New report: 1 in 3 congressional candidates is Gen Z or millennial

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 15, 2026

New report: 1 in 3 congressional candidates is Gen Z or millennial

For the first time, millennials are the largest generation running for the U.S. Senate

WASHINGTON — Young Americans are running for Congress in record numbers in 2026. More than a third of candidates (36.4%) belong to the two youngest generations, according to a new report released today by Future Caucus, up from one in four in 2024 and one in six in 2022.

The report, On the Rise 2026, analyzes all 3,918 candidates who filed to run for Congress this cycle. That field is 31% larger than in 2024, driven by a widespread call for generational change. In the Senate, millennials have become the largest generational bloc for the first time: 118 millennial candidates, compared with 115 baby boomers and 112 Gen Xers.

The report also finds that the path to Congress often runs through state legislatures, though few young candidates have taken that path yet. About two in three current and former state legislators running for Congress made it to the general election ballot. Among candidates who have never served at the state level, only one in three did. Just 9% of millennial candidates and 1.7% of Gen Z candidates have served as state legislators.

On the Rise 2026 also documents the obstacles facing younger candidates. Only 21.2% of Gen Z candidates and 30.2% of millennial candidates remain on the November ballot, compared with more than half of Silent Generation candidates. The report also finds that the generational surge has not narrowed the gender gap. Men outnumber women three to one among all candidates, and more than four in five Gen Z candidates are men.

“More than a third of this year’s congressional candidates are under 45, and for the first time, millennials are the largest generation running for the U.S. Senate. Young Americans aren’t demanding change from the sidelines. They’re volunteering to create it,” said Layla Zaidane, president and CEO of Future Caucus. “But a younger candidate pool isn’t automatically a more representative one. Men still outnumber women three to one overall, and the gap is widest among Gen Z candidates. If we want leadership that reflects the whole country, we need to understand who isn’t raising their hand, and why, and make sure every young person knows how many places there are to serve, from Congress to the statehouse to the school board.”

Key Findings

• Gen Zers and millennials now make up more than a third of all congressional candidates, up from 1 in 4 in 2024 and 1 in 6 in 2022. 36.7% of all candidates are under 45.
• Men still outnumber women roughly 3-to-1, and the gap is widest among Gen Z, where women are just 17.1% of candidates.
• Alaska and Wisconsin field the most young candidates per capita, while with respect to raw numbers, California, Florida, Texas, and New York lead the way.
• Only a small share of younger candidates have state legislature experience, which is one of the strongest predictors of making it to the general election.
• Mid-decade redistricting has left only 29 competitive House races this cycle, out of 435.

To schedule an interview with Layla Zaidane, contact [email protected].

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Future Caucus is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that empowers young leaders to bridge the partisan divide. By supporting innovative policymaking and fostering collaboration, we help Gen Z and millennial leaders drive positive change and promote a political culture rooted in empathy and solutions.

For more information, visit www.futurecaucus.org.