John Dingell, a Democrat from Michigan, is retiring after nearly 60 years in the House of Representatives. He is currently the longest-serving Congressman in history.
Dingell, 87, told the Detroit Free Press that he will retire after his 29th term. While his office had tried to quiet rumors that he planned to retire two weeks ago, Dingell said today that he will retire in 2015 after a long list of successes.
According to The New York Times, Dingell was a powerhouse in the Democratic party when it had the majority. He was previously the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee until 2008. His tenure has spanned 11 presidential administrations. During his tenure, he was well known for leading investigations into the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration.
Dingell has been married to his wife, Deborah, for over 30 years. The two are still powerful in both Washington and in their home state, as his wife is an executive in the auto industry. She considered a Senate run, but decided against it. Still, the party considers her a candidate to replace him.
Dingell’s predecessor in the Michigan seat was his father, who died in 1955. He was 29 when first elected.
image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
