Voters in North Dakota on Tuesday supported a state constitutional amendment that would impose age restrictions on congressional candidates.
The new measure prohibits people from running for a House or Senate seat in North Dakota “if that person reaches 81 years of age by December 31 of the year immediately preceding the end of the term.”
61% of voters approved the measure on Tuesday, while 39% opposed it.
It is believed to be the country’s first measure imposing age limits on candidates running for federal office, but it is also expected to be challenged in court.
The move, which does not affect any of North Dakota’s current federal officeholders, comes as voters express concerns about the ages of President Joe Biden, who is 81, and former President Donald Trump, who turns 81. 78 years this week, as they each vie for another term as president.
There are currently three senators over the age of 80: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senators Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Bernie Sanders of Vermont. There is at least 10 members of Congress over 80 years, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former Whip Steny Hoyer.
Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer, who is seeking his second full term in the Senate and won an unopposed primary in North Dakota on Tuesday, said he opposes the measure and believes voters should vote for whoever they want, regardless of age.
“Limiting these decisions arbitrarily just doesn’t make sense to me,” Cramer told the Associated Press.
This story originally appeared on NBCNews.com read the full story
