FOR DECADES, U.S. citizens have seen veteran officials sit on the highest seats in the political world. But the world is changing, and today, voters will be able to see a fresh set of choices as Gen-Z are making their political dreams known and taking the next stand.
Young voices are popping up all over the nation. This year, nearly 50 million people age 18–29 are eligible to go to the polls, according to Tufts University’s Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement.
“As of early September 2026, there are 2% more young people registered to vote in the 2026 midterms than there were in 2022, a small positive sign about youth engagement ahead of the November election,” the center said.
There may be more young adult voices than some residents might think.
In San Pablo, a city of about 31,000, 22-year-old Caden Cotton-Blake is running for one of two seats on the City Council. Blake said he has wanted to run for a council seat since he was a kid, growing up with a mother and grandmother in education.
“Service runs in my blood,” Cotton-Blake said.
“I’m born and raised in San Pablo,” Cotton-Blake said. “This is a community where I’ve seen over the years where the gaps are and experience them firsthand.”
Cotton-Blake’s campaign team works hard to bring his voice to the table. Most of his campaign workers have experience in local county and statewide government. The campaign has collaborated with organizations like Bay Area Young Democrats and California Young Democrats. Most of his campaign team is under the age of 25, he said.
“We’re also using this campaign as a launchpad to bring in volunteers of all different ages,” Cotton-Blake said. “We’re incredibly proud to have this many young people.”
In San Ramon, with a population of about 86,000, another young candidate hopes to create change in that city’s nonpartisan mayoral election. Emma Chigbu, 19, attends Diablo Valley College and is part of the school’s speech and debate team. She placed second in a national oratory event in April, according to the college’s student newspaper. She filed no candidate statement with the city.
Chigbu said she believes some young people think they have no impact in the political world and wants to use her campaign to inspire young adults.
“If you are qualified and you meet the requirements to apply, put yourself out there,” she said.
Chigbu said she recalled her discussions with her peers to understand their problems before deciding to run.
Chigbu said she hopes to improve public transportation and land development. She learned from some fellow residents that they are concerned about overdevelopment and increased congestion, while others are focusing on the benefit of the growth of the city.
“I want to keep the aura and the vibe of San Ramon as is, while also protecting and incentivizing young families to move into our city,” she said.
Chigbu said her campaign team consists of local college student volunteers and adults who have gone to universities in the Bay Area.
Her team works “very hard to have cost-efficient ways” to reach voters and mostly uses free social media, such as Instagram and TikTok, rather than advertising to spread her message, she said.
San Ramon Mayor Mark Armstrong, who is running against Chigbu, said he doesn’t believe age should be a factor in running for political office.
“It’s greater civic participation,” Armstrong said. “Whether you’re too young or too old, it’s more about the experience”
“This is all good for our democracy,” he said.
The city of San Ramon offers advisory committees, like the Teen Council appointed by the City Council,, to allow youths to build leadership skills and gain real-world experience in civic engagement.
“It’s a great opportunity for the local community to be involved in local government and participate,” Armstrong said.
This story originally appeared in CCSpin.