Former Congressmen Oppose Term and Age Limits
Former Reps. Bob Gibbs and Dave Loebsack discussed their congressional experiences at Iowa State's Memorial Union.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Legislative Policy
Live Poll
Should Congress have term limits or age limits for its members?
Former Rep. Bob Gibbs of Ohio and former Rep. Dave Loebsack of Iowa spoke at the Memorial Union, reflecting on their time in Congress. Both said they do not support term or age limits for members of Congress.
Why it matters
The discussion puts a spotlight on ongoing debates about whether limits should be placed on how long lawmakers serve or how old they can be. The former congressmen argued that people age differently and experience varying physical and cognitive changes, so a fixed age cutoff would be arbitrary.
Gibbs served six terms in the U.S. House, while Loebsack served seven and retired undefeated after 17 elections. Loebsack first ran in 2006 and won just 2.8% of the vote in that initial race.
The players
Bob Gibbs
Former Republican congressman who represented Ohio and served six terms in the U.S. House, previously working at the Farm Bureau and in the Ohio Senate.
Dave Loebsack
Former Democratic congressman who served seven terms in the U.S. House after a 24-year career as a political science professor at Cornell College.
The details
The former congressmen spoke at the Memorial Union on a Monday as part of a lecture event, with Haley Stiles, a postdoctoral research associate for the Center for Cyclone Civics, moderating the discussion. Loebsack said he regretted a vote on a bill concerning immigrants from the Middle East because of his family.
Timeline
2006: Loebsack first ran for Congress.
2010: Gibbs was elected to the U.S. Congress.
November 10, 2026: The former congressmen spoke at the Memorial Union.
Political Context
Two former House members with long tenures argued against proposals to limit how long lawmakers serve or how old they may be. Their view that aging affects individuals differently challenges fixed age-based restrictions on congressional service.
Limits on terms or age would directly affect who is eligible to run for Congress and how long voters can keep a representative they support. The former members' position suggests such rules would remain a question for voters rather than a fixed legal standard.
The takeaway
Experienced former lawmakers argue that age and length of service should be judged individually rather than by blanket rules. Voters weighing term or age limits may want to consider how those rules would apply to members with different levels of health and experience.
Further reading
For more on the policy debates behind this discussion, explore Legislative Policy coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Iowa State Daily.
Live Poll
Should Congress have term limits or age limits for its members?
