The 2022 Midterm Election has made history with monumental change, one being the first Gen Z member in Congress, 25-year-old Democrat Maxwell Alejandro Frost, who won Florida’s 10th Congressional District and defeated Republican Calvin Wimbish by 19 percentage points.
Frost’s win is a crucial step for progressive reform, his fight against gun violence and restrictions on reproductive rights has really resonated with Gen Z. Frost started his political journey back in 2012 after the Sandy Hook shooting, which propelled him to want to push for change — even more so in 2016 after being a survivor of gun violence during a shooting in downtown Orlando, Florida. “It just shows that you can fight for something your whole life and think you’ll never be impacted by it,” Frost said during an exclusive interview with Her Campus. “Then, one day you wake up and you are.”
During Frost’s campaign trail, he proposed numerous solutions to put an end to gun violence, such as requiring background checks for all sales, banning assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines, fighting to end the corruption of the gun lobby and dismantling the NRA, and funding local community violence intervention programs.
The former March For Our Lives and ACLU activist has also been at the forefront of protecting a woman’s right to choose after the overturn of Roe v. Wade. “They [voters] recognize that, yes, we are in a state where abortion is legal in Florida right now,” Frost said in an interview with Teen Vogue. “But we have a governor who has said that he’s going to do everything he can to change that in the next two years.” This comes after Republican Governor Ron DeSantis has continued to enact a 15-week abortion ban, which does not include exceptions for rape or incest.
Frost’s reaction to his big election win on Nov. 8 was nothing short of heartfelt. Frost took to Twitter to reveal his huge win, saying, “WE WON!!!! History was made tonight. We made history for Floridians, for Gen Z, and for everyone who believes we deserve a better future,” said Frost. “I am beyond thankful for the opportunity to represent my home in the United States Congress. #FL10.”
Hours later, Frost revealed that he was celebrating his win by attending a The 1975 concert, saying, “‘I’VE BEEN CAMPAIGNING FOR OVER A YEAR THIS IS WILD!! I’M GONNA SEE @the1975 ON THURSDAY TO CELEBRATE!!!” OK, but why is Frost me? He even posted a 0.5 selfie on his Twitter, too.
This monumental win for Frost gives a sense of hope for Gen Z voters that change is on the horizon, and may even push for other young politicians to get involved.