Young Republicans Seek Seats in Competitive Congressional Races

Elections this Tuesday will determine if a new group of young lawmakers takes office. Two candidates are expected to win seats, marking a shift in the age profile of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Michael Alfonso, 26, is favored to win Wisconsin's 7th district. Melat Kiros, 29, is leading in Colorado's 1st district. If both win as projected, they will join Maxwell Frost, a 29-year-old Democrat from Florida, to form the first class of Gen Z members in Congress.

Alfonso would be the first person born in the 2000s to serve in Congress. He is a political newcomer who has received the endorsement of President Trump. His marriage to the daughter of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy adds a layer of family connection to the race. Duffy previously held the seat from 2011 to 2019. In an interview with Wisconsin Public Radio this month, Alfonso described his age as his greatest advantage. He stated that he shares the values of hard work, faith, and family with voters in the district.

In Iowa, 29-year-old Joe Mitchell is running for the second congressional district. The race is considered a tossup as voters express dissatisfaction with the current administration. Mitchell, a former state senator and real estate developer, has also secured Trump's endorsement. He is campaigning on an anti-corruption platform that includes term limits and a ban on congressional stock trading. Mitchell has rejected donations from corporate PACs to distance himself from traditional party money.

Mitchell argues that younger voters are looking for hope and fresh leadership regardless of party affiliation. He noted that Americans under 30 report high levels of concern about their economic wellbeing and a lack of trust in institutions. He believes this frustration creates an opening for new candidates who promise to change how government operates.

Data from Future Caucus, a nonpartisan organization, shows that only 4% of congressional candidates this cycle are part of Gen Z. This generation was the least likely to survive primary elections. A majority of these young candidates ran as Democrats, while fewer than a third filed as Republicans. Another 16% ran as independents or third-party candidates.

Adam Pennings, executive director of Run Gen Z, said his organization is building a bench of young conservative leaders. The group announced endorsements for more than 220 candidates in late October. This list includes Mitchell and Alfonso, as well as Riley Owen, a 28-year-old Republican running in Utah's 1st district. Owen is competing in a district that heavily favors Democrats. He acknowledged the difficulty of the race but said voters are hungry for new solutions and grassroots campaigns.

Candidates are also weighing in on the future direction of the Republican Party. Mitchell describes the party's future as an America First party that focuses on how policies help the American people. He believes Vice President JD Vance and other cabinet members share this view. The definition 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, stating that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, but he does not support endless wars. He said that while Trump's agenda aligns with his definition, people can interpret the phrase in different ways.