Which current Senators will be lifers?

[Free Bird]

I'm thinking most in their late 70s and 80s. I mean, until he collapsed, nobody expected Inouye to die for a few more years, so anything is possible.

[Senate Minority Leader Lord Voldemort]

Shelby - AL
Feinstein - CA
Isakson - GA
Grassley - IA
Reid - NV
Inhofe - OK

[Free Bird]

Shelby - AL
Feinstein - CA
Isakson - GA
Grassley - IA
Reid - NV
Inhofe - OK

Funny. 85% of those are invincible

[Senate Minority Leader Lord Voldemort]

Shelby - AL
Feinstein - CA
Isakson - GA
Grassley - IA
Reid - NV
Inhofe - OK

Funny. 85% of those are invincible

Well, you do have to win reelections to be lifers.

Also forgot to say Leahy, VT.

[Edit]: I'm wavering on Feinstein though. She could pull a Kent Conrad and retire because Dorgan (Boxer) left.

[ElectionsGuy]

Grassely, Shelby, Feinstein, Cochran, and Reid

If I had to guess for a younger one - I'm going to be bold and say Cruz

[IceSpear]

Grassely, Shelby, Feinstein, Cochran, and Reid

If I had to guess for a younger one - I'm going to be bold and say Cruz

Would Cruz be able to survive 40+ years in Texas? Not that I'm a proponent of the "Texas will be blue within the decade!!11!!!" theory, but I have to wonder if a far right extremist will play well there in say...2042.

[Free Bird]

Grassely, Shelby, Feinstein, Cochran, and Reid

If I had to guess for a younger one - I'm going to be bold and say Cruz

Would Cruz be able to survive 40+ years in Texas? Not that I'm a proponent of the "Texas will be blue within the decade!!11!!!" theory, but I have to wonder if a far right extremist will play well there in say...2042.

Snowe and Collins could keep getting re-elected, even as Makne bluened in wave years.

[Maxwell]

Lankford will be a lifer, for sure.

[free my dawg]

Shelby, Grassley, Cochran, and Inhofe. Gonna go bold and say Rounds is the most likely out of the new blood.

[Xing]

Snowe and Collins could keep getting re-elected, even as Makne bluened in wave years.

Snowe and Collins are about as moderate as Republicans come these days. Cruz certainly isn't.

[Del Tachi]

Cochran's indicated retirement in 2020, so the only way he becomes a "lifer" is if he passes away before then.  Very unlikely.  He's only 77 and relatively healthy.  83 is not old for a U.S. Senator. 

[rpryor03]

Mikulski. No doubting that.

[Vega]

If I had to hazard a guess on any of the younger members, probably Brian Schatz. Barring him becoming VP or President (which he would great for, by the way), and that's unlikely sadly, he'll be staying the Senate like his predecessor before him.

[Mr. Smith]

Reid, Feinstein, Inhofe, Grassley, Hatch, Cochran, Shelby, McConnell (unless 2020 manages to be a reverse 1980, since not even 2008 knocked him off), Roberts, and Enzi.

[Free Bird]

Reid, Feinstein, Inhofe, Grassley, Hatch, Cochran, Shelby, McConnell (unless 2020 manages to be a reverse 1980, since not even 2008 knocked him off), Roberts, and Enzi.

Hatch has confirmed he's retiring in 18, so not him unless some freak thing happens

[Del Tachi]

Wicker's a good candidate to be a lifer, I'm pinning his retirement in 2036

[Intell]

Collins.

[H. Ross Peron]

I can see Sanders being a lifer.

[ElectionsGuy]

Grassely, Shelby, Feinstein, Cochran, and Reid

If I had to guess for a younger one - I'm going to be bold and say Cruz

Would Cruz be able to survive 40+ years in Texas? Not that I'm a proponent of the "Texas will be blue within the decade!!11!!!" theory, but I have to wonder if a far right extremist will play well there in say...2042.

His re-elections will get more challenging (especially if his ideology stays the same), but it will take significant opposition to dislodge him, even 20 years down the road.

[dmmidmi]

"Lifer" defined as someone who dies in office, dies immediately upon leaving office, or retires at a very old age?

[Nichlemn]

Of the freshman, Capito? Somewhat old for a freshman (61), won by a huge margin, in a state that has rapidly swung towards her party and has a history of long-serving Senators (including Byrd, the #1).

[Vosem]

"Lifer" defined as someone who dies in office, dies immediately upon leaving office, or retires at a very old age?

Lifer is someone who intends to die in office. Typically they don't, as they eventually get pushed out during their old age as both the party's identity and the identity of the area they represent start to shift beneath them. Examples of lifers who did hold on their whole lives include Robert Byrd and Dan Inouye. Examples of lifers whose districts shifted away from them might include Nick Rahall and Ike Skelton, elected to heavily Democratic districts that became more Republican as the years turned into decades. Examples of lifers who got scared by possible defeats include Jay Rockefeller and Chris Dodd, who overstayed their welcome. Examples of lifers who got old, rusty, and unable to compete include Alan Mollohan and Ralph Hall, who were defeated by ideologically similar but much younger opponents in primaries.

Note that I put a West Virginian into every category -- historically, the "lifer" attitude has been a big part of the state's political culture, though with the recent shifts we'll have to see if that'll continue to hold true.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Strom Thurmond managed to turn 100 as Senator, and not die in office.
Ironically, Trent Lott "wouldn't have had all these problems" he had if Thurmond had died a little sooner.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

John McCain, Lindsey Graham, Elizabeth Warren, Charles Grassley, Dianne Feinstein should she stay on in 2018, Richard Shelby, Rodger Wicker, Orrin Hatch, and Jeff Sessions

[Mr. Smith]

Everyone I listed but Hatch then.

Nah, I don't see Warren holding on for life, I reckon she'll resign for a cabinet position if given the chance...if not selected as Running Mate that is. Either way, she seems like someone who'd eventually get frustrated.