell Is 84 and Hospitalized. The Actuarial Tables Already Knew This Was Coming.
McConnell's hospitalization isn't a surprise to SSA life tables: his term carried a 36% completion probability. What 21 senators over 75 mean for the math.