In Other News · United States · Politics

Source: Axios

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...