Is the GOP firing blanks with its extremist "Young Gun" House candidates?

The Republican Party has been touting its “ Young Guns ” candidates in competitive House districts.

The Young Guns program has a mixed legacy.

The GOP has continued to use the "Young Guns " label to promote candidates.

But this roster of candidates is full of politicians weighed down by extremist baggage, fundraising challenges, and flip-flops.

In Minnesota ’s 2nd congressional district, Rep. Joe Teirab , a US Marine vet and former prosector, is facing Democratic Rep. Angie Craig , who has won the past three contests.

In New York City cop A. A. Esposito is running in New York's 18th congressional district against Democrat Pat Pat Ryan , who won the seat by 13 points in 2022 .

In Ohio ’s 1st congressional district, Rep. Orlando Sonza is gunning to become the youngest Republican House member.

Rep. Derek Merrin is an anti-abortion absolutist who backed a bill to ban abortion-on-demand from fertilization to birth.

Texas Rep. Mayra Flores is a far-right extremist, climate denier, and conspiracy theorist.

She has also hobnobbed with the QAnon movement, which claims a global cabal of satanic and cannibalistic pedophiles and sex traffickers.