Young Senate Candidates Target Midterm Voters

Ten nonincumbent candidates under the age of 50 are currently running in the 16 Senate races that Inside Elections considers in play. Eight of these candidates are Democrats. They are entering the chamber during a period when voters are rejecting the status quo and seeking new leadership.

The current Senate average age is nearly 64 years. Over the past four freshman classes, the average age of newly elected senators has ranged from 50 to 58. Analysts expect the incoming class to fall within that same range. Oscar Pocasangre, a senior data analyst at New America, notes that while the chamber may become slightly younger, the change will not drastically alter the overall average age.

Candidates are emphasizing their age gaps to connect with voters. In Texas, 37-year-old James Talarico is 26 years younger than his opponent, Ken Paxton. In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed, who turns 42 on the weekend of the election, is 21 years younger than Mike Rogers. In New Hampshire, Chris Pappas, 46, is 16 years younger than John E. Sununu.

Pappas describes the electorate as unsettled and hungry for new voices. He is a slight favorite to retain the seat of retiring Senator Jeanne Shaheen. Inside Elections rates the New Hampshire race as Tilt Democratic. Pappas states that voters want leaders who understand the difficulty of daily life and are willing to change how Washington operates.

The freshman class may also increase the number of mothers with school-aged children in the Senate. Currently, only four women in that category serve in the chamber. Annie Andrews, a 46-year-old pediatrician in South Carolina, cites her three children and affordability concerns as her main motivation to run against Senator Darline Graham. Graham is now considered one of the most vulnerable senators in the majority party.

Peggy Flanagan, Minnesota’s 47-year-old lieutenant governor, is also running. She points to her role as a mother as central to her political actions. Flanagan argues that having more mothers with children under 18 in the Senate would lead to better policy outcomes for families. She recently purchased her first home and paid off her student loans, experiences she connects to young voter concerns.

Younger candidates are also using digital strategies to reach voters. Julia Letlow, 45, of Louisiana, and Ashley Hinson, 43, of Iowa, are the youngest GOP nominees this cycle. In Iowa, Josh Turek, 47, is competing with Hinson in a toss-up race. Turek, a former Paralympian, shares videos of his door-to-door campaigning on social media. Pocasangre notes that short-form video and direct conversation are more effective than television ads for reaching younger demographics.

Corruption is a central theme for these campaigns. Pappas says voters distrust elected officials and want ethical reforms. Pocasangre observes that younger candidates are often quicker to criticize political corruption than those with longer tenure. This dynamic helps them stand out in a crowded field of experienced incumbents.