More young people are running for office, but winning is an uphill battle
Also: Zivvy interviews Gen Z changemakers, hurricane misinformation and ‘trans’ mosquitoes fighting malaria
A new report shows finds more Gen Z and millennials are running for Congress, but they are losing at a higher rate.
By Dalia Abdelwahab
Nearly one in four candidates running for U.S. Congress this election cycle is a millennial or part of Gen Z, according to a new report from the nonpartisan nonprofit Future Caucus.
However, these younger candidates are losing at a higher rate than their older counterparts. Besides the incumbency advantage faced by many opponents, access to finances may be a key issue.
In an interview with Zivvy News, Future Caucus President Layla Zaidane explained, “young people aren't historically as connected to networks of wealth as older generations. That can matter a great deal when it comes to those primary elections when you're really trying to differentiate yourself and persuade likely voters, especially those most-engaged voters who are going to show up at a primary, that you're the candidate for them.”
Overall, young candidates are fed up with polarization in politics
While the Pew Research Center found that millennials and Gen Z tend to lean more progressive, especially on social issues, only 42% of young candidates this cycle identify as Democrats. Meanwhile, 29% are Republicans, and another 29% are unaffiliated.
When comparing the two generations, Gen Z candidates are more likely to run as Independents or third-party candidates, with 38.1% opting for that route this election cycle.
Zaidane sees this as evidence of young voters' frustration with growing political polarization.
“When young people are elected into office, whether that's a Millennial or a Gen Z-er, they're actually really good at transcending polarization [and] actually building coalitions to get bipartisan legislation signed into law,” she explains. “Last year, about 25% of all state legislatures were both Gen Z and Millennials, but they were responsible for 40% of all bipartisan legislation. We see that these two generations are punching above their weight when it comes to getting things done.”
There are significantly more young candidates than there were four years ago
For this report, Gen Z is defined as those born between 1997-2012, and Millennials are born between 1981-1996. To run for U.S. House of Representatives, you must be at least 25 years old on election day, and the oldest of Gen Z is 27. You won’t find any Gen Z candidates for U.S. Senate, as one has to be at least thirty years old to run.
Come November 5th, voters across the nation will likely encounter 21 Gen Z candidates and at least 220 millennial candidates and on their ballots in races for U.S. Congress. The number of millennials rose 79% from 2020, when 123 people ran for office in that age group.
“There's this false narrative out there that young people are either totally apathetic and don't care about politics, or the only way they get engaged is to tweet or say their opinion on social media but they don't actually do anything,” Zaidane says, “And so, for me, this data that shows the growing participation, not just as voters, but actually putting themselves out there as potential leaders within our political system, that, to me, is really exciting and it does a lot to counter that narrative.”
⭐️ Gen Z Spotlight
🗳️ 2024 Election
➤ Kamala Harris' Call Her Daddy Cameo
Vice President Kamala Harris went on Alex Cooper's podcast, which has massive clout with young women. Here's why it matters… (The Up and Up)
Related: Donald Trump Calls Alex Cooper 'Dumber' Than Kamala Harris: 'Sorry Women, She's a Dummy' (OK! Magazine)
➤ Trump declines Fox News request for another debate with Harris
Donald trump has said that "there will be no rematch" with Kamala Harris before the 5 November election. The former president was apparently responding to an invitation from Fox News to participate in a possible second debate with the vice-president and Democratic challenger. (BBC)
➤ Could young voters in Michigan hand the state to Kamala Harris?
With polls showing the former president and Harris closely tied in Michigan, student votes potentially carry significant weight in a state that the vice-president’s campaign sees as a key part of her clearest path to victory alongside two other Rust belt states, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. (Guardian)
🗳️ Politics
➤ Why Democratic Senate Control Seems to Be Slipping Away
A Times/Siena poll shows Jon Tester behind by seven points in Montana, while Colin Allred trails Ted Cruz by four in Texas. (New York Times)
➤ US Republicans condemn hurricane misinformation spread by their own party
As U.S. officials struggle to push back against misinformation about natural disasters hitting the country, at least three congressional Republicans condemned conspiracy theories repeated by fellow members of their party. (Reuters)
🇺🇸 US News
➤ Although Milton has moved on, at least 8 are dead and millions remain in the dark
Rescue teams plucked Florida residents from the flotsam of Hurricane Milton on Thursday after the storm smashed through coastal communities where it tore homes into pieces, filled streets with mud and spawned a barrage of deadly tornadoes. At least eight people were dead. (AP)
➤ Why monster hurricanes like Milton are happening in the Gulf. It’s not geoengineering
To get real answers on some of the questions swirling around Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the Herald spoke to scientists and experts who’ve dedicated their careers to meteorology, atmospheric science, tropical cyclones, and hurricanes. (Miami Herald)
➤ The undeniable crisis that’s not driving American voters
The science suggests Americans need to get used to more harsh weather events – extreme storms, warmer waters, wildfires and hotter weather. Evacuations and destruction will become more normal. But climate change, to the extent people are talking about it, does not register this year as an “extremely important” presidential campaign issue, per a new poll. (CNN)
🌎 Around the world
➤ Israeli defense minister warns an attack on Iran would be ‘lethal’ and ‘surprising’
Israel’s defense minister warned on Wednesday that his country’s retaliation for a recent Iranian missile attack will be “lethal” and “surprising,” while the Israeli military pushed ahead with a large-scale operation in northern Gaza and a ground offensive in Lebanon against Hezbollah militants. (AP)
➤ These maps and images show what's left of Gaza, 1 year into the Israel-Hamas war (NPR)

