The political landscape in America is undergoing a dramatic transformation as young progressives flood into electoral politics at unprecedented rates. In the year since Donald Trump won reelection, nearly 75,000 people have signed up to run for local or state office through Run for Something, a grassroots political organization that recruits young left-leaning candidates.
Record-Breaking Political Engagement
This surge represents a significant acceleration in political engagement compared to previous years. During Trump's entire first term, about 67,000 people signed up with the organization. The current wave of interest has nearly matched that four-year total in just twelve months.
Amanda Litman, co-founder and executive director of Run for Something, observes a distinct shift in motivation among new candidates. "You're hearing people pretty explicitly saying, 'I'm not waiting my turn,'" Litman told HuffPost. "'I didn't want to run for office. But I feel like I have to.'"
The organization, launched in 2017 following Trump's initial presidential victory, focuses on recruiting candidates under 40 who align with progressive values including abortion rights, LGBTQ+ equality, climate protections, and ending gun violence.
Proven Success and Growing Momentum
The movement is demonstrating tangible results. In recent elections, Run for Something backed 222 candidates in general elections. Of the 193 races called so far, 129 candidates won state and local positions across 23 states, including 36 who flipped Republican-held seats to Democrats. This represents a 66% win rate, the group's highest ever.
"We now know, as we saw earlier this week, that we can win," Litman declared during a recent call with reporters. "Local candidates can be some of the best messengers of the party right now."
The electoral success has fueled further engagement. In the week after Democrats swept recent polls, another 5,000 people signed up to run. A particularly sharp spike occurred when nearly 1,200 registered within 24 hours after moderate Senate Democrats compromised on protecting health care subsidies during government shutdown negotiations.
From Personal Struggle to Political Action
The wave of political engagement comes during challenging times for young Americans. Trump's administration has been decimating the federal workforce and canceling grants that support nonprofits nationwide, forcing thousands of civic-minded people out of jobs.
Justice Horn, 27, experienced this firsthand. He was managing Energy Department projects for a Missouri nonprofit when his federal grant was terminated earlier this year. "I'm like, OK, if I'm gonna have all this free time, I'm on unemployment, I'm gonna commit fully to this," Horn said, citing civil rights icon John Lewis's motto about getting into "good trouble."
Horn is now running for an at-large seat in the Jackson County Legislature representing Kansas City. If successful in the August 2026 election, he would become the first Gen Z member of Jackson County government.
Like many of his peers, Horn understands the economic pressures facing young people. "We're all unemployed. We know how it feels to navigate these bureaucracies," he said, referring to federal assistance programs. "That anger — I just like that people are using it to do better and change things."
Building a Progressive Pipeline
Run for Something isn't the only organization supporting young candidates, but it distinguishes itself by recruiting to the left of the Democratic establishment and focusing on building a pipeline of diverse progressive talent.
The organization's alumni include members of Congress like Representatives Jasmine Crockett of Texas and Sarah McBride of Delaware. More than 20 Democrats under 40 are currently running for Congress, with nearly half being Run for Something alumni.
To date, the group has backed more than 3,500 candidates and elected over 1,600 people across 48 states to positions ranging from state legislatures to school boards and mayorships.
The organization's appeal to prospective candidates directly challenges the political status quo. "Politics is stuck on repeat. The same older generation calls the shots, and the people making the rules don't look like the people living under them," states the group's website.
Local Focus, National Impact
Andrew Harbaugh, 31, recently won a seat on the Clarion Borough Council in deep red Clarion County, Pennsylvania, demonstrating the movement's reach beyond traditionally progressive areas.
Harbaugh embraces the philosophy that "progressive" means something different in every community. "My 'progressive' is different from yours, because my area's 'progressive' is different than yours," he explained. "If Google Maps is trying to get you somewhere, it gives you four different ways. But you still end up getting from point A to point B."
His approach has resonated across party lines. "I think we showed [in recent elections] that ideas don't have to have letters next to your name, they have results in mind," Harbaugh added. "That was good enough here. I think that was good enough everywhere."
As Litman summarized the movement's energy: "They are over it." And seeing so many young people turning despair into political action "is a really exciting feeling" that continues to build momentum toward the 2026 elections and beyond.
