Millenials and Gen Z enter the political scene

Meghan Limaye ’28
Danity Pike ’27

This past November saw the election of new officials to executive and legislative offices, including the millennial mayor-elect of New York City, Zohran Mamdani. Starting in 2026, Mamdani joins a minority of other young politicians, such as 29-year-old Pennsylvania Senator Joe Picozzi, elected in November 2024. The victories of these millennial candidates help amplify the voice of younger generations in government and highlight the need for greater representation of Millennials and Gen Z in our political landscape. 

Dr. Topher Row, Upper School History teacher and faculty advisor for Young Independents, quotes his father, a member of the silent generation, looking at American politicians: “My god, they all look like old fogies. Where are the young people?” This question is complicated. Recently, the American Government has been dominated by “baby boomers”: individuals between approximately 61 to 80 years old. Despite being the majority of the population, millennials hold little political power in the United States. Michael Whalen, Upper School History teacher and faculty advisor for Young Republicans, explains, “Our political system is designed to be slower-moving. And I think because of that fact, younger generations that tend to be more radical become disillusioned, and I think that they’re not able to maintain that level of political pressure to affect or at least have a greater voice in politics.” 

The voice of Gen-Z and Millennials in government is becoming increasingly necessary as the reign of baby boomers continues. Ryann Newcomb ‘25, student leader of Young Democrats states, “[The voice of younger politicians] offers more nuanced perspectives that could seek to benefit the future and younger people. Having leaders in older generations, they certainly offer wisdom, but sometimes their policies do not align with the changing times.” Historically, the political power of younger generations has been proven both necessary and powerful through issues such as the 26th Amendment. Whalen states, “You had that generation pushing, being a part of that counterculture movement protesting the Vietnam War. Because of the draft, they ended up being able to create enough of a movement to lower the voting age to 18.” Younger generations have always been influential in significant political shifts. 

According to the Center for Youth Political Participation, most representatives come from the Baby Boomer generation or Generation X, with only a few from Gen Z. In fact, the average age for recently elected representatives within the lower chambers was 54.2 years. The discrepancies only grow more intense in the upper legislative chambers. Yet, millennial and Gen Z politicians provide a beacon of light for young generations. Dr. Row states, “I mean, look at Mamdani. Who would have thought that a self-described democratic socialist would win the mayor’s office of New York? He had a message that resonated across the spectrum with young people, with a lot of people, and he showed up… If you want to have a say, vote. If you want to see change, get involved.” 

 James Thibault, a New Hampshire State Representative of the Republican Party, is currently one of the youngest state legislators in the country at 19 years old and represents a rising Gen Z voice in public service. Even before high school, politics sparked his attention due to educational injustices within his family. He says, “I wanted to be able to go into a field where I felt like I could make a difference and stand up for people, like my family, who really need someone to advocate for them… that led, over time, to a yearning for politics and public service.” In fact, Thibault pursued multiple leadership positions in politics, including the High School Republican National Federation and the New Hampshire Legislative Youth Advisory Council. These opportunities became a catalyst for his eventual run for the New Hampshire House of Representatives. “Serving on the legislative Youth Advisory Council meant that I did get to interact with legislators,” he describes. “I got used to reading bills, drafting my own bills, and I became really comfortable with the State House. It’s just something I fell in love with.” 

As a member of Gen Z, Thibault’s youth played a positive role in shaping his stance on certain issues. He has advocated for student free speech rights due to pushback against his conservative-leaning club in high school. When New Hampshire House Bill 1305 was introduced to protect college students’ free speech rights on public college campuses, Thibault testified in favor, which helped secure First Amendment Rights for students just like him. With this same sentiment, Thibault hopes to inspire young people to make a meaningful difference through public office: “We need more young people involved in politics. We need to advocate for the issues that matter most to us, whether that’s housing or whether it’s education for ourselves and for our children. When I decided to run, I wanted to show young people that if you work hard enough, you can get involved however much you want, at any age you want.” He champions younger voices to get involved in local politics in any way they can.   

While Gen Z politicians are often motivated by an individual desire for radical action, millennial politicians typically champion pragmatic, bipartisan solutions through organizing. Nikil Saval is a Democratic-Socialist Pennsylvania Senator representing the heart of Philadelphia. He remembers being politicized by the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars in his formative years: “Being involved in the anti-war movement was very important to me. That led me to get involved as a volunteer in the labor movement… That showed me the power of how organizing—multi-racial, working class organizing—could really build political power.” Saval was particularly moved by the 2016 Bernie Sanders campaign, during which he canvassed and organized neighbors in Philadelphia. He comments, “That shaped my path into elected office most directly, [by] seeing a politician who is really responsive to social movements.” 

As a journalist and nonfiction writer, Saval has learned to stay curious, employing deep analysis of issues as a legislator. He observes a generational shift taking place in the Congressional Democratic Party: “Millennials and people younger than me are disadvantaged when it comes to the world that we inherit. We are less likely to be able to live the kinds of lives that our parents’ generation is able to live.” Saval further explains how his generation inherits “heedless industrialization,” an unaffordable cost of living, and the damaging effects of late-stage capitalism, leading them to champion bold policy to combat these crises. While many young people feel closed off to politics, he hopes that they will build comprehensive solutions and organize against critical issues. He concludes, “The answer to breaking through political machines and through barriers is through organizing. That doesn’t always take the path of running for elected office… It’s building the infrastructure to win bolder demands.”

Getting involved in politics as a younger person can take on many forms. At EA, students can get involved through any of its three political affinity clubs: Young Democrats, Young Independents, and Young Republicans. Each club offers a chance to discuss current events, ask questions, and gain a deeper understanding of issues important to you. Outside of school, students can seek youth leadership programs like the U.S. Senate Youth Program or volunteer for local campaigns. Millennials and Gen Z, whether they plan to run for office or not, can exercise important political power and make an impact if they meet the challenges of the political sphere with genuine care. Saval states, “This [enterprise] is dynamic, and it depends on new people coming into the world, making their voices heard, and their presence felt… I encourage young people to think of themselves as in this for transformative change.”