Karoline Leavitt, the Republican nominee in New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District, would be among the youngest people ever elected to Congress if she is victorious in her race against Rep. Chris Pappas (D) in November.
Leavitt, 25, is the second Generation Z candidate to win a primary this season, along with progressive Maxwell Frost, and is hoping to flip the swing district for Republicans. Though she touted a number of high-profile endorsements herself, Leavitt overcame the majority of Republican leadership backing her opponent in Tuesday’s primary.
Some political handicappers believe Pappas will have a slight edge in the general election.
A native of Rockingham County, Leavitt got her political start in the Trump White House. After graduating from St. Anselm College in 2019, she was hired to the White House communications office as a presidential writer. She later became an assistant press secretary under Kayleigh McEnany, helping her boss prepare for the press briefings.
After former President Donald Trump lost his 2020 reelection bid, she became the communications director for Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), the House Republican Conference chairwoman, who endorsed Leavitt in the primary.
If elected, Leavitt would be among the youngest candidates elected to the House. Lawmakers such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and outgoing Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) were elected in their mid-20s as well.
The Constitution requires that House lawmakers be at least 25 years old to serve in Congress. Leavitt celebrated her 25th birthday last month.
During the primary campaign, Leavitt was attacked for her age. Attack advertisements seeking to boost her opponent, ex-State Department official Matt Mowers, called her “immature” and “irresponsible.” All of House Republican leadership except Stefanik endorsed Mowers, as did Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell, and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley.
However, Leavitt carried endorsements from Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Mike Lee (R-UT), Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), and Cawthorn in addition to Stefanik.
She touted her age as an asset that sets her apart in the field Tuesday night.
“Tonight, we made history. And I look forward to serving as the youngest congresswoman in United States history when we beat Chris Pappas,” she said. “As many of you know, my youth is one of the many reasons that I felt compelled to run for Congress in the first place. Because it’s my generation of Americans, your children, your grandchildren, who are not being served well by the current state of our education system, our media, and our entire culture.”
Reporting from The Washington Examiner.
