By Sarah Evans “I felt it was important for me as a younger person to change things up in Hartford, to provide a different perspective, and to fight for issues that are important to the millennial generation.” Since his election to the Connecticut General Assembly in 2015 at age 30, Rep. Devin Carney (R-CT) has…
Rep. Ajay Pittman Brings Multiple Identities to the Table
By Sarah Evans Representative Ajay Pittman (D-OK) wants democracy to be representative and accessible. This ambition, along with her identities as a Black and Native woman, have shaped her work in the Oklahoma state legislature. Pittman has dual citizenship in the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma and is a seventh-generation Native American. She is “bringing that…
More young people are running for public office, but winning races is an uphill battle
By Dalia Abdelwahab | Zivvy News Nearly one in four candidates running for U.S. Congress this election cycle is a millennial or part of Gen Z, according to a new report from the nonpartisan nonprofit Future Caucus. However, these younger candidates are losing at a higher rate than their older counterparts. Besides the incumbency advantage faced by…
New Future Caucus report finds more Gen Z, millennials running for Congress
By Joanne Haner | The Hill A Future Caucus report released Thursday found an increase in congressional candidates under the age of 45 seeking higher office, with the group’s leader noting younger blocs have found success combatting political polarization. “As more and more people are louder about the problems in our democracy, it would be rational, it…
NEW REPORT: One in Four Congressional Candidates Is a Millennial or Gen Zer
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 3, 2024 WASHINGTON, D.C.—More young Americans are running for Congress in 2024, with around 25% of candidates belonging to the youngest two generations, according to a new report released today by Future Caucus. The report, On the Rise 2024, stands in contrast to the widespread narrative of political burnout among younger…
Rep. Maxwell Frost: Democracy belongs to all of us
By Sarah Evans Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-FL) is familiar with breaking down barriers. He became the first member of Gen Z to enter Congress in 2023, at the age of 25—and ever since, he’s been a champion for youth participation in politics. “Gen Z is the most politically active generation in the history of…
The Commons in Conversation with Layla Zaidane
‘Young People Are Going to Fix Our Democracy’
The Chronicle of Philanthropy | By The Chronicle Staff Future Caucus president Layla Zaidane talks about how Gen Z and millennial lawmakers cross the aisle to find solutions. Case in point: The removal of Confederate iconography from Mississippi’s flag. If anyone’s well-positioned to beat back toxic political polarization in America, it’s millennials and Gen Zers,…
Young voters prize authenticity, empathy in candidates: Survey
The Hill | By Joanne Haner Young Americans want to feel listened to by an authentic and genuine political candidate, according to a new survey from American University’s Sine Institute of Policy & Politics, providing insight into the key voting demographic weeks out from the presidential election. The results were unveiled at the Sept. 17 event “What’s…
Future Summit 2024
In July 2024, Future Caucus hosted the eighth annual Future Summit in Washington, D.C., the largest bipartisan convening of young state legislators nationwide. Over the past eight years, hundreds of legislators from across the country have come together to transcend political polarization, collaborate and share policy ideas, and gain insight from national policy experts.