A big thank you to the old-timers of the Democratic party; now it's time for them to step down to make room for some new blood - blood that's younger, even more diverse, and progressive.
"... And if that’s going to happen, they’ll need continued financial support."
I look forward to the day when sentences like that are archaic and sound bizarre. We need to move to publicly financed campaigns where viable candidates get funded equally and candidates spend their time promoting their positions rather than dialing for dollars.
There is a significant complacency in the Democratic party, and a lack of good new ideas matched with courage. Bernie Sanders can't do it alone. I would also like to understand more about Oath and their selection process. Age isn't a disease.
I agree there might be better ways to support new candidates than Oath. For one, it's algorithm is proprietary- i.e. not transparent at all. I want to know where my money is going.
Second, I get the feeling it is choosing to support candidates based on age as the primary qualification. While I 100% agree there are many Dem politicians who are past their prime, there are also a few who are great even though older. Bernie Sanders, for one. I would rather see the Dems pick candidates based on their policy views and their working style (works hard, good ideas, supportive of others, doesn't just sit back), rather than age. Our state has a Dem millennial senator, who just watches the world go by while mouthing platitudes.
I wonder if Oath is working with orgs like Blue Missouri, Blue Ohio, etc? Those organizations focus on finding, funding, and electing Democrats in rural areas. The DNC and the DCCC are doing nothing to support candidates in rural America. That HAS to change!! Per Jess Piper of Blue Missouri, those who do decide to run get zero national support and often are forced to drop out. Rural areas would be a lot more purple if democrats received comparable fundraising to republicans. It would be a game changer…
We do! you are totally right. There are so many winnable races in places that Dems have given up on. We have thousands of candidates on Oath including those.
Are you familiar with this guy running in Montana? I have a soft spot for him. In his early teens, Sam Forstag babysat for our kids. Now he’s a politically savvy environmentalist and fire jumper. Badass through and through. 💚🥰
Thank you for this article Qasim! It was exciting to hear of so many younger people running for office. I think we really need their voices in the race. I may be 78, but I identify as a progressive. I really would like to see a complete overhaul of our health care system (universal health care!), overturning Citizens United, codifying Roe v Wade, and passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. And so much more. Way to go Gen X, millennial and younger as well!!
Qasim, thank you very much for introducing us to Oath. I get three or four text messages a day from Dem candidates around the country, never knowing exactly where my support will be the most impactful. This is a tremendous service.
‘Finger Foul’: we need to get rid of the BS Citizens United ruling and have limits on spending on elections. Any amount over that limit goes to state assistant programs such as: FEMA; SNAP; etc. We need to support our neighbors!!!!!
Both Karen Richardson's comment on retirement, and Lissa's on a rule on how much money can be spent (and raised, in my opinion) are spot on. Unfortunately, BOTH PARTIES who pledged "Campaign Finance Reform" immediately forgot or denied that policy when they gained control. The fox will not put real guards on the hen house.
It becomes incumbent on WE, THE ELIGIBLE VOTERS, to identify those who can vote, but don't, and, yes in all parties, then to urge them to get out and vote! Even if they are died in the wool misguided MAGA Trumpsters, we need to let others see us inviting debate and urging voting. Those looking on will say "Hey, maybe I better vote, so these people don't come across as representing MY electorate.
I will never say "Trump is not my President." Why, if I did not vote for or support him, is this so? It is because he got a TRUE, NON-RIGGED win (Maybe not if we abolished the Electoral College, but that's a separate issue.) Legally, he is president, not because he influenced or confused so many people to vote for him, but because we independents and you democrats didn't get out your voters and convince them that by NOT voting, they were allowing a disaster to happen. We all have differing ideas. I do believe that term limits are required, but since Congress will never propose or allow such an amendment it is up to US, THE VOTERS, to establish them.
This is a big part of the shift, but what I’m seeing here is not as much “young Dem v. Old Dem”, but Young Dem getting into a race where NO Dem has gone in years. We certainly had at least one high-profile Dem primary where a young Nida Allam took on a veteran Val Foushee and nearly pulled off the upset, but the momentum isn’t (only) coming from those races. It’s coming from Dems running where they wouldn’t before. Not just in US House districts, but legislative districts — which is far and away the more lasting impact.
