KINGSTON, New Hampshire — Republican House candidate Karoline Leavitt is dismissing speculation that her endorsement from Donald Trump will scare away independent voters in Tuesday’s election.
The Republican, who at 25 years old could become the youngest woman ever elected to Congress, is vying to flip New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District and is 6 points ahead of Democratic incumbent Chris Pappas in the latest poll.
Leavitt worked in communications in the Trump White House and was endorsed by the former president but told the Washington Examiner following a campaign stop Thursday that Trump’s presence is far from voters’ minds as they grapple with inflation and soaring energy costs.
“This election is not about Donald Trump. It’s about Joe Biden and Chris Pappas, and it’s a referendum on the policies that they’ve put in place over the past two years, which are hurting the American people,” Leavitt said. “The media loves to talk about Trump, but the voters don’t care. They care about inflation. They care about skyrocketing energy costs. They care about the fact that they’re choosing between heating and eating this winter, and so that’s why we’re gonna win on Tuesday.”
If she wins her tight race against Pappas, she’ll likely be one of two Gen Z members of the House. Florida Democrat Maxwell Frost, also 25 but seven months older than Leavitt, is favored to win his race. There have been calls on the Democratic side of the aisle for a generational change in leadership, which skews much older, but Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) recently dismissed such calls.
“Yes, we need generational change. Of course we do. But in some cases, there’s no substitute for experience,” she told MSNBC last month.
Leavitt, responding to Pelosi’s remarks, argued that this “experience” has led to failed policies.
“As my father reminds me often, only with age can come wisdom. However, we have the most experienced politician in the White House today with Joe Biden, and look at where he’s brought our country,” she said. “Voters are dehydrated for youthful energy who will shake up D.C., bring a new generation of ideas. That’s why we have a packed room in there today — because they are thirsty for new leadership. And by the way, Nancy Pelosi should retire.”
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Leavitt’s campaign to oust Pappas, who has represented the 1st District since 2019, is part of an aggressive bid by Republicans to take back the House on Nov. 8. The GOP only needs a net gain of five seats in order to gain the majority in the lower chamber.
