Young Republicans Seek Congressional Seats

Joe Mitchell, 29, is running for Iowa’s second congressional district, a race analysts consider a tossup as voters weigh their support for President Trump against the prospect of Democratic control in Congress.

Mitchell holds the president’s endorsement. If he wins, he will join Maxwell Frost, the 29-year-old Democrat from Florida, and two other likely winners to form the first class of Gen Z Republicans in the House. The group will remain small, with most candidates competing in districts that lean heavily toward one party.

Mitchell campaigned on an anti-corruption platform. He proposed a six-term limit for House members and a ban on congressional stock trading. He also rejected donations from corporate PACs. He said voters of all parties told him they wanted young people involved in politics.

The 2026 election cycle saw a limited number of young candidates. Future Caucus, a nonpartisan group, reported that only 4% of congressional candidates nationwide were Gen Z. This generation was the least likely to advance past primary elections. Most Gen Z candidates ran as Democrats, while fewer than a third filed as Republicans.

Michael Alfonso, 26, is expected to win Wisconsin’s seventh district, a heavily Republican seat. He is married to the daughter of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who held the seat from 2011 to 2019. Alfonso said his age is his greatest advantage and that he shares the district’s values of hard work, faith, and family.

Adam Pennings, executive director of Run Gen Z, said the organization aims to build a bench of young conservatives to replace long-serving leaders as they retire. In late October, the group announced endorsements for more than 220 Gen Z and millennial conservative candidates across the country.

Riley Owen, 28, is running in Utah’s first district, which heavily favors Democrats. He said his campaign focuses on providing new solutions and fresh ideas. Mitchell described the future Republican Party as an America First party that asks how policies help the American people. He said 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, particularly regarding the U.S. war with Iran. Mitchell has not opposed the war, stating that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, but he cautioned against endless wars. He said Trump’s agenda aligns with his definition of the concept, though interpretations vary among conservatives.