Future Caucus - formerly Millennial Action Project

10/15/2026

📢 Calling all political data nerds 🤓

On the Rise is our unique, once-in-an-election-cycle report on shifting demographics and emerging trends among candidates for Congress — with a special focus on Gen Zers and millennials building political power 💪

So how are they doing? Here’s the big picture:

📈 More than 1 in 3 candidates is Gen Z or millennial — up from 1 in 4 in 2024 and 1 in 6 in 2022.

🗳️ 1 in 6 Gen Z candidates ran third-party or unaffiliated — significantly more than any other generation.

⚖️ A younger candidate pool *isn’t* necessarily more representative. 2x as many men ran as women overall, and the gap is even wider among Gen Z candidates (only ~17% are women).

Want to know more? Check out the full report at the link in our comments! ⬇️⬇️⬇️

10/08/2026

In 2024, Kinsleigh Welty was found malnourished and unresponsive in her Indianapolis home. She died as a result of severe neglect by her mother.

However, this tragedy could have been prevented.

The Indiana Department of Child Services had an existing COVID-19 pandemic policy that allowed DCS to close cases without an in-person visit. In 2018, Kinsleigh was placed in foster care after her mother was arrested for child neglect. Yet, after reviewing her case, DCS closed it after a single phone call with Kinsleigh’s mother, who said she was okay.

In response, Rep. Dr. Victoria Garcia Wilburn, D-Ind., met with the Family and Social Services Administration to review its virtual case-closure policy and concluded that a law was needed to ensure this never happens again. In collaboration with Rep. Alex Burton, D-77; Rep. Julie McGuire, R-93; and Rep. Lori Goss-Reaves, R-31, Wilburn introduced Kinsleigh’s Law, a bipartisan bill requiring Indiana’s DCS to conduct an in-person assessment before closing an investigation. The bill passed both chambers without a single vote cast against it.

The system failed Kinsleigh, and now lawmakers are setting aside their partisan differences to ensure the state’s most vulnerable children fall through the cracks. Read the full story: 🔗

By Maya Mukherjee Kinsleigh Welty was 5 years old. Her mother frequently confined her to a closet and fed her very little. By the time Kinsleigh was found unresponsive in her Indianapolis home in 2024, she was extremely malnourished, and she died as a result of that severe neglect. Today, her mother...

10/06/2026

Who says adults can’t go on field trips?? 🧐

In celebration of America’s 250th, the state lawmakers of Future Caucus took an after-hours tour of the U.S. Capitol. 🏛️ 🦅

They walked the storied halls of power and stepped into the rotunda, where statues and paintings tell the story of our great nation’s history.

Seeing young Republican and Democratic legislators explore the Capitol together reminds us that whatever our current divisions, this nation was founded on the promise of a shared future—and these young leaders are striving to keep that promise.

Btw, apropos of nothing… did you know that almost 50% of members of Congress were once state legislators?

10/05/2026

If Gen Z is supposed to be one of the most politically engaged generations, why are so many of them struggling to get elected to public office? 🤔

During the mid-term election cycle, over 100 Gen Zers ran for Congress, but only a handful won their primaries, underscoring how hard it remains for younger candidates to break through. Layla Zaidane, President and CEO of Future Caucus, recently spoke with The Hill about possible reasons for this gap.

She notes that Gen Z often runs outside the two-party system and tends to have less money or fundraising experience, relying heavily on grassroots strategies that make it harder to win elections. Even so, Gen Z has used its affinity for social media to reach audiences online—but it remains an uphill battle.

Tearing down barriers to entry for young policymakers is critical. Even after being elected, Gen Zers and millennials face serious obstacles to remaining in office. Young people have innovative ideas for improving government systems and are living through the challenges they’re legislating on—like housing affordability and student debt—so they need a seat at the table.

Stay tuned for more information about Gen Z and millennial candidates, and be sure to read the article. We’ll keep you in the loop! Link to the article in our comments.

