Sen. Chuck Grassley, the 93-year-old Iowa Republican and oldest sitting member of Congress, said Wednesday he is not resigning, shutting down speculation that he might step aside after his party's rough night in the midterm elections.
A Grassley spokesperson told the Washington Examiner that the senator is not resigning, despite hopes from some GOP voters that he would quit early and let outgoing Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds appoint his replacement, according to HuffPost.
“He remains committed to delivering for the people of Iowa, who overwhelmingly elected him to a six-year term in 2022,” the spokesperson said.
Why Some Republicans Wanted Grassley to Resign
The math behind the resignation talk is simple. Grassley's current term runs through January 2029. If he were to leave office early while Reynolds is still governor, she could appoint a Republican to hold the seat. But after Tuesday's election, Democrat Rob Sand will be sworn in as Iowa's next governor, and he would pick Grassley's successor if a vacancy occurs on his watch.
Voters made that scenario real on Election Day. Sand, who has served as Iowa's state auditor since 2019, defeated Republican Zach Lahn to become the state's first Democratic governor since 2006, as HuffPost reported. The loss has some Iowa Republicans nervous about what happens to Grassley's seat if anything happens to him during the next four years.
Grassley Warned About This Scenario in September
Grassley himself flagged the stakes back in September at a Republican event, in remarks that now read as prophetic.
“At 93 years of age, I don't know how many more groups of Republicans like this I'm going to have the chance to talk to. I want to take advantage of it,” Grassley said at the time. “One of the reasons that I'm worried about who's going to be elected governor... I don't plan on dying in office, but if I did, I don't want a [Democratic] governor choosing my successor.”
In October, Grassley said he would wait until 2027 before deciding whether to seek a ninth Senate term.
“I'm concentrating on this year's election to get my fellow Republicans elected,” he said then.
National Picture Darkens for Senate Republicans
The pressure on Grassley comes as Democrats secured a 10-seat advantage in the U.S. Senate as of Thursday, a result widely read as a rebuke of President Donald Trump's second term. Every Senate seat held by an aging Republican is now under a microscope, and Grassley's is no exception.
As The Daily Beast reported, Grassley has no plans to let Tuesday's blue wave push him out before his term ends, even as many in his own party urge him to step aside quickly.
Grassley was first elected to the Senate in 1980 and will turn 95 in 2028, the year his current term expires. He has been a fixture of Iowa politics for more than four decades, known for his work on agriculture policy, oversight of federal agencies, and his famous habit of running every morning in Washington.
Questions About Grassley's Future in Iowa Politics
For Iowa Republicans, the question now is whether Grassley runs again in 2028 or retires and lets a new generation compete for an open seat. Iowa has trended Republican in recent cycles, with Trump carrying the state comfortably, but Tuesday's results showed the party is not invincible here.
Some party strategists argue a resignation while Reynolds is still in office would be the safest play, locking in a Republican appointee with the chance to build a record before facing voters. Others say Grassley has earned the right to make his own call, and that pushing out a senator who just won reelection in 2022 would send a terrible message about how the party treats its own.
Left-leaning outlets have been far less charitable. The New Republic argued Thursday that Grassley's stance reflects “the gerontocracy that plagues Congress, particularly in the Senate,” and said a 93-year-old “should be spending their time with their family and friends.” Critics also warn his refusal to resign leaves the Senate seat vulnerable if he passes away while Sand holds the governor's office.
Grassley's allies point to his 2022 landslide, when Iowans gave him another six-year term by a wide margin. He has also remained active in Senate oversight work, regularly pressing federal agencies on waste and abuse, a role that has made him a favorite among conservative voters who want accountability in Washington.
What Happens Next
The immediate answer is nothing. Grassley stays in office, Reynolds finishes her term, and Sand takes over as governor in January. Grassley has said he will decide on a 2028 campaign in 2027, which means Iowa Republicans face more than a year of uncertainty about who will carry the party's standard in the next Senate race.
If Grassley does run for a ninth term, he would be approaching 101 by the end of that term. If he retires, expect a crowded Republican primary and a hard-fought general election in a state that just showed it is willing to elect a Democrat statewide when the conditions are right.
FAQ
Is Chuck Grassley resigning?
No. A spokesperson said Wednesday that Grassley is not resigning and remains committed to serving the six-year term Iowans gave him in 2022.
Who chooses Grassley's replacement if his seat becomes vacant?
Under current circumstances, Iowa's governor would fill a Senate vacancy. After January, that governor will be Democrat Rob Sand, which is why some Republicans wanted Grassley to resign before Sand takes office.
Will Grassley run for reelection in 2028?
He has not said. Grassley stated in October that he would wait until 2027 to decide whether to seek a ninth term. He would be 95 on Election Day 2028.