Four Gen Z candidates win House seats in 2026

Four members of Generation Z will serve in the U.S. House of Representatives following the November 2026 elections. Two candidates who were already in Congress will retain their seats, and two new entrants will join them.

Maxwell Frost, a 29-year-old Democrat from Florida, already holds a House seat. Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old Democratic socialist, is favored to win in Colorado's 1st district. This is a reliably blue seat. Michael Alfonso, a 26-year-old Republican, is expected to carry Wisconsin's 7th district. This is a heavily Republican seat.

If elected, Alfonso will become the first person born in the 2000s to serve in Congress. He is a political newcomer who has the endorsement of President Donald Trump. He is married to the daughter of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. Duffy previously held the Wisconsin seat from 2011 until 2019.

Joe Mitchell, a 29-year-old Republican, is running in Iowa's 2nd congressional district. The race is considered a tossup as voters show dissatisfaction with President Trump. Mitchell has the president's endorsement. If he wins, he will join the new cohort of young lawmakers. He is a former state senator and real estate developer.

Mitchell runs on an anti-corruption platform. He calls for a maximum of six terms in the House and a ban on congressional stock trading. He has rejected campaign donations from corporate PACs. He says these issues resonate with voters who are frustrated with the system.

"I think people are looking for hope, regardless of what party they're in," Mitchell said. "They want to see young people get involved, and I hear that everywhere we go."

Alfonso described his age as his greatest advantage in an interview with Wisconsin Public Radio earlier this month. He stated that he shares the values of hard work, faith, and family with residents of his district.

Generation Z is only just becoming eligible for the House, which has an age minimum of 25. The oldest members of the generation turn 30 next year. A report from Future Caucus, a nonpartisan organization, found that just 4% of congressional candidates nationwide this cycle were part of Generation Z. This was the least likely generation to advance past the primary.

Data from Future Caucus shows that a majority of Generation Z candidates who ran for Congress this year were Democrats. Under a third filed as Republicans. Another 16% did not associate with either major party or selected a third party.

Adam Pennings is the executive director of Run Gen Z. This organization helps young conservatives running for office. It was initially founded and run by Mitchell. Pennings said the group needs to build up young people ready to lead when long-term serving politicians retire.

In late October, Run Gen Z announced endorsements for more than 220 Generation Z and millennial conservatives running across the country. This slate included Mitchell, Alfonso, and Riley Owen. Owen is a 28-year-old Republican running in Utah's 1st congressional district. That district heavily favors Democrats.

Owen acknowledged the political realities of his race but remains optimistic. He said people are hungry for new solutions, new faces, and fresh ideas. He believes a grassroots campaign can connect with voters who want to trust their government and take risks to start businesses or families.