Lately, it seems that political discussions around age.
President Joe Biden is running for re-election at age 80, and former President Donald Trump is 77.
But, Alex Peterson has filed to run for the U.S. House at age 18, though that makes him too young to actually serve. While there is no mandatory retirement age in Congress, U.S. House members must be at least 25. (The age minimum is 30 for senators.)
Peterson submitted paperwork in August to run in U.S. House District 15, hoping to challenge first-term incumbent Rep. Laurel Lee, R-Tampa. The district covers northwest Polk County, including most of Lakeland west of U.S. 98 and South Florida Avenue, and parts of Hillsborough and Pasco counties.
In his statement of candidacy, Peterson listed Lakeland addresses for himself and his political committee. Peterson, a first-year student at the University of Florida, said he recognizes that he is too young to take office.
“It was more so a statement that our generation is politically involved,” Peterson said of his decision to run. “We do have the ability to not only vote but also to make ourselves politically heard. Yeah, that was more so the idea behind the candidacy.”
Peterson said he has split time in recent years between North Lakeland and Riverview in Hillsborough County, following his parents’ divorce. A 2023 graduate of Bell Creek Academy in Riverview, he plans to study history at the University of Florida.
Peterson is one of only two potential challengers to file so far in District 15. Kris Fitzgerald, a former Lake Wales city commissioner, is running as a Democrat.
On the website of the Federal Election Commission, Peterson is listed as an Independent Party candidate, though he said he intended to run as a non-party candidate. As of Friday, he had not reported any campaign contributions or expenditures.
Peterson said he has no illusions of being elected and would consider it a victory to see his name appear on ballots next year. But that prospect seems in question.