Three Gen Z lawmakers join Congress Tuesday

The U.S. House of Representatives will count three members from Generation Z following the election results on November 3, 2026. This group includes one Democrat and two Republicans who are expected to take their seats in January 2027.

The most notable arrival is Michael Alfonso, a 26-year-old Republican from Wisconsin. If he wins his seat in the 7th district, he will become the first person born in the 2000s to serve in Congress. Alfonso is a political newcomer endorsed by President Trump. He is married to the daughter of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who held the same House seat from 2011 to 2019.

The other two expected winners are Democrats. Maxwell Frost, 29, currently represents Florida's 10th district and is the only Gen Z member currently serving. Melat Kiros, 29, a Democratic socialist, is favored to win Colorado's 1st district. All three candidates fall within the age range of 26 to 29, the minimum eligibility for the House is 25.

This cohort is small relative to the total number of candidates. A report from Future Caucus, a nonpartisan organization, states that just 4% of congressional candidates this cycle are Gen Z. That figure makes it the least likely generation to advance past primary elections. Of the Gen Z candidates who filed, a majority ran as Democrats. Under a third ran as Republicans, while 16% were independents or third-party members.

In Iowa, 29-year-old Joe Mitchell is competing for the second congressional district. The race is considered a tossup as voters express dissatisfaction with President Trump. Mitchell is a former state senator and real estate developer. He has received the president's endorsement. His campaign platform focuses on what he calls an anti-corruption agenda, which includes a ban on congressional stock trading and a limit of six terms for House members. He has also rejected donations from corporate PACs.

Mitchell argues that his generation is uniquely motivated by distrust of institutions and concern for economic wellbeing. He stated that young people across the political spectrum are frustrated with the current system. He believes voters are seeking hope and new faces, a sentiment he hears frequently during his campaign trail visits.

Organizers are working to expand the number of young conservatives in elected office. Adam Pennings, executive director of Run Gen Z, said the group is building a bench of leaders to replace long-term serving members. The organization, which Mitchell helped found, announced endorsements for more than 220 Gen Z and millennial conservatives in late October. This slate includes candidates in various districts across the country.

Riley Owen, a 28-year-old Republican, is running in Utah's newly redrawn 1st district. The district heavily favors Democrats, making his bid a longshot. Owen said he is not naive to the political realities of his seat. He argued that voters want new solutions and fresh ideas. He described his campaign as grassroots and noted that people are hungry for a different approach to governance.

These candidates are also weighing in on the future direction of the Republican Party. Mitchell described the party's future as an America First party. He said this approach asks how policies help the American people. He noted that this view is held by Vice President JD Vance and other members of the Trump cabinet. However, the definition of America First has become a point of contention within the conservative movement, especially regarding the U.S. war with Iran.

Mitchell has not opposed the war with Iran. He said Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon but cautioned against 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 definition in various ways.