Intern Adrian Elimian contributed research to this report.

Don’t let the name fool you: The latest additions to Congress’ unofficial “55 and under” community still have their share of gray hair and grandkids.

In 2024, 77 representatives made their way to the House after winning their general elections with less than 55% of the vote. It’s a group that spans a huge range of political ideologies and electoral talents, from unexpected juggernauts like Democratic Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08) to perennial underperformers such as Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert (CO-03).

With the exception of Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04), who won reelection with 53% by defeating a fellow Republican, the “55 and under” caucus makes up a preliminary grouping of potential House targets for both parties in 2026. Though margin of victory is often used when comparing electoral performances, vote share also has its place. Winning a race with less than 55% typically signals that a decent share of the electorate remains unsure about their representative, even if they still defeated their runner-up by a sizable margin.

This metric is perhaps most

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