A Seat at the Table: New Jersey Young Democrats

I am honored to announce that I have been endorsed by the New Jersey Young Democrats for Essex County Commissioner in District 3. This endorsement means a great deal to me, not simply because I am a young candidate, but because I have spent years working alongside young people who believe deeply in the power of civic engagement and public service.

Before running for Essex County Commissioner, I had the privilege of serving on the Executive Board of the Essex County Young Democrats. Additionally, I currently serve on the East Orange Board of Education. Those experiences have given me an even deeper appreciation for the role young people can play in shaping our communities and our democracy.

The New Jersey Young Democrats members members work across the state as grassroots activists, government staffers, and elected officials. Their mission is simple: Organize. Engage. Advocate. Elect.

I am proud to carry that spirit into this campaign because for too long, young people have been talked about as the “future.” We are already here. We are working, raising families, building businesses, attending school, paying bills, caring for loved ones, volunteering in our communities, and participating in our democracy. 

The decisions made by county government affect our everyday lives, from infrastructure and transportation to economic development, public safety, parks, environmental issues, and the services available to our communities. Young people should have a voice in those decisions. As a Millennial running for county office, I working to be that representative. I want to bring my lived experiences, new ideas, energy, and a willingness to ask difficult questions to the table, because youth voices deserve space for change. 

I have spent years working in government, policy, community engagement, and education. I have had the opportunity to serve in leadership roles and work alongside people who believe that government works best when it remains connected to the people it serves. My time with the Essex County Young Democrats was an important part of that journey. It showed me the power of young people organizing together to support candidates, to build relationships, to educate their communities, to participate in civic life, and to create pathways for the next generation of leaders that will follow.

Now, I am running to take that work one step further. We need the wisdom and experience of those who came before us. We also need the perspectives and experiences of people who will live with the consequences of today's decisions for decades to come. Good government should make room for both.

That means creating opportunities for young residents to participate in civic life, encouraging them to serve on boards and commissions, supporting young entrepreneurs and workers, and making sure they understand that their voices matter. Most importantly, it means making sure young people see public service as something they can actually do.

I am deeply grateful to the New Jersey Young Democrats for this endorsement and for the work they continue to do to engage young people across our state. I am proud to be a Millennial. I am proud to be a Young Democrat, and I am proud to be running for Essex County Commissioner.

The table is bigger when we make room for everyone, and. I intend to keep making room.