These 25 individuals have served the longest U.S. Senate terms as of July 29, 2014.
Senator |
Dates of Service |
Length of Service | |||
1. Robert C. Byrd (D-WV) |
Jan 3, 1959 to Jun 28, 2010 |
51 years, 5 months, 26 days | |||
2. Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI) |
Jan 3, 1963 to Dec 17, 2012 |
49 years, 11 months, 15 days | |||
3. Strom Thurmond (R-SC) |
Dec 14, 1954 to Apr 4, 1956 |
47 years, 5 months, 8 days | |||
4. Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) |
Nov 7, 1962 to Aug 25, 2009 |
46 years, 9 months, 19 days | |||
5. Carl T. Hayden (D-AZ) |
Mar 4, 1927 to Jan 3, 1969 |
41 years, 9 months, 30 days | |||
6. John Stennis (D-MS) |
Nov 5, 1947 to Jan 3, 1989 |
41 years, 1 month, 29 days | |||
7. Ted Stevens (R-AK) |
Dec 24, 1968 to Jan 3, 2009 |
40 years, 10 days | |||
8. Patrick J. Leahy (D-VT) |
Jan 3, 1975 to present |
39 years, 6 months, 27 days | |||
9. Ernest F. Hollings (D-SC) |
Nov 9, 1966 to Jan 3, 2005 |
38 years, 1 month, 25 days | |||
10. Richard B. Russell (D-GA) |
Jan 12, 1933 to Jan 21, 1971 |
38 years, 10 days | |||
11. Russell Long (D-LA) |
Dec 31, 1948 to Jan 3, 1987 |
38 years, 3 days | |||
12. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) |
Jan 3, 1977 to present |
37 years, 6 months, 27 days | |||
13. Francis E. Warren (R-WY) |
Nov 18, 1890 to Mar 3, 1893 |
37 years, 4 days | |||
14. James Eastland (D-MS) |
Jun 30, 1941 to Sep 28, 1941 |
36 years, 2 months, 24 days | |||
15. Warren Magnuson (D-WA) |
Dec 14, 1944 to Jan 3, 1981 |
36 years, 20 days | |||
16. Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE) |
Jan 3, 1973 to Jan 15, 2009 |
36 years, 13 days | |||
17. Pete V. Domenici (R-NM) |
Jan 3, 1973 to Jan 3, 2009 |
36 years | |||
17. Richard Lugar (R-IN) |
Jan 3, 1977 to Jan 3, 2013 |
36 years | |||
17. Claiborne Pell (D-RI) |
Jan 3, 1961 to Jan 3, 1997 |
36 years | |||
20. Kenneth D. McKellar (D-TN) |
Mar 4, 1917 to Jan 3, 1953 |
35 years, 10 months | |||
21. Milton R. Young (R-ND) |
Mar 12, 1945 to Jan 3, 1981 |
35 years, 9 months, 22 days | |||
22. Ellison D. Smith (D-SC) |
Mar 4, 1909 to Nov 17, 1944 |
35 years, 8 months, 13 days | |||
23. Thad Cochran (R-MS) |
Dec 27, 1978 to present |
35 years, 7 months, 3 days | |||
24. Carl Levin (D-MI) |
Jan 3, 1979 to present |
35 years, 6 months, 27 days | |||
25. Allen Joseph Ellender (D-LA) |
Jan 3, 1937 to Jul 27, 1972 |
35 years, 6 months, 24 days | |||