Mitchell Leads Small Cohort of Gen Z Republicans in Congressional Races
With only a few young conservative candidates in the mix, Joe Mitchell and others face difficult odds in the upcoming election.
By Olivia Miller ·
Joe Mitchell is attempting to secure a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives for Iowa's second congressional district.
Mitchell, 29, holds the endorsement of President Donald Trump and represents one of a very small group of Generation Z candidates running for federal office this year. If he wins, he will join the first class of Gen Z Republicans in Congress.
The political landscape has shifted as voters express dissatisfaction with the current administration, creating a competitive environment for Republicans. Mitchell is running in a district classified as a tossup. His opponents and peers face varied challenges. Most other young Republican candidates are competing in either safely red districts or safe blue seats where victory is considered unlikely.
Mitchell previously served as a state senator and works as a real estate developer. He has built a platform focused on anti-corruption measures. He supports a ban on congressional stock trading and term limits for House members, capping service at six terms. He has also declined campaign contributions from corporate political action committees.
"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." He attributes this focus to the economic concerns and institutional distrust held by Americans under the age of 30.
Currently, only one member of Generation Z serves in the House: Maxwell Frost, a 29-year-old Democrat from Florida. Two other young candidates are expected to win on Tuesday. Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old Democratic socialist, is the favorite in Colorado's 1st district. Michael Alfonso, a 26-year-old Republican, is expected to win Wisconsin's 7th district.
Alfonso, who is endorsed by Trump, is married to the daughter of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. If elected, he would become the first person born in the 2000s to serve in Congress. Alfonso described his age as his greatest advantage, citing values such as hard work, faith, and family.
Data from Future Caucus, a nonpartisan organization, indicates that Gen Z candidates were the least likely generation to win primary elections this cycle. Only 4% of congressional candidates nationwide belonged to this generation. Among those who did run, a majority were Democrats, while fewer than a third were Republicans. Another 16% ran as independents or third-party candidates.
Organizers are working to build a bench of young conservative leaders. Adam Pennings, executive director of Run Gen Z, an organization initially founded by Mitchell, stated that young people need representation to prepare for future leadership roles. The group announced endorsements for more than 220 Gen Z and millennial conservative candidates in late October. This slate includes Mitchell, Alfonso, and Riley Owen, a 28-year-old Republican running in Utah's 1st district, a seat that heavily favors Democrats.
Owen acknowledged the difficulty of his race but expressed optimism about voter desire for new faces. Mitchell believes the Republican Party is moving toward an America First approach, a stance he shares with Vice President JD Vance. The definition of this ideology has caused tension within the party, particularly regarding the war with Iran. Mitchell supports limiting U.S. military engagement but maintains that Iran cannot possess a nuclear weapon. He believes Trump's agenda aligns with his interpretation of America First, noting that definitions can be interpreted in various ways.
