The oldest members of Generation Z, born between 1997 and 2012, are now entering their mid-20s. That means Gen Zers can drink alcohol, buy lottery tickets, and vote in all elections — moreover, they can run for office. The minimum age to be a senator is 35 years old, and the minimum age for a congressperson in the House of Representatives is 25. In 2022, members of Gen Z could start running for the United States Congress — and they did. Representative Maxwell Frost (D-FL) became the first member of Gen Z elected to the House in 2022. Frost may have been Gen Z’s first congressperson, but many political hopefuls are determined to make sure he won’t be the last. One Gen Z member in particular, Isaiah Martin, is already making a name for himself on the Hill.
“We’ve had such a transformative past few years, and … knowing that, now is our opportunity to seize on that moment,” Martin tells Her Campus in an exclusive interview. The 25-year-old announced his campaign for the House of Representatives in September 2023. Martin is running in the Democratic party for Texas’s 18th Congressional District. Martin attended the University of Houston, where he founded #ForTheStudents, an on-campus group that advocated for students’ needs. Upon graduating, he spent two years learning from Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee in Houston and in Washington D.C. He told Her Campus that he was inspired to run after crises like the COVID-19 pandemic and the Texas Winter Freeze in 2021.
Although the 2024 election will be largely focused on the president and other major offices, Martin stresses the importance of voting at all levels. He pointed out that each time you vote, you are voting for district attorneys, legislators, city council members, and others who impact politics in your community. He wants everyone to remember that everything is connected, and voting in every election is crucial to fight against threats to democracy. On his campaign website, Martin discusses his viewpoint on key issues like climate change, voting rights, and mental health. He is in support of passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which would strengthen protections against discriminatory electoral procedures. Martin is also committed to environmental justice, and wants to work with young people to build a comprehensive climate crisis plan.
Among Martin’s priorities is reproductive freedom. Martin’s home state of Texas was one of the first to ban abortion in all cases, which Martin knows is detrimental to the health and lives of pregnant people. “In Texas, we do not have it,” Martin says about reproductive freedom. “We have a governor that’s done everything that he can to try to undermine our body autonomy. [There are] different cities and counties in our state that have made it basically criminal to travel to get reproductive healthcare.” Martin added that he is in favor of protecting reproductive freedom at the federal level. Her Campus reached out to Texas governor Greg Abbott’s office for comment, but did not hear back by the time of publication.
Martin listed threats against democracy (especially in lieu of incidents like the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection), reproductive freedom, and high cost of living as some of the issues that are high on Gen Z’s list of priorities. Martin stressed that one important way to fix these issues is by voting.
A key mission in Martin’s campaign is his intention to run for issues he is passionate about, and not simply against issues he disagrees with. “I’m ready to step up to the plate, make sure that we deliver for our district, and make sure we show the nation that we’re running not just against what Republicans are doing — we’re running for lifting our generation and making sure that our world, our country, is a better place.”
While Gen Z voted at a higher rate in the 2022 election than previous generations, only 28.4% of the generation casted their ballots. That means the majority of Gen Zers did not vote. “Everything is political,” Martin says. “Whether or not rent continues to grow at high levels, that’s political. Whether or not you drive and you hit a pothole because your local government doesn’t have the tools they need to get better roads, that’s political.”
Martin has always had an interest in politics, largely due to the influences around him. His biggest role models were his mentor, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, and his grandfather. Martin worked with Congresswoman Jackson Lee, and he shares on his campaign website that he was inspired by her “commitment to public service, her passion for uplifting families, and her dedication to moving our country forward.” Although he only has early childhood memories of his grandfather, the impact was substantial: With only a third grade education, Martin’s grandfather had to work hard to provide for his family. “Whenever I get frustrated about our political system, I know that he went through so much more in his life that was infinitely more challenging than what we have today,” he says.
Martin’s campaign website has this quote from Congresswoman Barbara Jordan: “The American people deserve more than a recital of problems.” Martin says, “People feel as if they’re going to the polls simply to oppose something, rather than going to the polls to get something in return.” People want to see tangible action taken in their communities for issues that they care about. Martin wants to ensure the American people have representatives that not only ensure their basic rights, but that are tailored to local issues, like rent prices and reproductive rights. “That is the kind of agenda that we have to give to people. We have to give them solutions.”
Martin and other Gen Z candidates are hoping to change the world they grew up in by being involved in the political process. Martin shared, “Some might ask, why is it that a young person would want to get involved [in politics] at this point in my life, but it’s really about the fierce urgency of now. If we do not respond to this moment with vigor, with ambition, with optimism, and hope, we risk losing an entire generation.”