Opinion: Aging Democrats Are Still Telling the Same Old Story. It's Time to Turn the Page

Yahoo

13-02-2025

I want to propose something that might make you mad, but bear with me: Every Democrat in Congress over the age of 70 should seriously consider making this their last term. I'd love to ask every Republican to do the same, but I'm not expecting anything noble from them.
You can call me an ageist. But while everyone is entitled to age with dignity, no one is entitled to age as one of the most powerful people in the country. To do so, in fact, is undignified. The longer our present members of Congress stay in office, the less room there is in the room for new blood. Holding onto power indefinitely isn't leadership—it's obstruction.
Time after time over the last few years, we have seen the impact of our senior leaders (pun intended) holding onto power far past their prime, from President Joe Biden to Senator Dianne Feinstein to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. And we have all paid the consequences.
But just a couple of weeks ago, we saw an example of what passing the torch can look like: Michigan Senator Gary Peters announced that he will not run for re-election in 2026–opening up an opportunity to bring a fresh face, and perspective, into the U.S. Senate. (It is telling in news announcing his departure, at 66 years old, he was declared 'relatively young for the U.S. Senate.')
Democratic leaders like Senators Chuck Schumer (74) and and Nancy Pelosi (84) must do the same, or know that they are holding back the future of the party they have long shepherded. It's actively harming us now: The Democratic caucus in Congress last month obstinately chose to make 75-year-old Rep. Gerry Connolly the face of the party's efforts to provide oversight over Trump, snubbing the charismatic and effective Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Connolly is also one of the co-chairs of a 'Rapid Response Task Force' the Democrats announced this week, which will work to counter 'far-right extremism.' Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro (81) is another of the task force's co-chairs, along with Rep. Jamie Raskin (62) and primary chair Rep. Joe Neguse (a baby at 40).
While their wisdom and experience have value, and while some can certainly still hold their own, the septuagenarian and octogenarian class of Democratic leaders—predominantly older white men—are by and large ill-equipped for this crisis we have found ourselves in. Many would go further still, arguing they helped create today's mess through a longstanding commitment to civility and decorum that the GOP long ago abandoned.
Just as importantly, few can genuinely make the case they are the representative from their state or community best suited to win and serve. The skills it took to win elections—and to wield people's attention once you've done so—in the 90s aren't the same as what is needed today. We desperately need leadership who not only understands why voters today are disengaged, misinformed and flat-out angry but can also communicate that anger in a way that resonates.
Look at people like Reps. Ocasio-Cortez, Jasmine Crockett, and Maxwell Frost, all in their 20s and 30s when they were elected to Congress, and all who stepped up in the decade since Trump came into the political arena. They fundamentally approach politics differently. They know that the GOP isn't interested in being a good partner in governing, and they know how to authentically connect with voters to prove it. Many of them understand social media and how to shape an online persona, because they've been doing it their whole lives.
Republicans have recognized this reality. Their rising stars understand how to maneuver new media and shape narratives in the digital age. They are beholden to seniority (or even respect) for committee chairmanships and other leadership roles. They recognize the value of fresh energy and ideas. Consider that if the 2028 Republican nominee isn't J.D. Vance, it'll be someone equally internet-savvy. Who will be ready to counter them?
In the past, older leaders have been hesitant to step aside in part due to a lack of qualified successors. That's no longer the case. Run for Something, an organization I founded in 2017, has helped to fundamentally reshape and replenish the Democratic pipeline. Almost 1,500 of our candidates have won their races, building power in every state save Idaho. That's not just a number—it represents concrete change. In New York City, landlords now bear the cost of broker's fees instead of tenants. In Virginia, more kids now receive free school lunches. In Texas, the cost of insulin is capped. These victories prove that young, diverse, and fearless leadership can deliver results.
We've built an incredible bench of Gen Z and millennial leaders. But instead of letting them onto the court, they're being blocked by their own teammates. That must change. We can't keep telling qualified young leaders to wait their turn–or that their time only comes when someone dies or gets dumped out of office, not just into retirement but a retirement home.
A generational shift in power is coming. The leaders we need are ready. It's time to let them lead.