U.S.TOP STORY

Gen Z and millennials run for Congress in record numbers, few reach…

A new Future Caucus report finds about seven in ten young candidates were already out by early September; experience, fundraising and party backing still decide who survives.

On air: Hank Ledger, Vera Bullock and Chip Darnell on BBN This Morning
Published 6:02 AM ET, Thursday, October 15, 2026

At a glance

First reported by Axios: “Gen Z and millennials are running for Congress in record numbers, but few reach November”.
Covered on BBN on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 6:02 AM ET on BBN This Morning, by Hank Ledger, Vera Bullock and Chip Darnell.
Topics: Gen Z, Congress.
BBN covered this story before: IMF chief's latte warning draws a life coach who says Gen Z should… (October 13).

The real story

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AxiosGen Z and millennials are running for Congress in record numbers, but few reach November

What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorWe promised you this one: Gen Z and millennials are running for Congress in record numbers, but roughly seven in ten were out by early September, according to a new report from Future Caucus.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThe report says these younger candidates are struggling to clear the first hurdles of a system that rewards experience, fundraising and established party support.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorSeven in ten. That's a lot of yard signs headed for the garage.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorFuture Caucus is a nonpartisan nonprofit that works with younger elected officials, so this comes from people who like them.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorStill, a record number of them tried, and I think that's wonderful, even if their campaign headquarters is a group chat.
Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorThe group chat has a better turnout than most primaries.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorFundraising is the hard part. Nobody has figured out how to crowdfund a campaign with a venmo request and a good bio.