App Challenge
Congressional App Challenge
Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren is excited to announce that her office is participating in the 2025 Congressional App Challenge! The Congressional App Challenge is designed to encourage innovation by inspiring students to pursue an interest in STEM and computer science.
To register, click here.
Important Dates
- Monday, June 1st – Challenge officially opens
- Monday, October 26th – Deadline for students to register and submit their app online (submissions are due by 9:00am PST / 12:00pm EST)
- November 2026 – Judging period
- December 2026 – Winners announced!
More details on submitting a contest entry, the rules of the competition, and programming resources can be found at CongressionalAppChallenge.us.
About the 2026 Congressional App Challenge
The Congressional App Challenge is an annual Congressional Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Academic Competition designed to engage students' creativity and encourage their participation in STEM education fields. The competition was established by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2013, and the pilot competition ran in 2014.
Eligibility & Criteria
- The 2026 Congressional App Challenge is open to students who:
- Are in middle school or high school by the Challenge Deadline (Oct. 2026)
- Live or attend a school in California’s 18th congressional district
- Are interested in computer science. All skill levels are encouraged to apply!
- Submission Criteria:
- Made by an individual or a team of up to four students
- Half of the team must reside or attend school in the district
- Projects can use any programming language
- Ex: C, C++, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, “block code”, etc.
- Students can submit any project that requires code
- Ex: PC, web, video games, tablet, robot, mobile, AI. etc.
- Made by an individual or a team of up to four students
- Only completed projects will be accepted. Completed projects include:
- A video demonstrating the app
- A short summary of the app
- Inspiration for the App
- Coding language used
- Technical difficulties encountered
- Improvements in Version 2.0 of app
- Contact information
For more information on the Congressional App Challenge, visit the official website here: Congressional App Challenge
Winner Details
The winner will be announced in December and will have their app displayed on CongressionalAppChallenge.us and on House.gov for one year. Winners will also be invited to attend the #HouseofCode Capitol Hill Reception in Washington D.C. in Spring 2027. Travel and accommodation will be at the winner(s)' expense. Further details will be available later.
Previous Winners
Please click here to see all previous Congressional App Challenge winners nationwide.
Questions and Concerns
For any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our office at (408) 271-8700 or email Adrien Villanueva at adrien.villanueva@mail.house.gov.
