Nate Frentz of The Brennan Center for Justice argues that voluntary public funding of campaigns is the only viable alternative to keep young people in the political fray if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns a century of precedent in Citizens United v. FEC.

Individuals under the age of 35 are becoming more engaged in every stage of the political process. And in Clean Elections states, this demographic is taking advantage of their programs to run and win seats in their state legislatures—doing so without having to collect checks from big money interests.

Matt Lesser (D-100th District) from Middletown, Conn. is one of them. Prior to coming to the General Assembly, Lesser was a student at Wesleyan University and President of the College Democrats of Connecticut. Lesser has long had an interest in mobilizing the youth vote – organizing the largest student voter mobilization drive in the country in 2006.

It’s no surprise that Maine House Speaker Hannah Pingree (D-New Haven) became involved in politics. Her mother, Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), who represents Maine’s 1st congressional district, was at one time the state’s Senate Majority Leader. The family political tradition doesn’t stop at getting elected. It also involves how you get elected in Maine. Speaker Pingree was able to carve her own path in part due to the election structure that was passed by referendum during her mother’s tenure in the state Senate. 

Public Campaign has released a new report highlighting young people that were elected in Arizona, Connecticut, and Maine using their state’s Clean Elections system.