America’s Longest-Ever-Serving Congressman To Retire

That would be Dearborn’s John Dingell.

Dingell, 87, told the Free Press that he’d reached the decision to retire at the end of his current term — his 29th full one — rather than run for re-electon because it was time, given a list of achievements that any other member of Congress would envy, and his continued frustration over partisan gridlock.

It comes at a time when many members of both parties are moving toward the exits in both the House and Senate. Michigan and metro Detroit are not only losing Dingell but U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, a widely respected Democrat with 35 years’ experience, who announced his retirement last year.

For weeks, rumors had circulated that Dingell — who last June surpassed the late U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia as the longest-serving member of Congress ever — might be considering retirement.

Dingell was first elected in 1955.

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.