In the early 2010’s fully half of the seats in both the state house and state senate were ceded by one party or the other as “safe”. And the excuse for not running in those districts later was that gerrymandering made them “impossible to win in”. Then a 25-year-old Anderson Clayton took over the chair of the state party and said (in less salty language) “fuck that”. And for the 2026 legislative elections, she has candidates in all 120 house races and all 50 senate races for the first time in my memory. Because you can’t win if you don’t run.
This is what I’ve found so infuriating about the Democratic party for the last 20 years or so. “Republicans gerrymandered the state so bad we have no power!”, they wailed. Well with that attitude, yeah, you’re gonna lose. Looks like somebody in a position to do something about that finally gets it.
Re: "MD-05: Quincy Bareebe raised $1.2M, up sharply from the $270K he raised in 2024 in his bid against Rep. Hoyer (86)." Hoyer is retiring, leaving the Democratic primary open to new-comers. I'm 73 and think it's high time my generation stepped aside to allow younger generations to step up. Seeking out, training and funding young, viable candidates is essential to the Democrats' becoming a true bulwark against the tyranny and chaos of the Republican Party,
Quincy Bareebe has a great life story! SHE (misgendered in the original post) has several primary opponents and does not have Steny's endorsement, but I am hopeful she will prevail.
Makes me a little uneasy that Oath doesn't even know the gender of a candidate they choose to highlight. Makes me wonder if they are frequently this careless with facts
Times are changing but our representatives are not. More power to all the young people who want to see change.
A big thank you to the old-timers of the Democratic party; now it's time for them to step down to make room for some new blood - blood that's younger, even more diverse, and progressive.
"... And if that’s going to happen, they’ll need continued financial support."
I look forward to the day when sentences like that are archaic and sound bizarre. We need to move to publicly financed campaigns where viable candidates get funded equally and candidates spend their time promoting their positions rather than dialing for dollars.
There is a significant complacency in the Democratic party, and a lack of good new ideas matched with courage. Bernie Sanders can't do it alone. I would also like to understand more about Oath and their selection process. Age isn't a disease.
I agree there might be better ways to support new candidates than Oath. For one, it's algorithm is proprietary- i.e. not transparent at all. I want to know where my money is going.
Second, I get the feeling it is choosing to support candidates based on age as the primary qualification. While I 100% agree there are many Dem politicians who are past their prime, there are also a few who are great even though older. Bernie Sanders, for one. I would rather see the Dems pick candidates based on their policy views and their working style (works hard, good ideas, supportive of others, doesn't just sit back), rather than age. Our state has a Dem millennial senator, who just watches the world go by while mouthing platitudes.
I wonder if Oath is working with orgs like Blue Missouri, Blue Ohio, etc? Those organizations focus on finding, funding, and electing Democrats in rural areas. The DNC and the DCCC are doing nothing to support candidates in rural America. That HAS to change!! Per Jess Piper of Blue Missouri, those who do decide to run get zero national support and often are forced to drop out. Rural areas would be a lot more purple if democrats received comparable fundraising to republicans. It would be a game changer…
We do! you are totally right. There are so many winnable races in places that Dems have given up on. We have thousands of candidates on Oath including those.
Are you familiar with this guy running in Montana? I have a soft spot for him. In his early teens, Sam Forstag babysat for our kids. Now he’s a politically savvy environmentalist and fire jumper. Badass through and through. 💚🥰
https://youtu.be/qHiaMYx5c5U?si=ApP3W6fKEK4RzHGA
That’s exactly what I was hoping to hear! Thank you, Brian! Count me in as a new fan.👍
Thank you for this article Qasim! It was exciting to hear of so many younger people running for office. I think we really need their voices in the race. I may be 78, but I identify as a progressive. I really would like to see a complete overhaul of our health care system (universal health care!), overturning Citizens United, codifying Roe v Wade, and passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. And so much more. Way to go Gen X, millennial and younger as well!!
