Young GOP Candidates Test House Races

Joe Mitchell, a 29-year-old former state senator and real estate developer, is running for a congressional seat in northeast Iowa. The race for the state's second district is one of few considered tossups as voters show dissatisfaction with President Trump and Democrats gain ground in the House. Mitchell holds the president's endorsement. If he wins, he would join a new class of Gen Z Republicans in Washington next year.

The cohort will be small. Aside from Mitchell, only a handful of other Gen Z Republicans are seeking House seats this fall. One candidate runs in a reliably red district. The others face long odds in seats that are considered safe for Democrats. Mitchell says voters on the campaign trail respond to the presence of younger leaders. He noted that people across party lines want to see young people get involved.

Mitchell is fielding an anti-corruption platform that includes a maximum of six terms for House members. He also proposes a ban on congressional stock trading. The candidate has rejected donations from corporate PACs. He describes this focus as uniquely rooted in his generation, citing high levels of concern for economic wellbeing and distrust of institutions among Americans under 30. He stated that young people on both sides of the aisle are frustrated with the system.

Currently, Maxwell Frost is the only Gen Z member of the House. He is a 29-year-old Democrat from Florida. Two additional candidates are expected to win seats on Tuesday. Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old Democratic socialist, is favored in Colorado's 1st district. Michael Alfonso, a 26-year-old Republican, is expected to carry Wisconsin's 7th district. Alfonso is married to the daughter of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who previously held the seat from 2011 to 2019. If elected, Alfonso would be the first person born in the 2000s to serve in Congress.

Alfonso called his age his greatest advantage in an interview with Wisconsin Public Radio earlier this month. He said he shares the values of hard work, faith, and family with constituents in the 7th district. Running for Congress as a candidate in their 20s remains a rarity. The oldest members of Gen Z will turn 30 next year, meaning the generation is only just becoming eligible to serve in the House, which has a minimum age of 25.

A report from Future Caucus, a nonpartisan organization, found that just 4% of congressional candidates nationwide this cycle were part of Gen Z. That generation was the least likely to advance past the primary. Future Caucus data shows that a majority of Gen Z candidates this year ran as Democrats. Under a third filed as Republicans. Another 16% did not associate with either major party or selected a third party.

Conservative organizers are working to build a bench of young leaders at the local, state, and federal levels. Adam Pennings, executive director of Run Gen Z, said the organization needs to build up young people who are ready to lead when long-term serving members retire. The organization was initially founded and run by Mitchell. In late October, Run Gen Z announced endorsements for more than 220 Gen Z and millennial conservatives running across the country.

The slate includes Mitchell and Alfonso, along with longshot candidates such as Riley Owen. Owen is a 28-year-old Republican running in Utah's newly redrawn 1st congressional district, which heavily favors Democrats. Owen acknowledged the political realities of his district but remained optimistic. He said people are hungry for new solutions, fresh ideas, and a grassroots campaign. He added that the conservative movement has a bright future if it can provide solutions for people who want to start businesses and families.

Mitchell argues the future of the Republican Party is an America First party. He said this involves asking how policies help the American people, a trend he expects to come from younger candidates. He believes Vice President JD Vance and other members of Trump's cabinet hold that view. The meaning of America First has become a point of contention within the conservative movement, particularly as factions clash over the U.S. war with Iran.

The war has been a sore spot for Republicans running in tough contests, as Democrats link the conflict to rising costs. Mitchell has not come out against the war. He said Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon but cautioned that he does not support endless wars. When asked if Trump's agenda squares with his definition of America First, Mitchell said it does. He added that people can have a number of ways to interpret the definition.