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

Gen Z and millennial generations are demonstrating a record-breaking surge in congressional candidacies, yet a significant portion of these hopefuls fall short before the November elections, according to a recent study. The report from the Future Caucus, a nonpartisan organization, reveals that 36.4% of candidates with known ages fall within the millennial and Gen Z age brackets, a 13.1% increase from the 2024 cycle.

Despite this surge, only 21.2% of Gen Z candidates and 30.2% of millennials managed to progress past the primary stage by September, compared to higher percentages for older generations such as Gen X and Baby Boomers. A major challenge faced by the younger candidates is their lack of political experience, with only a small fraction holding any form of state legislative office.

Among the candidates who did advance, those with prior state legislative experience had a higher success rate, reaching the general election stage at a rate of 40%. However, nearly 33% of Gen Z candidates were unable to secure a spot on the primary ballot, a stark contrast to the 18.3% for millennials and 9.4% for Gen X. The report also highlights that younger candidates, particularly those from Gen Z, are predominantly Democrats, whereas older candidates show a more diverse party affiliation.

Despite the high dropout rate, there are instances of success, such as Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old democratic socialist, winning a primary against a 15-term incumbent in Colorado.