young candidates

What I'm reading this Saturday:

• This history of the culture wars of the last 40 years dovetails a bit with my earlier piece. I think (and hope) we're emerging from this.
• The Times proclaims that "the year of the political blogger has arrived."
• Virginia's young voters are tearing it up. What an amazing development.
• Are younger candidates the answer to getting youth involved in local politics?
• Congressional Democrats zero in on a directive to Veterans Affairs hospitals to prohibit voter registration efforts.
• Incoming college freshmen were born in 1990?!? Find out more about them here.

It’s an Olympic year, so there’s a lot of torch-passing going around these days. But it’s also a watershed year in which the torch is being passed, once again, to a new generation.

Two years ago, when I ran for State Senate and won, I watched a wave of young progressives sweeping across the nation. I was not just watching history happen, I was part of it with all of you.

This year, however, is proving that 2006 was just a prelude to a national movement, a generational shift that makes our nation’s hope for the future incredibly bright. And once again, I’m honored to be a part of history as it happens. This wouldn't be a pivotal year without your work and your involvement, and I wouldn't be here without the support of young people in Oklahoma.

I’m running for U.S. Senate in Oklahoma in part because I’m inspired by these times. A new group of people who have grown up believing that government can be a force for good in people’s lives are working to make sure that it fulfills that mission. We’re changing our nation from the inside out, from the state house to Washington. And the need for well-qualified and hopeful people to serve in the public sphere has never been greater.

We have to shape our own future. If we want to have Medicare and Social Security available when we retire, we must protect it now. If we want to have clean air for our children and energy sources to fill the void left when oil supplies shrink, we must fight for renewable and clean alternatives now. If we want to have quality and affordable health care available for when we, or our children, get sick, we must change the health care system now.

When I’m in the U.S. Senate, I’ll be fighting for all of these issues, as well as protecting our troops and our veterans, keeping our nation’s security strong, spending our tax dollars responsibly, and ensuring a quality education for every child. My opponent, incumbent Sen. Jim Inhofe, has proven to be out of touch with his constituents on these subjects. Being a voice for the people you represent is the basic job of any legislator, and he’s failing to do even that.

I appreciate the opportunity to come on Future Majority and discuss the issues you care about, as well as my U.S. Senate campaign. If you want to find out more about me and about this race, please look at my website, www.andrewforoklahoma.com . I’ll be happy to take your questions below.

As part of my gig with MTV as one of their Street Team reps for the 2008 election cycle, I cover politics and young people in Nebraska.

Candidates in Nebraska are getting dirty…in rivers and parks that need to be cleaned up.  Come meet some of the candidates running for office in Nebraska that are taking part in new brand of politics—the politics of service.

The candidates talk about what service means to them, why young voters are so important this election and what each of us can do to take a stand as a generation.  Democrats Work is a national organization, founded by two  young people Thomas Bates and James Carter, that encourages individuals and campaigns to live and show their Democratic values through service.  A chapter was started here in Nebraska by Natalie Benson.

Candidates getting dirty in Nebraska include:

Heath Mello, State Legislature, NE-05

Jeremy Nordquist, State Legislature, NE-07

Jim Esch, House of Representatives, NE-02

Scott Kleeb, US Senate

Get Involved with Democrats Work:

www.democratswork.org

Jane Fleming Kleeb is the Executive Director of the Young Voter Pac which helps Democratic candidates and State Parties win with the 18-35 year old vote through endorsements, on-the-ground support, training, strategy and money. She is also a MTV Street Team rep for Nebraska.

I found out about two new young candidates in Kansas stepping up to the plate to run for office. I'm learning more and more about young candidates across the country and always love to shill for them as I go.

In Wichita, Donald Betts seeks the Congressional seat in the 4th district.

Betts, 29, was elected the youngest person in history to the Kansas State Senate in 2004 after serving a previous term in the State House, a post he took in 2002 at the age of 24.

In an interview with me Betts commented

"I want young people who thought that something like this could never happen to at least have some hope that it is possible if only they try."

Betts is well equipt with leadership, experience, and passion - and well organized netroots efforts on facebook and a nice campaign site as well as the recently released MySpace and using the 20/20 program, a very grassroots fundraising tool coined by district neighbor Nancy Boyda in her 2006 race.

"The district is ready for a fresh start, a new perspective on politics." Betts said at his announcement.

Greg "half as old as Pat Roberts" Orman is the past CEO and President of KLT Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Great Plains Energy, Inc., an energy holding company headquartered in Kansas City.

The former draft campaign run through facebook has now been switched over to an official campaign and cites his statement when he filed for candadacy

"As I look at what's going on in Washington, and the course we're on as a nation, I am convinced we can and should be doing better," Orman said of his decision to run.

"Like so many Kansans, I'm disappointed and deeply troubled by the inaction, infighting, and ineffectiveness on display in Washington today. And I'm prepared to offer the people of Kansas a United States Senator with the right priorities who can help get America moving in a positive direction again."

Orman has yet to launch his website but I'll keep you posted as I'm sure the social networking sites will as well.

When asked about who some of the youngest candidates are this cycle the DCCC could not provide the data off hand. As I discover them I'm eager to give more info on great young candidates stepping up to lead.

Seven months ago, Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe sat in a committee meeting and told former Vice President Al Gore that global warming was a lie. After a rambunctious few moments where Inhofe refused to let VP Gore answer any of his accusations or questions, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) who was leading the hearing, informed Sen. Inofe that elections have consequences.

Seven months later, State Senator Andrew Rice is banking on that being the case as he ramps up his 2008 US Senate race against Inhofe.

Why should this matter to FM readers? Because Andrew is half Inhofe’s age, twice the stamina, twice the grassroots/netroots savvy, and most importantly, if elected Andrew Rice will become the youngest Senator in the country by nearly 10 years.

So – Last week Colorado’s House and Senate approved the bill that will reduce the age requirement to run for office meaning it now goes to a full vote on the next state-wide ballot. This was part of the ambitious legislative agenda by a new organization in the state called New Era Colorado and this is indeed a new era in Colorado.

Colorado is one of six states that require candidates to be 25. All other states have age minimums of 21 or 18. According to the Colorado Daily.

”The CU student government's liaison to state legislature, Ryan Biehle, 20, thinks more young candidates will emerge.

“Once the gates are open people will take to it, I guess,” Biehle said.”

So, curious, as I tend to be, I decided to check out some younger candidates and how they are different – better in some ways.