Maine Could Field Federal Delegation Where Every Member Is Over 70

Maine may soon have the oldest federal congressional delegation in the nation. If Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree win reelection, and former Republican Gov. Paul LePage wins the 2nd Congressional District, all four of the state’s federal lawmakers will be over 70 years old. This scenario would mark the first time in Maine’s history since statehood in 1820 that the entire delegation consists of members in their seventies or older.

The current ages of the potential delegation members are as follows: Collins is 73, Pingree is 71, LePage is 78, and independent Sen. Angus King is 82. The only member of the current delegation younger than 70 is Democratic Rep. Jared Golden, who is 44. Golden is retiring from his seat in the 2nd District. A review of historical records by The Maine Monitor confirmed that an all-70-plus delegation has never occurred in the state prior to this cycle.

The likelihood of this outcome depends on the results of the Nov. 3 election. In the 1st District, Pingree faces Republican challenger Ron Russell. Both candidates are in their early 70s, meaning a member over 70 will represent the district regardless of the winner. In the Senate race, Collins faces Democratic nominee Troy Jackson, who is 58. In the 2nd District, LePage faces Democratic nominee Matt Dunlap, who is 61.

Age has become a central topic in these campaigns. In the Senate race, the debate has focused more on seniority and time in office than on age specifically. Collins has defended her position leading the Senate appropriations committee, citing the federal funding it brings to Maine. Jackson has criticized Collins for reversing a 1996 pledge to serve only two terms. Collins disclosed in May that she has had a benign essential tremor for decades, stating it has no impact on her ability to serve. Jackson, who received his fifth pacemaker last November, said his heart issues began early in his legislative career.

In the 2nd District race, age and experience were prominent themes during debates. During an Oct. 2 debate hosted by WMTW, LePage and Dunlap agreed that voters should decide if there is a proper age limit for Congress. LePage told his opponent, "I’m older than Matt Dunlap. I have a lot more wisdom than Matt Dunlap." Dunlap responded that his government work experiences are far more diverse than LePage’s. In a later debate on Oct. 15, LePage explained his winter residence in Florida by noting he is a snowbird who no longer skis due to knee problems.

Political scientists note that age is increasingly part of the national political conversation. Mark Brewer, chair of the political science department at the University of Maine, said questions about age limits for the Supreme Court and the Senate are now front and center. He noted that younger Americans are showing frustration with the current political establishment, which may explain the strong support for anti-establishment candidates in recent primary races. This sentiment was visible in the Democratic Senate primary, where Gov. Janet Mills struggled against younger challenger Graham Platner before Platner withdrew from the race.

Maine’s demographics reflect the age of its potential delegation. According to 2025 U.S. Census Bureau data, the state has the oldest population in the country, with a median age of nearly 45. Russell, the 1st District Republican candidate, argued that representing the oldest population in the United States makes having an older delegation less of a concern. He stated that excluding people over 70 would remove effective problem-solvers from the political process.

Public opinion polls indicate widespread support for age limits in Congress. A poll conducted this year by NPR, PBS News, and Marist found that 80 percent of Americans support a maximum age limit for members of Congress. This debate is not new to Maine. In 1972, 48-year-old Rep. William Hathaway challenged 74-year-old Sen. Margaret Chase Smith. Hathaway argued for a mandatory retirement age of 70, while Chase Smith argued that younger politicians should work their way up as older ones retire.