Few Gen Z candidates run for US Congress as politicians' ages stay in focus

Only a few members of Generation Z, people aged from their early teens to late 20s, are standing for the US Congress in the 3 November elections. One of them is Riley Owen, a 27-year-old Republican running in a newly created congressional district in Utah, the state's 1st. Experts say the district may lean towards the Democrats. The question of politicians' ages matters because some voters see long-serving lawmakers as a sign of a system that is not delivering for them.

The candidate's position

Owen has campaigned on paid maternity leave, limits on stock trading by members of Congress and environmental action. These are issues that could also appeal to Democratic voters. He describes the ageing political establishment as "a bipartisan issue" and points to career politicians who spend their lives in Congress. In his view, this shows a system that fails to serve Americans.

Owen argues that his generation is better placed to understand modern challenges such as those posed by technology. He rejects the idea that a younger candidate lacks relevant experience, citing his background as a military officer and a White House policy analyst.

Money as an obstacle

The biggest hurdle is funding. Research suggests campaign donors tend to favour incumbents. Owen's rival, 51-year-old Democrat Ben McAdams, who has served in Congress before, had raised more than $2.6m by mid-October. Owen had raised $150,000, according to Federal Election Commission records.

Age and parenthood in politics

The age of America's top politicians has long been debated. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan, then the oldest US president at 73, joked about the "youth and inexperience" of his 56-year-old opponent Walter Mondale.

Younger politicians in Washington also face questions about balancing work and parenthood. This summer, Democratic congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 37, who took office at 29, announced she had begun the process of freezing her eggs. In the same week in August, Karoline Leavitt, 29, the youngest White House press secretary ever, said she would leave the Trump administration to spend more time with her family.

Only a handful of women have given birth while serving in Congress, and a few dozen lawmakers have children under 18. The federal government, like many US employers, does not offer paid parental leave. Vice President JD Vance, 42, has acknowledged that having young children could affect his decision on running for the presidency in 2028.