Qasim, thank you very much for introducing us to Oath. I get three or four text messages a day from Dem candidates around the country, never knowing exactly where my support will be the most impactful. This is a tremendous service.
Thank you! We are here to help :)
I am all in favor of younger candidates, excepting I will keep Senator Patty Murray. All of her competitors have been illiterate magats.
Please, in articles, could you define gen z and millennials. I don't care to look them up. Yes, I have adult grandkids.
Millenials were born from 1981 to 1996, so they are between 30 and 45 years old.
Gen Z were born from 1997 and 2012, so they are between 14 and 29 years old.
Brilliant!
‘Finger Foul’: we need to get rid of the BS Citizens United ruling and have limits on spending on elections. Any amount over that limit goes to state assistant programs such as: FEMA; SNAP; etc. We need to support our neighbors!!!!!
Both Karen Richardson's comment on retirement, and Lissa's on a rule on how much money can be spent (and raised, in my opinion) are spot on. Unfortunately, BOTH PARTIES who pledged "Campaign Finance Reform" immediately forgot or denied that policy when they gained control. The fox will not put real guards on the hen house.
It becomes incumbent on WE, THE ELIGIBLE VOTERS, to identify those who can vote, but don't, and, yes in all parties, then to urge them to get out and vote! Even if they are died in the wool misguided MAGA Trumpsters, we need to let others see us inviting debate and urging voting. Those looking on will say "Hey, maybe I better vote, so these people don't come across as representing MY electorate.
I will never say "Trump is not my President." Why, if I did not vote for or support him, is this so? It is because he got a TRUE, NON-RIGGED win (Maybe not if we abolished the Electoral College, but that's a separate issue.) Legally, he is president, not because he influenced or confused so many people to vote for him, but because we independents and you democrats didn't get out your voters and convince them that by NOT voting, they were allowing a disaster to happen. We all have differing ideas. I do believe that term limits are required, but since Congress will never propose or allow such an amendment it is up to US, THE VOTERS, to establish them.
This is a big part of the shift, but what I’m seeing here is not as much “young Dem v. Old Dem”, but Young Dem getting into a race where NO Dem has gone in years. We certainly had at least one high-profile Dem primary where a young Nida Allam took on a veteran Val Foushee and nearly pulled off the upset, but the momentum isn’t (only) coming from those races. It’s coming from Dems running where they wouldn’t before. Not just in US House districts, but legislative districts — which is far and away the more lasting impact.
In the early 2010’s fully half of the seats in both the state house and state senate were ceded by one party or the other as “safe”. And the excuse for not running in those districts later was that gerrymandering made them “impossible to win in”. Then a 25-year-old Anderson Clayton took over the chair of the state party and said (in less salty language) “fuck that”. And for the 2026 legislative elections, she has candidates in all 120 house races and all 50 senate races for the first time in my memory. Because you can’t win if you don’t run.
This is what I’ve found so infuriating about the Democratic party for the last 20 years or so. “Republicans gerrymandered the state so bad we have no power!”, they wailed. Well with that attitude, yeah, you’re gonna lose. Looks like somebody in a position to do something about that finally gets it.
A lot of us would like to know where Eric Jones is betting a lot of that money from.
Re: "MD-05: Quincy Bareebe raised $1.2M, up sharply from the $270K he raised in 2024 in his bid against Rep. Hoyer (86)." Hoyer is retiring, leaving the Democratic primary open to new-comers. I'm 73 and think it's high time my generation stepped aside to allow younger generations to step up. Seeking out, training and funding young, viable candidates is essential to the Democrats' becoming a true bulwark against the tyranny and chaos of the Republican Party,
Quincy Bareebe has a great life story! SHE (misgendered in the original post) has several primary opponents and does not have Steny's endorsement, but I am hopeful she will prevail.
Makes me a little uneasy that Oath doesn't even know the gender of a candidate they choose to highlight. Makes me wonder if they are frequently this careless with facts
Old farts: vote than go take a nap
young folks: work than party on the dance floor til dawn.
Which would you rather be.
Ageist and divisive.
Then