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  5. Americans over age 65 run the country. Here are 7 charts that show how they hold more power than everyone else.

Americans over age 65 run the country. Here are 7 charts that show how they hold more power than everyone else.

Andy Kiersz   

Americans over age 65 run the country. Here are 7 charts that show how they hold more power than everyone else.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is 69 years old, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is 80.Alex Wong/Getty Images
  • Older Americans dominate the political and economic landscape.
  • The highest seats of governmental and corporate power have a disproportionate share of Americans over the age of 65.
  • Older Americans exercise their political power more through much higher turnout rates in elections, and they tend to be far wealthier than younger families.

One of the most important power blocs in America is people over the age of 65.

Older Americans dominate the highest seats of political and economic power in the country, and Americans over age 65 are much more likely to vote and tend to be much wealthier than younger Americans.

Americans in their 60s, 70s, and 80s are highly overrepresented in high political office, and the average age of CEOs at their time of hire has been ticking up for several years.

Because of their higher propensity to vote, Americans over 65 are a key target for any politician seeking office, and polling suggests they may be a decisive group in the 2020 election.

Here are seven charts that illustrate the power older Americans hold in the country's political and economic life.

As of 2019, adults over age 65 made up about 16% of the US population, and that share is growing.

But older Americans are overrepresented in the seats of power. About half of current senators are over age 65.

The 2020 presidential race is the first election where both major party candidates are septuagenarians.

The political power of older Americans isn't just limited to politicians. Ordinary Americans over 65 tend to vote at higher rates than younger citizens do.

That trend is likely to hold true this year.

Older Americans also dominate private sector leadership.

Older Americans also tend to be wealthier than younger Americans.

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