New PAC seeks to rejuvenate legislatures across the country

Last year, Maxwell Frost became the first member of Generation Z (born between 1997 and 2012) to be elected to the U.S. Congress. Now 26 years old, before running as a Democrat for Florida's 10th district, he was an Uber driver and community organizer. With a progressive agenda that drew comparisons to Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, he won the 2022 election with 34% in the Democratic primary and extended that lead in the general election. Two years later, a PAC seeks to replicate Frost's formula and push young candidates nationwide.

Founded by David Hogg and Kevin Lata, Leaders We Deserve has a clear goal: to bring politicians between the ages of 30 and 35 into state legislatures.

"We will be the EMILY's List for the youth. When you're running for office for the first time, I mean it's very difficult. It is like a foreign world. When you're young, the hard part is that you don't have political connections most of the time. You don't have the fundraising and donor connections," Lata said recently in a joint interview with his partner.

With 2024 just around the corner, they are already looking for open seats that present a possibility to introduce their candidates. Specifically, blue seats in Texas, Florida and Georgia, with an incumbent on the exit ramp. Although they will mainly target state legislatures (80% of their candidates, according to their website), they are not closing the door to the House of Representatives.

According to Hogg, a leading gun control activist, younger legislators will move the legislative compass toward issues of concern to younger generations. "They can be at the forefront of creating that change, showing young people that there are people who understand the anxiety of knowing what it's like to go through a mock school shooting in the office," he said.

"Previous generations had nuclear bomb drills, and that generation went on to pass some of the most comprehensive arms reduction treaties in human history. I think for our generation, we share a similar kind of trauma with mock school shootings, and I think bringing them into the office will help bring about change," he added.

Hogg already has experience in fundraising. He managed to raise $380,000 for Frost's campaign and $80,000 for Val Demings' failed attempt to unseat Marco Rubio.

He further let it be known that his PAC does not seek to eliminate seniors from important positions but rather to ensure that various generations coexist. Its advisory board includes Frost himself and other young members of Congress, such as Jamie Raskin, Eric Swalwell, Lauren Underwood and Jan Schakowsky.