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Since 1789 there have been 1,897 Americans who have served as United States Senators.
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Listed here are the twenty individuals who have served the longest terms as of January 3, 2008.
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Senator
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Dates of Service
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Length of Service
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1.
Robert C. Byrd
(D-WV)
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January 3, 1959 to present
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49 years
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2.
Strom Thurmond
(R-SC)
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December 24, 1954 to April 4, 1956
and November 7, 1956 to January 3, 2003
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47 years, 5.2 months
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3.
Edward M. Kennedy
(D-MA)
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November 7, 1962 to present
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45 years, 2 months
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4.
Daniel K. Inouye
(D-HI)
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January 3, 1963-present
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45 years
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5.
Carl T. Hayden
(D-AZ)
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March 4, 1927 to January 3, 1969
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41 years, 10.1 months
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6.
John C. Stennis
(D-MS)
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November 5, 1947 to January 3, 1989
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41 years, 2 months
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7.
Theodore F. Stevens
(R-AK)
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December 24, 1968 to present
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39 years
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8.
Ernest F. Hollings
(D-SC)
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November 9, 1966 to January 3, 2005
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38 years, 1.8 months
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9.
Richard B. Russell
(D-GA)
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January 12, 1933 to January 21, 1971
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38 years
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10.
Russell B. Long
(D-LA)
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December 31, 1948 to January 3, 1987
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38 years
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11.
Francis E. Warren
(R-WY)
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November 18, 1890 to March 3, 1893
and March 4, 1895 to November 24, 1929
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37 years
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12.
James O. Eastland
(D-MS)
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June 30, 1941 to September 28, 1941
and January 3, 1943 to December 27, 1978
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36 years, 3 months
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13.
Warren Magnuson
(D-WA)
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December 14, 1944 to January 2, 1981
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36 years
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14.
Claiborne Pell
(D-RI)
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January 3, 1961 to January 3, 1997
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36 years
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15.
Kenneth McKellar
(D-TN)
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March 4, 1917 to January 2, 1953
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35 years, 10 months
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16.
Milton Young
(R-ND)
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March 12, 1945 to January 2, 1981
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35 years, 9 months
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17.
Ellison D. Smith
(D-SC)
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March 4, 1909 to November 17, 1944
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35 years, 8 months
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18.
Allen J. Ellender
(D-LA)
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January 3, 1937 to July 27, 1972
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35 years, 7 months
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19.
William B. Allison
(R-IA)
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March 4, 1873 to August 4, 1908
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35 years, 5 months
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20.
Pete V. Domenici
(R-NM)
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January 3, 1973 to present
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35 years
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20.
Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
(D-DE)
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January 3, 1973 to present
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35 years
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