22-year-old Iowa House candidate aims to inspire Gen Z conservatism

From delivering pizza to running for a seat in the Iowa House, 22-year-old Dillon Fillion hopes to make history in his swing district and inspire Generation Z to embrace the conservatism he says he already sees on the ground.

Fillion, considered the youngest candidate to ever run for office in Scott County, spoke to Fox News Digital about his ambitions to lower property taxes, increase police funding, give parents more say in their children’s education and attract Generation Z to the polls.

“I think people are very excited that a young person is running because they see a lot of these older people running for office, no offense, but people want to see new faces and I think it’s time for my generation to step up,” Fillion said.

Before launching his bid for the Iowa House, Fillion decided to take a gap year at Scott Community College, where he is pursuing a degree in criminal justice. He currently works as a delivery driver for Domino’s while on the campaign trail, which he described as juggling “two full-time jobs.”

MEDIA NARRATIVE PREDICTS BLUE WAVE IN KEY BATTLEFIELD STATE DOES NOT ENGAGE WITH LOCAL REPUBLICANS: “SENT”

Iowa House candidate Dillon Fillion, 22, is running to represent the state’s 81st House District. (Dillon Fillion for Iowa House/Scott Morgan for Washington Post via Getty Images)

“I basically do a full-time job on top of campaigning,” he said.

But campaigning wasn’t always Fillion’s vision. A lifelong hockey fan, he said his initial dream was to play professionally before entering politics.

Fillion said he became interested in politics in 2019 after seeing Democrats accuse President Donald Trump of collusion with Russia, saying he found it “bizarre” that they were “calling our president a lot of strange and untrue things.” From there, he said he found himself going down a “rabbit hole” researching what he described as corruption within the Democratic Party, which he found “disconcerting and shocking.”

“I just couldn’t stand back and watch all this happen, and I decided to get involved,” he said.

“Keep Iowa Great!” is the slogan Fillion has displayed on signs and campaign merchandise as he works to win over Iowa voters. One of three siblings, Fillion had an upbringing “based on Christian family values, a strong work ethic and the perseverance to stick to his principles, no matter the challenge,” according to his campaign website.

Fillion credited Charlie Kirk with helping young men like him “find purpose” and turn to conservative principles.

“Men of my generation are really conservative. They admire conservative principles. I think Charlie Kirk really helped young men of my generation find a purpose in life. And I think that really helped a lot of men of my generation,” Fillion said. “I think my generation is moving in the right direction as far as conservatism is concerned. It’s just that I think my generation needs to participate more in our elections.”

LIZ PEEK: HASAN PIKER EXPOSES THE DESPERATION OF DEMOCRATS TO CONQUER YOUNG MEN

Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk spoke during his “American Comeback Tour” at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah. Kirk was fatally shot while appearing at the event. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images)

Fillion will challenge incumbent Democratic state Rep. Daniel Gosa for a seat representing Iowa’s 81st District. Fillion says he finally has the opportunity to “carry the ball on the ground” in his district and calls for a leadership overhaul.

“I wouldn’t be in this race if I didn’t think I could win it,” he said. “However, my Democratic opponent does not stand for the things this district cares about.”

Among Fillion’s highest-profile endorsers are Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., and Iowa House Majority Leader Bobby Kaufmann, according to his campaign website.

DEMOCRATS SAY THEY WILL MAKE LIFE AFFORDABLE. YOUR WALLET MAY NOT AGREE

Senator Rick Scott, Republican of Florida, on the Senate floor during a vote at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, U.S., Friday, March 14, 2025. (Allison Robbert/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

One of Fillion’s top priorities is to eliminate property taxes altogether. His campaign website says that if this is not “immediately achievable,” Fillion will work to reduce taxes as much as possible.

“I want Iowa to remain number one in affordability,” he said.

Crime and education are also on Fillion’s mind, and he told Fox News Digital that those would be two of his top priorities if elected in November.

“When I enter this legislature, I will introduce a constitutional amendment for the Back the Blue Act to ensure our police officers are protected so they can do their jobs properly,” Fillion said. “And I will continue to empower parents and teachers in the education of our children, because it is parents who should be at the forefront of your children’s education, not the government.”

He said his ultimate goal is to make Iowa “the number one state to live, work and raise a family.”

As voters prepare to head to the polls in November, Fillion said his campaign aims to spread more optimism and show people that Generation Z wants to make the world a better place.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

“I just want our country to know that there are people in my generation who are doing everything they can to try to save this country,” he said.