A youthful candidate for Mayor of New York City has been in the national news for the past several weeks. At first a long-shot, then a possibility, and we are all now very aware of Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s success at the ballot box. One news story reported

“He is young and charismatic with his generation’s natural comfort with social media.”

The article continued “His ethnicity reflects the diversity of the party’s base.” Little was said about his lack of any marketable experience other than a brief time in the New York State Legislature.

Another youthful candidate announced for Congress a week after Election Day. President John F. Kennedy’s grandson, Jack Schlosberg, announced his candidacy for Congress to replace the retiring Representative Jerry Nadler (D-NY, 12th). Even with his “youthfulness”, Schlosberg appears to have less qualifications than Mayor-elect Mamdani. Schlosberg is probably running on name recognition so someone needs to inform him that “Schlosberg” is not “Kennedy!”

While these “youthful” politicians are in their thirties (Mamdani is 34 and Schlosberg is 32), Wisconsin has set the new youth candidate standard with one candidate for Congress and two for Governor in their twenties . (There may be more.)

Twenty-five year old Michael Alfonso, son-in-law of U.S. Transportation Secretary and former 7th Congressional District Congressman Sean Duffy, has announced his campaign for Congress to represent Wisconsin’s 7th District. He has some work experience which is more than a couple current candidates claim. Like Schlosberg, he appears to be running on the family name but like Schlosberg his name is not the family name. He will have a couple of opponents in the Republican primary in August which he must win to be on the ballot in November.

Twenty-six year old Andy Manske is running in the Republican Primary for Governor. He is a medical service technician that wants to use artificial intelligence (AI) to shrink the state government. But, he simultaneously wants to ban AI from Wisconsin. One interview I read provided me more questions than answers. Manske has a tough road to travel as there are already two excellent announced candidates and a few more potential candidates all with a wealth of campaign experience. Congressman Tom Tiffany is a career legislator with experience at the state and federal level and he already has a handful of impressive endorsements. Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann has government executive experience but has not been tainted by years in Madison. Schoemann has already visited all 72 Wisconsin counties to meet the people.

Twenty-two year old Zachary Roper is running in the Democrat Primary for Governor. He is a college student at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Although still a college student, he has already had an unsuccessful run for the Assembly in 2024. He is running because his professors have encouraged him. There are already seven declared Democrats running in the Primary with six more either “expressed interest” or considered “potential” candidates. Six others have declined the opportunity.

Setting aside age, there are other considerations when selecting your candidate to support and then vote for. Legislators, whether state or federal, are called “Representatives” because they represent their constituents. They understand the wants and needs of businesses on the main street, the role and responsibilities of public education, the importance of non-government charitable organizations, and perhaps most important, how to work with each other and serve their fellow citizens. As legislators they make the laws.

Executives, such as mayors, governors, and the president must follow the laws as they run the day to day affairs of their particular governmental organization. They have to be organizers, managers, strategic thinkers, and see projects through to completion. President Harry S Truman had a “The Buck Stops Here” sign on his desk which, if you think about it, says a lot!

Candidates for a judicial position usually need a law degree. Candidates for Sheriff, District Attorney, or Attorney General should have law enforcement experience. Judges must follow the Constitution and the Rule of Law. Their responsibility is to determine if the law is being followed; not to legislate from the bench!

Considering the other two declared Republican Governor candidates, we have a couple of good candidates. There is a significant difference. Congressman Tom Tiffany is a career legislator while County Executive Josh Schoemann has run a county government. I am supporting (and going to vote for) the experienced executive – Josh Schoemann.

This reminds me of the Eisenhower – Nixon story from the 1960 Presidential Campaign. Keep in mind that Presidential Candidate Richard Nixon had been a Navy Officer in World War Two, had served in the US Senate, and had been President Eisenhower’s Vice President for eight years. Nevertheless, late in the 1960 campaign for president, Eisenhower was overheard to say “I don’t know how he expects to run the country. He has never run anything.”

Candidates in their twenties have possibly never run anything either!