220 Young Conservatives Endorsed Ahead of November 3

The conservative organization Run Gen Z announced endorsements for more than 220 young candidates in late October.

Those endorsements include 29-year-old Joe Mitchell, who is campaigning in Iowa's second congressional district. Mitchell serves as the former state senator and a real estate developer. He has secured President Trump's endorsement for his bid.

Mitchell describes his platform as an anti-corruption effort. He proposes a maximum of six terms for House members and a ban on congressional stock trading. He also states that he has rejected campaign donations from corporate PACs. He argues that Americans under 30 report high levels of concern regarding economic wellbeing and distrust of institutions.

The group also supports 26-year-old Michael Alfonso, a Republican running in Wisconsin's seventh district. Alfonso is married to the daughter of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who previously held that seat from 2011 to 2019. If elected, Alfonso would be the first person born in the 2000s to serve in Congress. In an interview with Wisconsin Public Radio, he called his age his greatest advantage.

Data from Future Caucus, a nonpartisan organization, shows that only 4% of congressional candidates nationwide this cycle are part of Gen Z. That generation had the lowest rate of advancing past the primary. A majority of Gen Z candidates ran as Democrats, while under a third filed as Republicans. Another 16% selected third parties or did not associate with either major party.

Adam Pennings, the executive director of Run Gen Z, said the organization aims to build a bench of young leaders. He noted that the group wants to prepare individuals to take office when long-term serving politicians retire. The organization was initially founded and run by Mitchell.

Mitchell believes the future of the Republican Party is an America First party. He said this approach asks how policy helps the American people. He views Vice President JD Vance and other cabinet members as holding this view. Mitchell has not opposed the war with Iran, stating that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, but he does not support endless wars.