| Longest Serving Senators | |
These 25 individuals have served the longest U.S. Senate terms as of January 15, 2013.
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Senator |  |
Dates of Service | |
Length of Service | |
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1. Robert C. Byrd (D-WV) | |
Jan 3, 1959 to Jun 28, 2010 | | 51 years, 5 months, 26 days | |
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2. Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI) | |
Jan 3, 1963 to Dec 17, 2012 | | 49 years, 11 months, 15 days | |
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3. Strom Thurmond (R-SC) | |
Dec 14, 1954 to Apr 4, 1956 | | 47 years, 5 months, 8 days | |
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4. Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) | |
Nov 7, 1962 to Aug 25, 2009 | | 46 years, 9 months, 19 days | |
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5. Carl T. Hayden (D-AZ) | |
Mar 4, 1927 to Jan 3, 1969 | | 41 years, 9 months, 30 days | |
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6. John Stennis (D-MS) | |
Nov 5, 1947 to Jan 3, 1989 | | 41 years, 1 month, 29 days | |
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7. Ted Stevens (R-AK) | |
Dec 24, 1968 to Jan 3, 2009 | | 40 years, 10 days | |
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8. Patrick J. Leahy (D-VT) | |
Jan 3, 1975 to present | | 38 years, 2 months, 12 days | |
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9. Ernest F. Hollings (D-SC) | |
Nov 9, 1966 to Jan 3, 2005 | | 38 years, 1 month, 25 days | |
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10. Richard B. Russell (D-GA) | |
Jan 12, 1933 to Jan 21, 1971 | | 38 years, 10 days | |
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11. Russell Long (D-LA) | |
Dec 31, 1948 to Jan 3, 1987 | | 38 years, 3 days | |
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12. Francis E. Warren (R-WY) | |
Nov 18, 1890 to Mar 3, 1893 | | 37 years, 4 days | |
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13. James Eastland (D-MS) | |
Jun 30, 1941 to Sep 28, 1941 | | 36 years, 2 months, 24 days | |
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14. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) | |
Jan 3, 1977 to present | | 36 years, 2 months, 12 days | |
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15. Warren Magnuson (D-WA) | |
Dec 14, 1944 to Jan 3, 1981 | | 36 years, 20 days | |
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16. Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE) | |
Jan 3, 1973 to Jan 15, 2009 | | 36 years, 13 days | |
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17. Pete V. Domenici (R-NM) | |
Jan 3, 1973 to Jan 3, 2009 | | 36 years | |
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17. Richard Lugar (R-IN) | |
Jan 3, 1977 to Jan 3, 2013 | | 36 years | |
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17. Claiborne Pell (D-RI) | |
Jan 3, 1961 to Jan 3, 1997 | | 36 years | |
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20. Kenneth D. McKellar (D-TN) | |
Mar 4, 1917 to Jan 3, 1953 | | 35 years, 10 months | |
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21. Milton R. Young (R-ND) | |
Mar 12, 1945 to Jan 3, 1981 | | 35 years, 9 months, 22 days | |
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22. Ellison D. Smith (D-SC) | |
Mar 4, 1909 to Nov 17, 1944 | | 35 years, 8 months, 13 days | |
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23. Allen Joseph Ellender (D-LA) | |
Jan 3, 1937 to Jul 27, 1972 | | 35 years, 6 months, 24 days | |
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24. William Boyd Allison (R-IA) | |
Mar 4, 1873 to Aug 4, 1908 | | 35 years, 5 months | |
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25. John McClellan (D-AR) | |
Jan 3, 1943 to Nov 28, 1977 | | 34 years, 11 months | |