09/29/2026

Can disagreeing actually bring us together? 🤔

Nonprofit Quarterly recently published an article identifying the problem with fighting polarization. The article shares that discourse on the subject often focuses on division, rather than common ground—limiting our capacity for conversations that involve disagreement.

At Future Caucus, we believe cross-partisan collaboration isn’t about creating an environment free of conflict, but about one that allows for healthy dialogue in service of creating a future worth sharing. By giving young lawmakers a bipartisan network, we are fostering a legacy in which lawmakers work across the aisle on policy solutions, even when they disagree.

Luckily, we are not alone, as other organizations like Generation Citizen encourage unity by teaching students to navigate diverse perspectives to solve challenges in their communities; and Democracy2076 facilitates conversation about what our collective future could look like, driving research initiatives on problems Americans face today.

To learn more about Future Caucus’ bridge-building efforts, read the article from Nonprofit Quarterly: https://nonprofitquarterly.org/the-problem-with-fighting-polarization-and-a-better-path-to-unity/

09/28/2026

AI is advancing at lightning speed, and legislators are trying to stay ahead of the curve.

At Future Caucus, we equip lawmakers with the tools they need to make smart, impactful decisions on tech policy. Earlier this month, our National Task Force on State AI Policy—a bipartisan group of Gen Z and millennial state legislators —headed to Huntsville, Alabama, for a hands-on learning experience.

At the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, they explored the latest breakthroughs in spaceflight development. Next, they visited the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering, and the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology—a nonprofit dedicated to health research and development. They wrapped up at the FBI Kinetic Cyber Range, simulating real-world scenarios, testing advanced forensics, and learning about cybersecurity.

Although, the itinerary was jam-packed, the real magic happened between sessions—when legislators connected, reflected on their experiences, and joined Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle for dinner to discuss what they had learned in his city.

09/28/2026

America’s toxic polarization problem is affecting more than just our federal politicians—it’s tearing apart communities, families, friendships. "Bucks County, USA," a new PBS documentary from award-winning filmmakers Robert May and Barry Levinson, follows the effects of political polarization on school boards in the close-knit community of Bucks County, PA.

At a recent screening, Layla Zaidane joined fellow civic leaders on stage to talk about stemming the tide of polarization, in a conversation moderated by the great Judy Woodruff of PBS NewsHour.

Bucks County, USA tells the story of 14-year-old best friends Evi and Vanessa, whose families are divided by opposing political beliefs. Their friendship shows that relationships across party lines can persist when we keep opening the floor for dialogue, a value we are committed to at Future Caucus.

The film holds up a mirror to our nation, reminding us that only by living our values and working together can we build a country of opportunity, dignity, and hope.

09/25/2026

Could friendship ease political polarization? 🫂

There are more bipartisan besties working together than you might expect! Don’t believe us? Meet Pennsylvania state legislators Sen. Joe Picozzi, R-Philadelphia, and Rep. Amen Brown, D-Philadelphia, who regularly collaborate on housing, education, and transportation policy.

In a joint interview with Broad + Liberty, the pair said people often expect heated conflict when faced with a member of another party — but where better to turn those expectations upside-down than in the City of Brotherly Love?

Picozzi and Brown unite over serving the community — and occasionally over bourbon and a cigar. 🍻

Tag your bipartisan bestie in the comments section!!

09/24/2026

Ready to help repair American politics? 🇺🇸🏛️🤝

At Future Caucus, we believe public service is about more than party affiliation.

For three years, the Innovation Lab has helped young lawmakers lead on the problems they were elected to solve. It’s an engine for healthy conflict and innovative bipartisan solutions. The Innovation Lab connects elected officials with leading policy experts and creates a hub for policy-education, bridge-building, and action.

Intrigued? Watch the whole mini-doc (we dropped a link in the comments)! And if you’re a young lawmaker, this is your sign to reach out—we want to help you make an impact in your state.

Everyone say happy birthday, Innovation Lab!! 🥳🎉