25-year-old Maxwell Frost is poised to become the 1st Gen Z member of Congress
Gen Z has officially entered the 2022 midterms group chat.
Twenty-five-year-old progressive activist Maxwell Frost has officially won the Democratic House primary in Florida's 10th Congressional District, pushing him one step closer to becoming the first Gen Z member of Congress, NPR reports.
Notably, the open seat is also considered "solidly Democratic," NPR writes, having been vacated by Rep. Val Demings (D-Fla.) — meaning Frost's spot in Congress is almost a given. He will run against Republican Calvin Wimbish in November.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"We made history tonight. Thank you so much, Orlando," Frost tweeted early Wednesday.
The 2022 midterms mark the first time members of Gen Z, which the Pew Research Center qualifies as anyone born between the years 1997 and 2012, can run for congressional office, NPR notes. Frost's platform includes textbook progressive stances like Medicare for All, climate action, student debt relief, and gun reform. He also boasts endorsements from big-time progressives like Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Reps. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and Mondaire Jones (D-N.Y.), among others.
"I've been counted out a lot of my life because of my age," Frost told The Washington Post in an interview. "But I knew that if we stuck to our message, and if we kept doing the work, and we built the movement, we would win."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
The history of Donald Trump's election conspiracy theories
The Explainer How the 2024 Republican nominee has consistently stoked baseless fears of a stolen election
By David Faris Published
-
Two ancient cities have been discovered along the Silk Road
Under the radar The discovery changed what was known about the old trade route
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
'People shouldn't have to share the road with impaired drivers'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Moldova's pro-West president wins 2nd term
Speed Read Maia Sandu beat Alexandr Stoianoglo, despite suspicions of Russia meddling in the election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
2024 race ends with swing state barnstorming
Speed Read Kamala Harris and Donald Trump held rallies in battlegrounds over the weekend
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
North Korea tests ICBM, readies troops in Ukraine
Speed Read Thousands of North Korean troops are likely to join Russian action against Ukraine
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Women take center stage in campaign finale
Speed Read Harris and Trump are trading gender attacks in the final days before the election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US election: who the billionaires are backing
The Explainer More have endorsed Kamala Harris than Donald Trump, but among the 'ultra-rich' the split is more even
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Supreme Court allows purge of Virginia voter rolls
Speed Read Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) is purging some 1,600 people from state voter rolls days before the election
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Empowered' Steve Bannon released from prison
Speed Read Bannon was set free a week before Election Day and quickly returned to his right-wing podcast to promote Trump
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Canada accuses top Modi ally of directing Sikh attacks
Speed Read Indian Home Minister Amit Shah was allegedly behind a campaign of violence and intimidation targeting Sikh separatists
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published