The geriatric Senate confronts a youth movement

[brooklynite]

Politico

Jon Ossoff broke the Senate’s generational barrier for millennials. His fellow 30-somethings want to make sure he isn’t alone for long.

Ossoff was 33 when, in January, he became the first senator of his generation and the youngest elected Democrat since Joe Biden in the 1970s. Now, at least a dozen candidates born after 1980 are either running for Senate or seriously considering launching campaigns for next year, a major surge in ambitious younger politicians.

They vary from political newcomers to statewide officials and members of Congress, and the list includes both Republicans and Democrats, in races from Wisconsin and Pennsylvania to Ohio and Alabama.

The elections are a year and a half away, and barriers remain for the younger crop of candidates: Most face competitive primaries against either more established candidates or fellow up-and-comers, and some would face uphill general election battles if they win nominations. Several may opt against running.

[notinkansas]

1. All of this is true.

But despite competitive primaries and uphill general election battles, I have to believe there are sufficient numbers of youth who would not be deterred. And we need them. We should welcome them.

At the same time I would not like to see every senator with a gray hair pushed out of office. There are many really good ones who are extremely valuable despite their gray hairs - who would encourage and heartily welcome younger people into their ranks.

Age discrimination in either direction is not good.

[empedocles]

2. First and foremost, we need to win the Senate in November 2022!