Out with the old? Young Democrats are trying to convince voters to send a new generation to Congress [View all]

[Jilly_in_VA]

Mai Vang wouldn’t be born for another seven years when Bob Matsui was first elected to Congress from California in 1978. By the time Matsui died in 2005 and was replaced by his widow, Doris Matsui, Vang was still studying biology and sociology in college.

Now a member of the Sacramento City Council, Vang, 40, is mounting the first serious challenge that 81-year-old Matsui has faced since she began representing the area two decades ago. Vang is among a nationwide cadre of young Democrats who are trying to oust some of their party’s most stalwart figures in Washington, channeling angst that an aging generation of lawmakers is unable or unwilling to mount a bare-knuckles opposition to President Donald Trump.

“I’m not waiting for permission,” Vang said. “Because our communities are under attack, and we need leaders in this moment that understand the day-to-day struggles of our working families, and I believe that I could be the leader in this moment.”
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“No more wash, rinse and repeat,” said Abbie Morrissey, who works at the University of California, Davis, and attended Vang’s event. “We need to find young, engaged, energetic people that understand their young, engaged and energetic populations.”

https://apnews.com/article/young-democrats-incumbents-veterans-election-midterms-9d56be522bea570f586037a6895ff82a

I'm 82 and I tend to agree. What we lose in seniority we make up in vitality. We need more representatives with the vigor of AOC.