Election 2026 Young Challengers
Democrat Evan Turnage, who is challenging Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., in the March primary, poses for a portrait in Jackson, Miss., Jan. 22, 2026.
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Out with the old? Young Democrats are trying to convince voters to send a new generation to Congress
Young Democrats across the United States are challenging veteran party figures, aiming to mount tougher opposition to President Donald Trump. Sacramento, California, city council member Mai Vang is challenging 81-year-old Doris Matsui, emphasizing the need for leaders who understand current struggles. In Mississippi, Evan Turnage is taking on civil rights leader Bennie Thompson, arguing for a focus on economic rights. Justin Pearson was an intern for Rep. Steve Cohen and is running against him in Tennessee, criticizing long-standing incumbents for holding back progress. In Connecticut, former Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin is challenging John Larson, citing the need for generational change. The incumbents lean on their records and tout their experience as a virtue.