⚕️Health and wellness
➤ Scientists Are Turning Mosquitoes “Trans” So They Can Fight Malaria
From gay polyamorous flamingos to a “half-male, half-female bird” sighting, Mother Nature has proven that she’s pretty damn queer. But sometimes, scientists like to get in on the fun, too. It turns out that some are even using their talents to engineer “trans” mosquitoes (yes, really). (Them)
➤ What, Exactly, Is ‘Moderate Drinking’?
Over the past several years, there has been a rise in alcohol-related deaths and a steady wave of news about the health risks of drinking. Calls for people to drink only in moderation have become more urgent. But what, exactly, does that mean? That depends on whom you ask, and what country you live in. Here’s what the research suggests and how to think about it. (NYTimes)
💰 Money
➤ America’s inflation is getting back to normal. But price problems persist
America’s inflation continued to slow in September, reaching a fresh three-and-a-half-year low and coming in at a pace that’s similar to what was seen in 2017 and 2018, according to data released Thursday. (CNN)
👩💻 Technology
➤ Inside the bro-ification of Mark Zuckerberg
Meta’s founder is remaking his brand, raising his stock among start-up founders as Silicon Valley shifts to the right (Washington Post)
➤ Tesla's much-hyped robotaxi event fails to impress
The Tesla CEO needed to sell a flashy story about the company's future amid declining present-day demand for its EVs — but in the eyes of most investors after the literal smoke cleared, the unveil failed to live up to the hype. (Axios)
🍿Pop Culture
➤ Barbie announces first "Diwali doll" ahead of festival of lights
A new Barbie has joined Mattel's lineup of inclusive dolls. The first "Diwali doll" was announced by the toymaker on Friday, a few weeks shy of the Hindu holiday of Diwali, also known as the festival of lights. (CBS News)

➤ Olivia Rodrigo Donates All Ticket Profits From First Concert in the Philippines to Women’s Health Charity
Rodrigo — who is half Filipina — announced her partnership with Jhpiego on Instagram. “I’m SO stoked that all the net ticket sales from last night could be donated to @jhpiego through my fund 4 good,” Rodrigo continued. “I got to visit the organization while I was in Manila and was so impressed by the work they are doing providing healthcare to women and girls in the Philippines. (Billboard)
➤ Taylor Swift Becomes World's Richest Female Musician
Taylor Swift leapfrogged singer and beauty mogul Rihanna to become the world’s richest female musician following the blockbuster success of her Eras Tour, as other female artists, including Madonna and Beyoncé, rank just outside the billion-dollar club. (Forbes)
➤ The Creator A-List: The 50 Most Influential Influencers
From staggeringly talented TikTokers to the Instagram stars we can’t look away from, these are the names who will (and should) be dominating the business of new and old media. (Hollywood Reporter)
📡 On the radar
➤ Getting Your Period in the Age of School Shootings
Girls say prevention policies like backpack bans force them to hide tampons in their hair and shoes. (The Cut)
Sports
➤ The ‘Goth’ Volleyball Player Was Actually Toning Things Down
“I just wanted to look as much like myself as I could,” Nora Hayd said of the team headshot that made her an online sensation. (New York Times)

➤ Jessica Campbell Makes History As First Woman To Serve As Full Time On-Bench NHL Coach
Jessica Campbell continues to write history. When the puck dropped on the opening game of the 2024-2025 NHL season between the Seattle Kraken and St. Louis Blues, Campbell officially became the first woman in history to serve as a full-time on-bench coach in the NHL. (Hockey News)
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