Meet the Rising Young Political Stars Who Are Rejecting Partisan Labels — and Getting Results

January 25, 2023

Young state lawmakers like Kansas’ Tory Blew and Oklahoma’s Daniel Pae — and a surge of newly elected members of Generation Z — are “a light at the end of the tunnel” of partisan ugliness

Young state lawmakers like Kansas’ Tory Blew and Oklahoma’s Daniel Pae — and a surge of newly elected members of Generation Z — are “a light at the end of the tunnel” of partisan ugliness

By Sandra Sobieraj Westfall

Published on January 25, 2023 12:14 PM

PHOTO: COURTESY DANIEL PAE

Back in Oklahoma, Pae sees the same promise among his peers.

“Instead of just tweeting about [issues], I want to be at the table and be a part of the decision making process,” says Pae, who got together with two Democrats and three Republicans to accomplish the 2021 enactment of “harm reduction” help (most prominently, a needle exchange program) for Oklahomans addicted to drugs.

“I do think that we’re a unique generation, and that’s what makes me optimistic about the future. As more millennials and Gen Z-ers get elected to office, I think you’re going to see more collaboration and more bipartisanship in terms of legislative effort. And that’s great for the country.”

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Rep. Sara Jacobs

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