Young Republicans Face Steep Odds in Congressional Bids

Joe Mitchell, 29, is competing to represent Iowa's second congressional district in a race that polls show is one of the few genuine tossups in the country. If he wins, he will join a rare group of first-generation Gen Z Republicans entering the U.S. House.

Mitchell has received the endorsement of President Donald Trump. His campaign focuses on what he calls an anti-corruption platform. He is proposing term limits that would cap House service at six terms and a ban on stock trading by members of Congress. He also stated that he has rejected donations from corporate political action committees.

The candidate said he is hearing from voters across party lines who want to see younger people take on leadership roles. "I think people are looking for hope, regardless of what party they're in," Mitchell said. "They want to see young people get involved, and I hear that everywhere we go."

Mitchell is not alone in this demographic, but he is an exception in terms of competitive odds. Only a few other Gen Z Republicans are running for House seats this fall. One candidate is in a reliably red district. The others are challenging for seats that are considered safe for Democrats.

Currently, only one member of the House belongs to Generation Z: Florida Democrat Maxwell Frost, who is 29. Two more candidates are projected to win their seats on Election Day. Colorado Democrat Melat Kiros, 29, is favored to win her district. In Wisconsin, 26-year-old Republican Michael Alfonso is expected to carry the 7th district, a heavily Republican area.

Alfonso is a political newcomer who is also endorsed by Trump. He is married to the daughter of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who previously held the Wisconsin seat from 2011 to 2019. If elected, Alfonso would be the first person born in the 2000s to serve in Congress. He described his age as his greatest advantage in an interview with Wisconsin Public Radio this month.

Despite these individual stories, young candidates remain a small slice of the political field. A report from Future Caucus, a nonpartisan group, found that just 4% of congressional candidates nationwide this cycle are part of Gen Z. This generation was the least likely of any cohort to survive the primary process.

The data shows a clear partisan split among young candidates. A majority of Gen Z candidates running for Congress this year are Democrats. Under a third filed as Republicans. Another 16% did not affiliate with either major party or chose a third party. This stands in contrast to the high profile of young Democratic candidates in previous election cycles.

Organizations are working to build a bench of young conservative leaders. Adam Pennings, executive director of Run Gen Z, said the group is preparing candidates for future leadership roles. The organization announced endorsements for more than 220 Gen Z and millennial conservative candidates in late October. This slate includes Mitchell, Alfonso, and longshot candidates like Riley Owen, a 28-year-old Republican running in Utah's newly drawn 1st district.

Owen acknowledged the difficulty of his race in a heavily Democratic district. He said voters are hungry for new faces and fresh ideas. Mitchell believes the Republican Party is moving toward an America First identity. He said this approach asks how policies help the American people. However, the definition of America First has become a point of contention within the party, especially regarding the ongoing war with Iran. Mitchell has not come out against the war, stating that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, but he does not support endless wars.