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

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 just 17.1% of Gen Z congressional candidates, compared with 26.6% of millennials and 30.7% of Gen X. Younger men withdrew or failed to qualify for the primary ballot at higher rates than women in their generations. Younger candidates are disproportionately Democrats, even as President Trump's GOP competes for young voters. Yes, but: Young candidates are scoring some wins. In Colorado, 29-year-old democratic socialist Melat Kiros ousted 15-term Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette in the primary for a heavily Democratic Denver seat. In Iowa, 29-year-old Republican Joe Mitchell, a former state lawmaker, captured his party's nomination for an open House seat.

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