A former Trump White House spokeswoman and recently departed aide to Rep. Elise Stefanik is readying a bid to be the youngest member of Congress.
Karoline Leavitt, currently 23, would be 25 years old if she defeats incumbent Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas of New Hampshire in 2022.
“New Hampshire is my home. I moved to Washington to serve President Trump and the American people, not to become a swamp creature,” Leavitt tweeted Wednesday. “It has always been my intention to move back, and I’ve heard from many Granite Staters who are looking for a young, conservative fighter.”
The New Hampshire Journal first reported her possible candidacy.
Despite her age, Leavitt has played a significant role in recent DC political developments. She worked for Stefanik as the upstate congresswoman replaced Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) as the No. 3 House Republican.
Previously, Leavitt worked for nearly two years at the White House under President Donald Trump, about half of that time as an assistant press secretary.
At both the White House and Stefanik’s office, she supported efforts to hold Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo accountable for forcing nursing homes to accept COVID-19-positive patients and then covering up the death toll. Stefanik was at the forefront of demanding Cuomo’s resignation, including over sexual harassment claims.
Leavitt worked in 2016 for then-Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and formerly worked as a producer for local ABC station WMUR-TV.
The Constitution requires that members of the House of Representatives be at least 25 years old. Senators must be 35. Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC), 25, is currently the youngest House member.
Youth can be a significant political asset, gaining members of Congress extra attention for their political priorities. Before Cawthorn took office, the youngest House member was self-avowed socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), who has helped steer her party to the left. Ocasio-Cortez replaced Stefanik as the youngest.
