Maxwell Frost won the Democratic primary for Florida’s 10th Congressional District on Tuesday night, virtually ensuring the 25-year-old progressive activist will become the first Gen Z member of Congress.
Frost, who previously worked as a top organizer with the American Civil Liberties Union and March for Our Lives, focused his campaign on ending gun violence, battling climate change and supporting “Medicare for All.”
Frost defeated two controversial former House members, Alan Grayson and Corrine Brown, and state Sen. Randolph Bracy in the primary for the Orlando-centric district, which is heavily Democratic. The seat was previously held by Rep. Val Demings, who is now challenging Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).
Bracy, a relative moderate, had the support of Democratic Majority for Israel and was considered Frost’s biggest direct competition.
But Frost was able to enlist the support of progressives, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and the political arms of both the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and Congressional Progressive Caucus. He also had the backing of Protect Our Future, a super PAC funded by cryptocurrency billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried that focuses on pandemic prevention.
Frost is likely to be the youngest member of Congress in 2023. The youngest member of the current congress is Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.), 27, who lost his primary earlier this year after a series of scandals.