Young Republicans Test Their Mettle in 2026 Midterms

Joe Mitchell, 29, stands in a competitive district in northeast Iowa where voters have grown weary of President Trump. He is one of few Gen Z Republicans running for Congress in a race considered a tossup. If he wins, he will join a new cohort of young lawmakers in Washington. This group is small but symbolically important for the party.

Only a handful of Gen Z Republicans are in the running for House seats this fall. One candidate races in a reliably red district. The others chase seats that appear safe for Democrats. Mitchell, a former state senator and real estate developer, believes voters respond to the idea of a new generation in power. He says people across party lines want hope and see young people involved. He hears this sentiment everywhere he goes on the campaign trail.

Mitchell promotes an anti-corruption platform. He calls for term limits in the House, capped at six terms. He also supports a ban on congressional stock trading. He has rejected campaign donations from corporate PACs. He roots this focus in the economic worries of Americans under 30. He notes that this age group distrusts institutions and is frustrated with the current system.

Currently, only one member of the House is part of Gen Z: Maxwell Frost, a 29-year-old Democrat from Florida. Two more candidates are expected to win 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 win Wisconsin's 7th district. Alfonso is married to the daughter of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. If elected, he will be the first person born in the 2000s to serve in Congress.

Alfonso called his age his greatest advantage in a recent interview. He said he shares the values of hard work, faith, and family with his district. Running for Congress in one's 20s remains rare. The oldest Gen Zers turn 30 next year, so the generation is just becoming eligible for the House, which requires candidates to be at least 25. A report from Future Caucus found that just 4% of congressional candidates nationwide this cycle were Gen Z. This generation was the least likely to pass the primary stage.

Being a young Republican is even rarer than being a young candidate. 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. Conservative organizers are working to build a bench of young leaders at local and federal levels. Adam Pennings, executive director of Run Gen Z, says young people need a seat at the table. He wants to prepare them for leadership as long-term serving officials retire.

In late October, Run Gen Z announced endorsements for more than 220 Gen Z and millennial conservatives. The list included Mitchell and Alfonso, along with longshot candidates like Riley Owen. Owen is a 28-year-old Republican running in Utah's newly redrawn 1st district. The district heavily favors Democrats. Owen acknowledged the political realities but remains optimistic. He said people are hungry for new solutions and fresh ideas. He believes a grassroots campaign can make a difference.

Young conservatives are also thinking about the party's future. Owen said people want to trust their government and take risks. He believes the conservative movement has a bright future if it provides solutions. Mitchell argues the Republican Party will become an America First party. He said this involves asking how policies help the American people. He believes 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. Factions are clashing over the U.S. war with Iran. The conflict is a sore spot for Republicans in tough contests. Democrats link the war to rising costs. Mitchell has not come out against the war. He said Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. He cautioned that he does not support endless wars. He argued that Trump's agenda squares with his definition of America First, though he noted people can interpret the phrase in different ways.