Question: who is currently the longest serving member of the senate
Answer: d Dates of service Total tenure Uninterrupted tenure Robert Byrd West Virginia January 3 , 1959 -- June 28 , 2010 51 years , 176 days 51 years , 176 days Daniel Inouye Hawaii January 3 , 1963 -- December 17 , 2012 49 years , 349 days 49 years , 349 days Strom Thurmond ( I ) South Carolina December 24 , 1954 -- April 7 , 1956 November 7 , 1956 -- January 3 , 2003 47 years , 159 days 46 years , 57 days Ted Kennedy Massachusetts November 7 , 1962 -- August 25 , 2009 46 years , 292 days 46 years , 292 days 5 5 Patrick Leahy Vermont Since January 3 , 1975 7004158510000000000 ♠ 43 years , 145 days 7004158510000000000 ♠ 43 years , 145 days 6 6 Carl Hayden Arizona March 4 , 1927 -- January 3 , 1969 41 years , 305 days 41 years , 305 days 7 7 Orrin Hatch Utah Since January 3 , 1977 7004151200000000000 ♠ 41 years , 145 days 7004151200000000000 ♠ 41 years , 145 days 8 8 John C.