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“The Kids Are Alright” is an iconic song by English rock band The Who. Those kids—Baby Boomers—grew up four generations ago. We’re talking about a new generation now.
Gen Z members, born between 1997 and 2012, are the newest to enter the political arena. And they’re doing better than alright.
Federally, there was a 170 percent increase in Gen Z lawmakers in 2025, according to the nonpartisan nonprofit Future Caucus. Throughout the United States, small and mid-size towns and cities are voting in politicians under 29 years old, too.
If more seasoned elected officials are quick to judge the self-described “young electeds” as running for office just to post pictures on social media, they’re in for a surprise.
“It’s not about you. It’s about the future and what the town will be 20 years from now,” said Brooke Huckaby, the 21-year-old Mayor of Arabi, Georgia and the youngest female Mayor in U.S. history.
“When it comes to getting involved in communities, you need a broader outlook,” she said. “I handle things differently than my Daddy does.”
Mayor Huckaby’s father served as mayor of the town of around 750 residents for 12 years. But not every Gen Z elected official comes from a political family. Many of the councilmembers and commissioners are simply drawn to the policies, legislative process, and responsibilities that come with serving the community.
Nationally, 38 percent are running as Democrats, 24 percent are running as Republicans, and 38 percent are unaffiliated or running on a third-party ticket. Gen Z has the highest proportion of the latter, according to Future Caucus. That’s not the only thing this generation of elected officials has in common.
Mature and Comfortable Communicating Authentically
Unlike many young adults and teenagers, Gen Z elected officials tend to be comfortable around those who are older. Kaylee May Law, a 20-year-old City Councilmember in Walnut, California, graduated early thanks to her homeschooling and dual enrollment in community college since her middle school years.
Neither of her parents went to college nor were they involved in municipal government, but they encouraged her as she completed graduate school online and won her seat.
From her academic accomplishments, she gained confidence in her abilities to effect change. She served on the boards of directors of the Purist Group, a non-profit organization focused on automotive and community events, as well as the Chinese-American Association of Walnut.
“All my colleagues are older than me, but I never had trouble having a conversation and interactions with them,” she said. “It’s old-school politics in that we all respect everyone. Being able to have respect for everyone and respect their position, that’s what I would like to see in the future and hope Gen Z embodies.”
Councilmember Law shared her passion for local community service by going door-to-door during her campaign. Walnut has around 30,000 residents.
“You have to be very involved in the community prior to running,” she said. “You’re doing it for the community, so you should already be involved.”
Mayor Huckaby, meanwhile, grew up with a handful of older siblings in Arabi and was helping on the family farm since she was a little girl. She knew her agricultural town well.
“I just woke up one day and decided I wanted to be a part of the change,” she said. “You can respect older people’s opinions and the way they ran things, but the younger generation can see areas that can be improved upon.”
Ready to Work on Innovative Policy
Jayden Williams, the 22-year-old Mayor of Stockbridge, Georgia, has been active in his community since joining the NAACP at age 13. He describes himself as a policy fanatic.
“All the credit goes to my grandmother, Vivian Thomas. She was elected as the first black female District 4 County Commissioner in Henry County,” he said.
In fact, Mayor Williams was her campaign manager. Since he was 17 years old, he’s run 13 campaigns, including his own, with only one loss. During his university years, he worked as a legislative aid for the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus. He also interned in many departments of his city hall.
Stockbridge, with a population of around 35,000, faces many familiar problems. His transition team is focused on economic innovation and affordable housing, he said.
“It’s finally time to get the young generation into politics,” Mayor Williams said. “For effective government, you have to have the opportunity for multi-generational voices to be heard and for multi-generational ideas and practices to be in the government.”
Confident Even in Tough Campaigns
The generation that matured with historic upheavals like the Coronavirus pandemic and dramatic technological changes aren’t so worried about what haters online have to say.
Mayor Huckaby ran against a man who had moved to town from New York. She leaned on her deep understanding of the agricultural community where she was raised. That didn’t stop some from criticizing her.
“They were mostly just people rooting for the man running against me. I’ve done a great job of keeping my mouth shut and not falling into the web of Facebook comments,” she said. “If we have different opinions, that’s alright. Our common goal should be to improve our community.”
Her thick skin helped her launch Arabi’s first police department, which is already saving the town money. Public safety was also a priority for Councilmember Law, who ran on a platform that emphasized transparency and quality of life concerns.
“Everyone has their own governing style,” she said. “Being able to stand up for what you care about and your beliefs, that’s the most important part.”
Focused on the Future
Councilmember Law, the youngest Asian American elected official in California, said she was honored to be a Gen Z pioneer. She’s part of a Facebook Messenger chat with more than 100 “young electeds” in California alone.
She recommends members of her generation get involved as early as possible with civic organizations to best understand the needs of residents—regardless of their age.
“If you have a good sense of the community and know members of the community, everyone is significantly more supportive,” she said.
Networking can be powerful for helping Gen Z members get elected, as well as finding mentors among older generations, added Mayor Williams.
“As the younger generation, we have the opportunity. We just have to grab the baton to run with it,” he said. “I encourage members of my generation to never let someone dim your light on your passion. Be authentically yourself.”
Mayor Huckaby agreed, adding there’s no better indicator of how serious this generation is about making an impact than letting results speak for themselves.
“You have to respect the past to move forward and have a good future,” she said. “If you take yourself seriously, they will take you seriously. Do your work.
As for older elected officials who find themselves working behind the dais with members of Gen Z, the young electeds also have a message: Get ready for change.
“To the older politicians, be open to the idea of hearing change,” Mayor Williams said. “We may not like the word ‘change,’ but change is something that cannot be stopped. Don’t deter those who the community elected to represent them.”
