Gen Z seeks to grow ranks in Congress

More Gen Z candidates are expected to run this year, amid growing dissatisfaction with the country's aging political class.

Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) became the first member of Congress to belong to Generation Z, an age group thought to start from scratch. People born after 1997 —After the 2022 midterm elections.

At least two Gen Z Democrats are currently vying to join Frost this year. They are seeking to expand the presence of their peers in the House of Representatives, where the average age of voting members is over 50. Around 58 years.

“As we become more and more involved, young people need to understand that this is the state of government that we are inheriting, and that we have to take this job seriously and put the pieces back together. I am frankly devastated that this is not the case.” Cheyenne Hunt is a 26-year-old lawyer and Democrat running for office in California's 45th District.

Hunt cited concerns about the climate crisis, democracy and women's rights as “existential threats” that older generations in power are tackling with the same sense of urgency that younger Americans feel. He pointed out that it was not.

“Young people are acutely aware of the situation and are jumping in at an unprecedented pace because they know they can't afford to wait,” she says.

Hunt is likely to face a close race this year against incumbent Republican Congresswoman Michelle Steele, who won re-election in 2022 by just a few points. If she wins, Hunt will become the first female Gen Z member of Congress.

And after running into “numerous barriers to young women in politics” during her campaign, Hunt says she's not surprised that women her age aren't breaking into politics.

“It's always a really difficult experience trying to be the first or the only at something. It was really frustrating, frankly,” Hunt said of the gender bias she witnessed during her campaign. He said it was made worse because he was young. “I've seen people be really hesitant to support me, and the conversations we had after the fact revealed that a big part of that was internalized sexism.”

Mr Hunt, who has more than 93,000 followers on the video-sharing app TikTok, said he was trying to break down assumptions about young people, as some people are reluctant to take demographics seriously in politics.

“Young women can use social media to become more than just influencers,” Hunt said.

Nationwide, in the state of Maryland, state Democrat Joe Vogel is running as the first openly LGBTQ Gen Z member of Congress.

Vogel entered politics after the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, a move that stems from the gun violence that has directly affected the school lives of many young Americans in recent years. He said he was “unsatisfied with the lack of action” on such issues.

“I think our entire generation is having this moment where we're channeling that energy and that sense of urgency into increasing political representation on issues,” said Vogel, also 26.

Vogel made headlines. when he was elected to the state Legislature as one of the first Gen Z members of the state legislature. He is currently seeking a seat in the House of Representatives to succeed Rep. David Trone (D-Md.), who is running for the Senate instead.

If elected, Vogel would be the 14th openly LGBTQ person to serve. in either room.

Vogel argued for the importance of young perspectives in elected office and pointed to predictions of catastrophic climate impacts that could occur by around 2050.

“By 2050, I will still be younger than the average MP,” he said. “I think that’s a perspective that is desperately needed in Congress.”

Hunt and Vogel both came close. constitutional age limit In the case of the House of Representatives, members must be at least 25 years old.

The House of Representatives has become somewhat younger over the past few sessions. To Pew ResearchBut together, baby boomers and members of the silent generation, those born before 1964, still make up about half of the body.

In the Senate, Minimum age is 30 years oldBoomers, and members of the Silent Generation make up nearly three-quarters of the chamber.

Millennials make up only about 12% of the House of Representatives, and Frost is the only Gen Z member, according to Pew data.

However, while there is a minimum age to serve in Congress, there is no upper age limit. This fact has come under increasing scrutiny as lawmakers and other leaders debate age and health.

The issue stems from concerns over the recent deaths of 81-year-old Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) at age 90. It has gained attention in recent months due to its growing popularity. Decades in the Senate.

Polls show that most Americans support the idea of ​​subjecting politicians over 75 to mental competency tests and setting age limits for presidential candidates.

“America's government operates on a gerontocracy, and young people are grossly underrepresented,” said Run, a progressive group focused on attracting progressive candidates from up and down the ballot.・Juan Ramiro Sarmiento, national spokesperson for For Something, said:

Under current economic and social tensions, young people are experiencing America “very differently” than their elders, Sarmiento said.

“We need people who are closer to the problem,” Sarmiento said. “And they are getting closer to a solution.”

President Biden, who is seeking re-election in 2024, has been plagued by concerns over his age as he will remain in the White House for four more years. At 81 years old, Biden is the oldest sitting president in history, but the Republican front-runner, former President Trump (77), is not far behind.

But Vogel defended Biden, arguing that the incumbent is the best choice to represent the values ​​of young voters in 2024.

“President Biden's experience and record of serving young people…I'm excited to see him re-elected, because the other option is to re-elect Donald Trump, which is truly disastrous for our generation. scenario,” Vogel said.

Mr. Frost said from the White House. In September, Biden said, “I want to be a president who understands the power of young people, and I am.''

Politically active demographics have been seen as key for Democrats in recent cycles, with younger voters contributing to Biden's victory in 2020 and a roughly Six in 10 people voted for Biden.

But in addition to demanding action from those in power on issues that matter to America's youth, many are stepping into the ring to represent their generation.

“We're seeing an increase in interest among young people to run for office,” said Alberto Medina, a spokesperson for Tufts University's Center for Information Research on Civic Learning and Engagement.

But economic and social barriers to entry may have a greater impact on Gen Z and Millennials considering campaigns than on older candidates, Medina said. Racial and gender inequalities may also be fueling resistance to candidacy, she noted.

But issues like climate change and abortion are the “real drivers” of young Americans getting involved in politics, Medina said.

Tufts Research 2022 The survey found that the proportion of young people seeking elected office has increased over the past decade, with more than 20% of young people saying they would consider running for office.

That's why, even though some data suggests that young Americans. tend to move away According to reports, 57% of Americans ages 18 to 34 say they are “very likely” to vote this year, depending on party affiliation. Tufts survey from late November.

Among those who are very likely to vote, 51% said they would support the Democratic candidate.

“The appetite is there. People of all generations are looking for a new generation of leaders, not just because we're young, but because we're offering a new style of politics,” Vogel said. Told.

“At the end of the day, age doesn't matter. The current situation is holding everyone back,” he added.