2026 Rising Star Awards
The 9th annual Rising Star Awards will be held in Washington, D.C. on November 16, 2026.
About the Rising Star Awards
Each year, Future Caucus recognizes young legislators and changemakers for political bridge-building and future-focused leadership during our annual Rising Star Awards.
In 2026, a trio of awards celebrates this innovative leadership:
JOIN US FOR THE 9TH RISING STAR AWARDS
On November 16, 2026 Future Caucus will recognize the accomplishments of Members of Congress and state legislators who have gone above and beyond to bridge political divides and deliver meaningful change at the 9th annual Rising Star Awards.
Meet the 2026 honorees
2026 Jacob K. Javits Prize Recipients
Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Rep. French Hill, R-Ark., and Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., will receive the Jacob K. Javits Prize for Bipartisan Leadership for bringing together the coalition behind the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. This comprehensive bipartisan housing package aims to make homeownership more accessible by reducing regulatory barriers and expanding the housing supply, demonstrating what lawmakers can accomplish when they work across party lines on an issue affecting communities nationwide.
2026 Rising Star Award Recipient
Mississippi state Rep. Justis Gibbs, D-Jackson, will receive the Democratic Rising Star Award for his leadership on critical challenges facing his constituents. Gibbs, the youngest African American member of the Mississippi Legislature, worked across the aisle to pass legislation protecting incarcerated workers from hazardous chemical exposure, the only corrections-related bill to become law in his state during the 2026 session.
2026 Rising Star Award Recipient
North Dakota state Rep. Dawson Holle, R-Mandan, will receive the Rising Star Award for his leadership on critical challenges facing his constituents. Holle, the youngest-ever chairman of North Dakota’s Missing Indigenous People Task Force, has worked directly with tribal communities and helped keep a rural hospital and nursing home in his district open.
2026 Cherisse Eatmon Collective Impact Award Recipients
South Dakota state Rep. Kadyn Wittman, D-Sioux Falls, and Sen. Brandon Wipf, R-Lake Byron, will receive the Cherisse Eatmon Collective Impact Award for their bipartisan partnership to pass legislation providing free school lunches to 10,000 students. Their effort included successfully forcing a Senate floor vote despite opposition from leadership in both chambers, demonstrating the persistence and cross-partisan collaboration it can take to advance policies that directly affect families.
Together, these eight lawmakers demonstrate that meaningful public service is about more than party loyalty. It requires finding common ground, making tough compromises, and thinking long-term to deliver results for the people who count on public servants to lead the way. We’re proud to recognize their work and celebrate the possibilities it creates for a more collaborative future.
“Meaningful progress starts with listening to the people closest to the problem, building trust with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, and persisting until the work is done”
“Serving North Dakota means showing up and delivering for every community, from tribal nations to rural towns, and working alongside anyone willing to pitch in.”
Interested in sponsoring the Rising Star Awards? Please reach out to [email protected] for more information.
Past CeremoniesTake a look back at the 2025 Rising Star Awards
The 8th annual Rising Star Awards were held on November 18th, 2025 in Washington, D.C. where we honored Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash., with the Jacob K. Javits Prize; state legislators Sen. Alexis Calatayud, R-Fla., and Rep. Dr. Imani Barnes, D-Ga., with the Rising Star Award; and Sen. Löki Gale Tobin, D-Alaska, and Rep. Justin Ruffridge, R-Alaska with the Cherisse Eatmon Collective Impact Award.
Past Ceremonies
Encouraging Disagreement In The Right Way: A Look Back At The 2025 Future Caucus Rising star Awards
November 20, 2025
Encouraging Disagreement in the Right Way: A Look Back at the 2025 Future Caucus Rising <span class="dewidow">Star Awards</span>
Building Bridges, Inspiring Change: Reflecting On The 2024 Future Caucus Rising star Awards
November 22, 2024
Building Bridges, Inspiring Change: Reflecting on the 2024 Future Caucus Rising <span class="dewidow">Star Awards</span>
Future Caucus Celebrates A Decade Of Success With Rising star Awards
January 23, 2024
Future Caucus Celebrates a Decade of Success with Rising <span class="dewidow">Star Awards</span>
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