Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican from Iowa and the longest-serving current member of the U.S. Senate, has filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) for the 2028 election. This procedural filing comes as Grassley, currently 93 years old, considers seeking a ninth term that would conclude when he is 101. The move signals his openness to another campaign, despite the significant age he would reach during the term.
"Ask me the question in a couple of years." Senator Chuck Grassley, Republican of Iowa.
The filing, made on October 11, 2026, does not represent a final decision to run, according to the senator. In August 2025, when he was 91, Grassley told reporters he would make his decision on a potential 2028 run "in a couple of years." He indicated that his choice would be based on factors consistent with his previous campaigns, primarily family considerations and his confidence in his continued ability to effectively perform the duties of a senator.
Grassley's tenure in Congress spans more than half a century. He was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1974, serving from 1975 to 1981. He then successfully ran for the Senate, where he has remained ever since. At the time of the October 2026 report, Grassley had accumulated 44 years in the Senate, placing him as the sixth-longest-serving senator in American history. The record for Senate service is held by the late Democratic Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia, who served 51 years.
In 2022, Grassley secured his eighth Senate term, defeating Democratic challenger Michael Franken with approximately 56% of the vote. While a comfortable victory, the margin was narrower than many of his prior election wins. His current term is set to conclude in 2028, at which point he would be 95 years old.
Beyond his extensive tenure, Senator Grassley holds influential leadership positions in Washington. He serves as the president pro tempore of the Senate, a role typically held by the most senior senator of the majority party, placing him third in the line of presidential succession. Additionally, he chairs the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee, a position that has frequently positioned him at the center of significant legislative and political debates, particularly concerning judicial nominations and Senate procedures.
One notable instance highlighting Grassley's commitment to Senate traditions involved a public disagreement with President Donald Trump over the Judiciary Committee’s long-standing "blue slip" practice. This tradition allows senators to effectively block the confirmation of federal judicial nominees slated to serve in their home states. President Trump had repeatedly criticized the blue slip system, asserting it allowed senators to impede his judicial appointments. The President also publicly claimed via social media that he had played a role in securing Grassley’s previous re-election.
Despite pressure from a president of his own party, Grassley steadfastly defended the blue slip practice. He argued that the system had historically benefited Republicans, particularly during the Biden administration, by helping to prevent the confirmation of numerous liberal judicial nominees to the federal bench. Grassley contended that these vacancies could then be filled by conservative judges under a Republican president, as reported by the Iowa Capital Dispatch. This principled defense underscored Grassley's willingness to uphold institutional norms even when it meant differing with the executive branch.
As the 2028 election cycle approaches, Senator Grassley continues to keep his political options open. While he has not yet formally announced a campaign for a ninth term, he has also made it clear that a decision to retire is not yet final. The prospect of the longest-serving current senator seeking another term at such an advanced age ensures that his future political intentions will remain a significant point of discussion in national politics.
