Gen Z and millennials are running for Congress in record numbers, but few reach November

Axios · 10/15/2026, 9:30:09 AM

Gen Z and millennials have launched their biggest bid yet to remake Congress, but roughly seven in 10 were out by early September, a new report finds. Why it matters: These two generations are struggling to clear the first hurdles of a political system that rewards experience, fundraising and established party support. State of play: A new report from Future Caucus , a nonpartisan nonprofit that works with younger elected officials, found that a record share of this cycle's congressional candidates came from the nation's two youngest political generations. The group identified 3,918 candidates who filed for Congress this cycle, 31% more than in 2024. Of candidates with known or estimated ages, 36.4% were millennials or Gen Z, up from 23.4% in 2024. The report counts everyone who filed and doesn't track how many were first-time candidates. Between the lines : Many young candidates are trying to reach Congress without the political experience that helps candidates advance. Just 1.7% of Gen Z candidates and 9% of millennials have served in a state legislature. Among congressional challengers with age data, nearly 40% of those with state legislative experience reached the general-election stage, compared with 26.2% without it. By the numbers: Only 21.2% of Gen Z congressional candidates remained in the race at the report's September cutoff. That figure rose to 30.2% for millennials, 41.1% for Gen X and 44.5% for Baby Boomers. Nearly 33% of Gen Z candidates failed to qualify for a primary ballot, compared with 18.3% of millennials and 9.4% of Gen X. Incumbents averaged 59 years old, nearly nine years older than challengers. What they're saying: "They're done waiting for somebody else to fix the problems," Future Caucus President and CEO Layla Zaidane tells Axios. Zaidane said Gen Z candidates running outside the two major parties face steep hurdles: raising money, recruiting volunteers and building name recognition without party infrastructure. Zoom in: Women make up jus