RELEASE: Young Members of Kansas Legislature Form Bipartisan Caucus to Address Issues Most Important to Millennial Kansans

Kansas State Future Caucus to be Led by Democrat Brandon Whipple and Republican Stephanie Clayton

(TOPEKA, KS) Today, Representatives Stephanie Clayton (R-19) and Brandon Whipple (D-96)
announced the creation of the bipartisan Kansas State Future Caucus, a brand-new caucus comprised of state legislators under age 45. The announcement is part of a nation-wide movement in state houses across the country where millennial legislators are seeking to find common ground in an era of hyper partisanship. With the launch, Kansas becomes the 21st state to join Millennial Action Project’s national State Future Caucus Network.

The caucus will focus on issues that Millennials care about, including student debt and clean energy. Kansas’ Future Caucus will be part of the Millennial Action Project’s national effort to support young elected officials as they work to break through partisan gridlock and reestablish political cooperation.

While there has been a great deal of attention directed at dysfunction and gridlock in government, there is a counter-movement underway–led by Millennials–that seeks to disrupt the status quo in government.

Millennial Action Project hopes that as additional younger state legislators course a path of bipartisanship and cooperation, they will be able to bring this perspective to Washington. Currently, 15 millennial members of Congress began their legislative careers in state houses.

“As the State Future Caucus Network continues to grow, we have seen what young legislators can accomplish when they put party differences aside and collaborate on bipartisan legislative solutions,” said Steven Olikara, Founder and President of Millennial Action Project. “Thank you to Reps. Clayton and Whipple for leading this critical effort in Kansas.”

“I’m honored to serve as a Co-Chair of the Kansas Future Caucus and with my colleagues, support the work of the Millennial Action Project as we work to find new and innovative ways to tackle political issues that are important to younger generations,” added Rep. Clayton.

Rep. Whipple noted, “I’m thrilled to lead the Kansas Future Caucus with Rep. Clayton to ensure that the concerns of millennials are a priority when the Kansas House of Representatives sets its agenda each session.”

Media contact: Julia Schechter, (917) 282-2754 or [email protected]