The real reasons US politicians are getting older
The article examines the trend of aging politicians in the United States, often referred to as a gerontocracy. It highlights the lack of younger representation in government and explores the reasons behind the longevity of senior lawmakers.
Why it matters
The aging of political leadership raises critical questions about governance, health, and the representation of younger generations in democratic systems.
The real reasons US politicians are getting older
By James FitzGerald US reporter Not many US politicians have endured for as long as Hal Rogers, who will go into November's midterm elections seeking his 24th term in the House of Representatives.
The 88-year-old Republican has represented Kentucky's 5th congressional district since 1981, making him the longest serving member of the House of Representatives. He was elected on the same night Ronald Reagan won his first presidential term under the slogan "Let's make America great again", a phrase later revived by Donald Trump.
Among the challengers Rogers beat to win the nomination this year was one 60 years his junior. But Rogers, born in the 1930s, is far from the only senior US politician to have stuck at the job into their 80s.
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