Gen Z in the House: Meet Maxwell Frost, the first of his generation elected to Congress

At age 25, Democrat Maxwell Frost made history Tuesday night when he became the first member of Gen Z to be elected to U.S. Congress.

Frost, a social justice advocate, won his election bid against Republican Army veteran Calvin Wimbish to represent The Sunshine State's 10th Congressional District in Central Florida which includes the University of Central Florida, Winter Park and Orlando.

Running in a district generally won by his party, Frost was favored to win the Orlando-based seat.

"History was made tonight," the progressive activist posted on Instagram Tuesday. "We made history for Floridians, for Gen Z, and for everyone who believes we deserve a better future. I am beyond thankful for the opportunity to represent my home in the United States Congress."

The young African American's victory marks a crucial moment for the progressive activist who came of voting age over the past decade known for voicing his political stance on issues including gun violence and LGBTQ rights.

Here's what else to know about the youngest member elected to Congress:

Who is Maxwell frost?

Frost was born Jan. 17, 1997, to a Puerto Rican woman and a Haitian man. According to his campaign page, his biological mother had seven children and battled a cycle of drugs, crime and violence.

Adopted as an infant, his adoptive mother and his grandmother came to Florida from Cuba in the early 1960s during the Freedom Flights with only a suitcase and no money, the bio reads.

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As a young man, Frost said, he experienced police abuse firsthand and watched his community "ravaged by gun violence. And I’ve experienced how working people and people of color are unjustly marginalized and left behind in our society."

An ACLU and gun control activist

Frost was active in Barack Obama's 2012 presidential campaign.

That same year he became a gun control activist after the mass shooting in Newtown, Conneticut.

He is an American Civil Liberties Union activist and also served as the national organizing director for March for Our Lives, a group that advocates for gun control policy.

In June, he confronted Florida's Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis at an event over his second amendment views.

"I just asked @GovRonDeSantis to take action on gun violence so we can save lives," Frost tweeted after the mass Uvalde, Texas, shooting. "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."

The open seat

Frost won his party's nomination for U.S. House in Florida's 10th Congressional District and defeated nine other Democrats, including state Sen. Randolph Bracy and former U.S. Reps. Corrine Brown and Alan Grayson.

The seat became open when Democrat Val Demings decided to run for Senate against Republican Marco Rubio.

What did Frost campaign on?

Frost campaigned on progressive issues including Medicare for All, an end to gun violence, transforming the criminal justice system and an end to the climate crisis.

He also supports progressive policies including work on the Green New Deal.

A professed LGBTQ ally, Frost has attended Pride Parades including one last month in Orlando.

He raised more than $2.5 million, a majority from Small Individual Contributions (just over 56%).

He was endorsed by names including Sens. Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey along with the Rev. Jesse Jackson as well as the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

How much did Frost win by?

As of Wednesday morning, Frost received more than 59% of the votes with 99% of all ballots counted in Florida District 10.

According to results, Frost garnered 117,745 votes, while Democratic gubernatorial nominee Wimbush secured just over 39% of the votes (78,762 votes).

Jason Holic (NF) secured 1,998 votes (1.0%) while Usha Jain (NF) tallied 1,109 (0.6%).

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How old is Maxwell Frost?

At age 25, Frost just qualifies for the age requirement to serve in the U.S. House. Twenty-five is the youngest age permissible by the Constitution.

This year's midterms marked the first election in which Gen Z members could run for congressional office.

The Pew Research Center considers anyone born between 1997 and 2012 to be Gen Z.

Natalie Neysa Alund covers trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Meet Maxwell Frost, the first Gen Z member elected to Congress