Congress is still in the midst of the longest government shutdown. And many lawmakers are retiring early, frustrated by the bitter partisan gridlock, endless fundraising demands, intense media coverage and fears of political violence.
Yet at least a dozen former members and senators are trying to make a comeback in 2026, including some who have been gone for decades.
“That’s been the No. 1 question I get,” said former Rep. Melissa Bean (D-Ill.), who’s running to return to Congress 16 years after she lost reelection. “‘Are you sure you want to come back to this dysfunctional town?’ And I said, ‘Well, it’s better than throwing my shoe at the television, right?’ So it’s hard to stay on the sidelines.”
It’s not uncommon for members to run again a cycle or two after they lose reelection while their political operations are still in place. A couple of the 2026 hopefuls fall in that category: former Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) and former Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio).
But this cycle, the interest in returning to the Capitol has gone far beyond recent departees.
Redistricting fallout. The mid-decade redistricting push has certainly contributed to this trend. Former Democratic Rep. Ben McAdams (Utah) is expected to launch a run this week for a House seat after a Utah court mandated a new congressional map for the state.
In Virginia, former Democratic Rep. Elaine Luria is likely to run for her old House seat, which could get more favorable if Democrats’ redistricting gambit succeeds. McAdams lost in 2020, and Luria lost in 2022.
In California, the creation of a Latino-opportunity seat in Los Angeles County opened up a comeback bid for former Democratic Rep. Hilda Solis. Solis left Congress in 2009 to serve as then-President Barack Obama’s Labor secretary.
House members leaving deep blue districts to run statewide have also created opportunities. Bean is looking to return to her old district now that the incumbent, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), is running for Senate. Former Democratic Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (Ill.) is running for Rep. Robin Kelly’s (D-Ill.) seat, which is open because she’s also running for Senate. And former Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.) is eyeing a run for Rep. Mikie Sherrill’s (D-N.J.) blue seat rather than the swing seat he lost in 2022.
In Maryland, former Rep. David Trone (D-Md.) does not seem to be waiting for his district to become open again. Trone is considering primarying his successor, Democratic Rep. April McClain Delaney, in the 6th District.
Returning Republicans. The trend is far less pronounced on the GOP side — a disparity that makes sense since the midterm is usually punishing to the party in power.
But in New Hampshire, two former senators — Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) and John Sununu (R-N.H.) — are facing off for an open Senate seat. Brown left the chamber in 2013, while Sununu departed in 2009.
The person looking to return after the longest time out of office is former Rep. Van Hilleary (R-Tenn.). He retired in 2003 after failing to beat Phil Bredesen in the gubernatorial race. Hilleary is now running to replace his former boss, Rep. John Rose (R-Tenn.), who is leaving his district to run for governor. Hilleary served as Rose’s chief of staff.
