Gen Z Republicans Race for House Seats in 2026
A small group of young conservatives, including 29-year-old Joe Mitchell, seek to form the first congressional class of their generation.
By Larissa Shah ·
Only four percent of congressional candidates nationwide in this cycle were part of Generation Z, making them the least likely generation to advance past primary elections, according to data from the Future Caucus.
Despite these low odds, a new cohort of young Republicans is entering the race for the House this fall. Joe Mitchell, a 29-year-old former state senator and real estate developer from northeast Iowa, is vying for the state's second congressional district. He holds the endorsement of President Trump. If he wins, he would join Maxwell Frost, a 29-year-old Democrat from Florida who is currently the only Gen Z member of the House. Two other candidates are also expected to win seats on Tuesday. Melat Kiros, 29, leads in Colorado's first district, a reliable blue seat. Michael Alfonso, 26, is expected to win Wisconsin's seventh district, a heavily Republican area. Alfonso would become the first person born in the 2000s to serve in Congress.
Mitchell describes his campaign as an anti-corruption effort aimed at both sides of the aisle. He proposes a maximum of six terms for House members and a ban on congressional stock trading. He has also rejected donations from corporate political action committees. Mitchell argues that voters under 30 are deeply concerned about their economic well-being and distrust institutions. In a recent statement, he said, "I think people are looking for hope, regardless of what party they're in. They want to see young people get involved, and I hear that everywhere we go."
Adam Pennings, executive director of Run Gen Z, noted that the organization announced endorsements for more than 220 Gen Z and millennial conservatives in late October. The slate includes Mitchell, Alfonso, and Riley Owen, a 28-year-old Republican running in Utah's newly redrawn first district. Owen acknowledged the difficulty of his race but stated that "people are hungry for a new solution, new faces, fresh ideas, and a grassroots campaign like the one we're running."
The war with Iran has become a point of contention for young Republicans in competitive districts. Democrats are linking the conflict to rising consumer costs. Mitchell has not opposed the war, stating that Iran cannot possess a nuclear weapon, but he does not support endless wars. He defined the future of the Republican Party as an America First party focused on how policies help the American people. He believes Vice President JD Vance shares this view.
