With the exception of Supreme Court justices, who are appointed for life, job security can be a major challenge in Washington D.C. — particularly for members of the House of Representatives. Unlike their congressional counterparts in the Senate, who face reelection every six years, members of the House are elected every two years. 

Without term limits, members of the House can, in theory, serve for decades — but this does not happen often. The majority of the more than 430 members of the House of Representatives have served for no more than six years — fewer years than a single term of a U.S. Senator. 

Using data from congress.gov 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the tenure of all current members of the House of Representatives to identify the longest-serving Republicans in the House. Lawmakers are ranked on cumulative service, even if their terms were not consecutive or their district changed. Though the number of Democrats who have held office since the 1980s and 1990s is more than double the number of Republican lawmakers with similar tenure, the two longest serving House members are Republican. 

Remaining popular enough to win elections is critical for elected officials in the legislative branch. The Republican House members on this list have proved more than capable of that, winning anywhere from five elections to more than 20 each. Though they face reelection less frequently, U.S. senators need to remain popular as well. Here is a look at America’s most and least popular senators. 

A representative’s reason for leaving office is by no means limited to losing an election. House members will often run for another elected office or simply retire. Others choose to leave public service for more lucrative opportunities in the private sector. Here is a look at 76 richest members of congress.

Click here to see the longest-serving Republicans in the House
Click here to see the longest-serving Democrats in the House