The U.S. Congress has an unprecedented number of family members of past and current senators, representatives and governors, USA Today reports.

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More than 50 elected officials in Washington have relatives that either served or still serve, but only Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., lays claim to being the wife of a former president.

A survey by the newspaper found four sets of siblings, four widows and scores of children. In contrast, 20 years ago, there were 24 elected members closely related to other elected officials.

One example this year sees two children vying for the same Democratic House nomination in Maryland: John Sarbanes, son of Sen. Paul Sarbanes, and Peter Beilenson, son of former California representative Anthony Beilenson.

Stephen Hess, author of "America's Political Dynasties," told the newspaper politics isn't much different than any other family business.

"If you're a baker, you leave a bakery," Hess said. "If you're a politician, you give them a nice gerrymandered district."