Young Democrats Topple Older Incumbents, Republicans Hold Steady
In a notable trend, younger Democratic candidates bested older incumbents in various state primaries, while older Republican candidates largely maintained their positions.
The younger challengers almost managed to unseat long-time Democratic representatives who were over their prime. Notably, Representatives Diana DeGette from Colorado, Shri Thanedar from Michigan, John Larson from Connecticut, and Adriano Espaillat from New York, all past retirement age, faced substantial defeats against significantly younger opponents. In contrast, many older Republican incumbents didn’t have as many issues holding onto their seats.
John Larson, at 78, has been serving in Congress since 1999 but lost in the primary despite leading by over 20 points against 47-year-old Luke Bronin, the former mayor of Hartford. His health came under scrutiny after he experienced a freeze on the House floor in 2025, later revealing he had a complex partial seizure.
DeGette, Thanedar, and Espaillat all lost their races to candidates supported by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), which is poised to achieve its largest representation in Congress to date. In Texas, 78-year-old Representative Al Green suffered defeat against 38-year-old Christian Menefee following redistricting.
Amanda Littman, founder of the progressive group Run for Something, shared her thoughts: “Democratic voters desperately need a new generation of leaders who can confidently claim they will fight for change,” she noted in a conversation with Axios.
The rise of DSA-backed candidates was largely fueled by younger voters, especially those who are white, college-educated, and reside in urban, affluent communities. Thanedar, who is 71, lost the August 4 primary to Donavan McKinney, who garnered 51.1% of the votes. Meanwhile, DeGette at 69 was defeated by DSA candidate Melat Quiroz, who is just 29 years old.
On the Republican side, many incumbents retain their House seats, bolstered by pro-establishment groups and older voters. Some incumbents, however, who did not align with former President Donald Trump, who just turned 80, faced significant challenges. Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie lost to 68-year-old candidate Ed Gullane after over $9 million was spent mostly by pro-Israel lobbyists to unseat him, a stark reflection of the shifting electoral dynamics.
Ninety-one-year-old Senate leader Chuck Grassley from Iowa and 84-year-old Mitch McConnell from Kentucky are notable figures among the older Republican incumbents. Many face growing health issues, with McConnell expected to retire in January and having missed several votes recently. In the House, 83-year-old Virginia Foxx chairs the Rules Committee, alongside several other representatives over the age of 70.
Interestingly, in Wisconsin, a young candidate, 26-year-old Michael Alfonso, won a Republican primary with nearly 49% of the votes, marking a noteworthy achievement amidst older party members.
Some seasoned House Democrats have felt pressure to step aside and ultimately chose not to seek reelection, including Jerry Nadler, Steve Cohen, Lloyd Doggett, and Eleanor Holmes Norton. Notably, Cohen faced a tough primary challenge from 31-year-old Justin Pearson, who later withdrew following redistricting in Tennessee.
