Maxwell Frost, 25, won the Democratic nominee for Fla.’s 10th Congressional District, on Tues. Aug. 23, 2022. Frost has the ability to become the first-ever member of Generation Z, born between the years 1997-2012, and sworn into the U.S. House of Representatives. 

Frost has overcome substantial adversity before running for congressional office. His biological mother, a Cuban immigrant, moved to Miami in the 1960s. Due to a lack of healthcare and resources to raise him, Frost’s mother gave him up leaving him victim to the foster care system.

As a survivor of gun violence and police brutality, Frost has learned the importance of activism. He has plenty of experience including fighting for abortion rights through the Florida ACLU chapter, restoring voting rights to convicted felons, leading voter turnout projects and helping to secure five billion dollars to fund community-based violence prevention programs under the Biden Administration. 

Frost is taking over for Rep. Val Demmings (D), who also won her primary in hopes of retiring incumbent Sen. Marco Rubio. Fla’s 10th District is set near Orlando, one of the few Democratic counties in Florida. 

Frost made a name for himself after getting endorsed by Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. This is the first time ever that citizens born in 1997 are eligible to run. The requirements to run for the U.S. House of Representatives include a minimum of 25 years of age, American citizenship for at least 7 years and residing in the state they are running in (not the district). 

Frost supports many prevalent issues: Medicare for all, ending gun violence, climate change, the housing crisis and more. 

“I didn’t run to be the first Gen Z member of Congress, I happen to be 25 years old. My age gives me a different perspective, but we need different perspectives in Congress so that I can really work for everybody,” said Frost. He also told CNN that he intends to be a strong activist against gun violence if elected. 

Members of Gen Z born between the years of 2005-2012 are not of age to vote yet, but still have managed to create strong viewpoints on numerous issues that are facing our country, like gun reform. 

“I respect older people’s opinions and people who aren’t Gen Z, but they just don’t get where we are coming from. We are Gen Z. We are in school right now. We are experiencing [gun violence] firsthand,” Hailey Johnson, sophomore, said. “I think he could really change Florida.”

Frost is not the only Gen Z member intending to enter the House come November. Karoline Leavitt, 25, a former Trump aide, hopes to represent New Hampshire’s 1st District if awarded the GOP nomination in her primary on Sept. 13. 

“We have people in Washington, DC, that have been clinging to power twice as long as I have been alive. My youth is a strength and that is showing on the campaign trail already,” Leavitt said. 

Although not a member of this generation, Gena Gray-Lagos, a teacher at Jupiter High School, believes young minds are important in our country and looks forward to Gen Z starting to become more involved in politics. 

“I love the Gen Z population. I am excited as I get older to see what they go out there and do and what I get to experience because I think they have the ability to do some pretty cool things,” said Gray-Lagos. 

Frost is looking forward to Nov. 8th when he will face off against Republican Calvin Wimbish in hopes of becoming our nation’s first Gen Z congressman. Frost will continue running his campaign based on this point. 

“We won because of our message: Love. That no matter who you are, you deserve healthcare, a livable wage and to live free from gun violence. We made history tonight. Thank you so much, Orlando,” Frost tweeted.