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| US election: Maxwell Frost to be first Gen Z member of Congress | US election: Maxwell Frost to be first Gen Z member of Congress |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Frost says he became involved in politics following a series of mass shootings | Frost says he became involved in politics following a series of mass shootings |
| "We made history for Floridians, for Gen Z, and for everyone who believes we deserve a better future." | "We made history for Floridians, for Gen Z, and for everyone who believes we deserve a better future." |
| This is what a win sounds like for Democrat Maxwell Frost, who - at 25 - is the US Congress' first representative of Generation Z. | |
| Within minutes of the projected win, his celebration on Twitter was gathering rampant endorsement. | Within minutes of the projected win, his celebration on Twitter was gathering rampant endorsement. |
| For starters, his presence in the House of Representatives stands to lower Congress' median age - the highest in two decades - by quite a lot. Baby boomers dominate and millennials represent barely 6% of the body. | For starters, his presence in the House of Representatives stands to lower Congress' median age - the highest in two decades - by quite a lot. Baby boomers dominate and millennials represent barely 6% of the body. |
| "I am more than thankful for the opportunity to represent my home in the United States Congress," Mr Frost wrote. | "I am more than thankful for the opportunity to represent my home in the United States Congress," Mr Frost wrote. |
| His win was not unexpected - after all he ran in Florida's reliably liberal 10th district. | His win was not unexpected - after all he ran in Florida's reliably liberal 10th district. |
| And his campaign focused on the issues Democrats believe appeal to young voters - gun violence, climate change, abortion rights and expanded healthcare. | And his campaign focused on the issues Democrats believe appeal to young voters - gun violence, climate change, abortion rights and expanded healthcare. |
| Four days before the midterm elections, Maxwell Alejandro Frost explained that he became an organiser (remember that word - that's how a certain Barack Obama began his political career) because he "did not want to be shot at school". | Four days before the midterm elections, Maxwell Alejandro Frost explained that he became an organiser (remember that word - that's how a certain Barack Obama began his political career) because he "did not want to be shot at school". |
| He became an activist after the mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012. | He became an activist after the mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012. |
| In the run-up to his congressional campaign, Mr Frost served as the national organising director for March for Our Lives - a group that seeks gun control. | In the run-up to his congressional campaign, Mr Frost served as the national organising director for March for Our Lives - a group that seeks gun control. |
| After the shooting that left 21 people dead at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on 24 May, Mr Frost challenged Florida's Governor Ron DeSantis over his views on weapons. | After the shooting that left 21 people dead at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on 24 May, Mr Frost challenged Florida's Governor Ron DeSantis over his views on weapons. |
| I just asked @GovRonDeSantis to take action on gun violence so we can save lives. That we lose 100 people a day. His response? “Nobody wants to hear from you!” We are dying and our Governor is too busy helping @RubinReport make money. pic.twitter.com/LUOWQq3kQU | I just asked @GovRonDeSantis to take action on gun violence so we can save lives. That we lose 100 people a day. His response? “Nobody wants to hear from you!” We are dying and our Governor is too busy helping @RubinReport make money. pic.twitter.com/LUOWQq3kQU |
| He told the New York Times in August that the reason why the issue of gun violence was so important to him was because he came from a generation "that has gone through more mass-shooting drills than fire drills". | He told the New York Times in August that the reason why the issue of gun violence was so important to him was because he came from a generation "that has gone through more mass-shooting drills than fire drills". |
| "That gives me a sense of urgency." | "That gives me a sense of urgency." |
| The oldest members of Gen Z were born in 1997 - and only now have they been eligible to run (you have to be 25 to stand for the House). | The oldest members of Gen Z were born in 1997 - and only now have they been eligible to run (you have to be 25 to stand for the House). |
| And whilst it remains unusual to get elected at that age, Mr Frost is not the first. | And whilst it remains unusual to get elected at that age, Mr Frost is not the first. |
| In 2020, Republican Madison Cawthorn (who was born in 1995) had that honour when he won in North Carolina - but that was after a hiatus of some 45 years. Mr Cawthorn, however, did not last long - he was voted out in the primaries earlier this year, following a string of scandals. | In 2020, Republican Madison Cawthorn (who was born in 1995) had that honour when he won in North Carolina - but that was after a hiatus of some 45 years. Mr Cawthorn, however, did not last long - he was voted out in the primaries earlier this year, following a string of scandals. |
| In addition to being the first member of Gen Z elected to Congress, Mr Frost will also reportedly be the first Afro-Cuban to serve. | In addition to being the first member of Gen Z elected to Congress, Mr Frost will also reportedly be the first Afro-Cuban to serve. |