Four young candidates enter Congress

Four members of Generation Z will likely serve in the U.S. House of Representatives after the November 3 election. Three are currently in Congress or expected to win, and a fourth is a longshot in a tough district. This marks the first time the chamber will include multiple candidates born in the 2000s.

Joe Mitchell, 29, is running for Iowa's second congressional district. The race is considered a tossup. Mitchell holds President Trump's endorsement. He is a former state senator and real estate developer. If he wins, he joins a small cohort of young Republicans in the chamber.

Maxwell Frost, 29, is the only current Gen Z member of Congress. He is a Democrat from Florida. Two others are expected to win their seats on Tuesday. Melat Kiros, 29, a Democratic socialist, is favored in Colorado's first district. Michael Alfonso, 26, a Republican, is expected to carry Wisconsin's seventh district.

Alfonso is married to the daughter of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. Duffy held the Wisconsin seat from 2011 to 2019. Alfonso is a political newcomer. In an interview with Wisconsin Public Radio, he called his age his greatest advantage. He said he shares the values of hard work, faith, and family with voters in the district.

According to Future Caucus, a nonpartisan organization, only 4% of congressional candidates this cycle are part of Generation Z. This group is the least likely generation to win primaries. Most Gen Z candidates ran as Democrats. Under a third filed as Republicans. Another 16% ran as independents or third-party candidates.

Mitchell argues that voters want hope and young leadership. He proposed term limits for House members, capped at six terms. He also supports banning congressional stock trading. Mitchell has rejected donations from corporate PACs. He describes his approach as an anti-corruption platform rooted in generational distrust of institutions.

Adam Pennings is the executive director of Run Gen Z. The organization helps young conservatives run for office. Mitchell founded the group. Pennings said young people need a seat at the table to prepare for future leadership. In late October, the group endorsed more than 220 Gen Z and millennial conservative candidates nationwide.

Riley Owen, 28, is a Republican running for Utah's newly redrawn first congressional district. The seat heavily favors Democrats. Owen acknowledged the political realities of his race. He said voters are hungry for new solutions and fresh ideas. He believes a grassroots campaign can bridge the gap.

Mitchell defines the future of the Republican Party as an America First party. He said this approach asks how policies help the American people. He noted that Vice President JD Vance and other cabinet members share this view. The meaning of America First has become a point of contention within the GOP, especially regarding the U.S. war with Iran.

Mitchell has not opposed the war with Iran. He said Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. He cautioned that he does not support endless wars. When asked if Trump's agenda fits his definition of America First, Mitchell said it does. He added that people can interpret the term in various ways.