WASHINGTON, D.C. — The 2020 youth elections has brought its first two candidates, announcing their bids for the United States House of Youth Representatives. Gerardo Hernandez of California and Jayden Speed of Nebraska, announced on Saturday evening that they were competing for seats in the house. The Youth Assembly will be the the legislative branch of the soon-to-be Youth Government. According to the Youth Constitution: "All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Youth Assembly of the United States, which shall consist of a Youth Senate and House of Youth Representatives." The House will consist of 250 members from districts across the United States. The Senate will compose of 100 members, two from each state.
Hernandez,16, announced on Saturday evening that he will be competing for California's 27th District which consists of Los Angeles County. He wrote on Twitter: "I'm running because I want to represent all the marginalized youth all across America and give them a voice, but to also stand for the interests and I'll do it all with love." Hernandez is the first person to ever announce a bid for a seat in the United States Youth Assembly. He is currently a junior in high school, and leans to the progressive left of the political spectrum.
Hernandez has said that if elected, his first act as a member of the House would be to "send a letter to the elected Youth President & VP for the formation of a Youth Department of Peace" that will coordinate international relations and conflict resolution. Hernandez has also stated in his platform that he wants to protect the rights of individuals in the LGBTQIA+ community, pass a green new deal resolution, and mandate funding for "Farm to School programs" to tackle healthy eating in schools. You can check out more of his platform on his website.
"I'm running because I want to represent all the marginalized youth all across America and give them a voice, but to also stand for the interests and I'll do it all with love." — Gerardo Hernandez
Speed,16, announced on Saturday evening that he would be competing for Nebraska's sole seat in the House of Youth Representatives. Speed, who is the leader of the Nebraska Student Demand Action (SDA) wrote: "Our lives are at risk every day, because of the actions and inaction of our current leadership. I am here to say that we can make a difference and we can make our voices heard." Speed currently attends Conestpga Jr./Sr. High School in Murray, Nebraska. On his website, Speed says he wants to tackle school & youth safety by addressing common sense gun reform. Speed also supports a Green New Deal and wants to tackle climate change. "The greatest threat to the future of America's youth is climate change. We will have to deal with it every day of our lives moving forward" he said. Among so many other things, Speed supports free college and wiping out student debt, and equal rights for all.
What does this mean going forward?
The Commission on Ratification & Elections (CORE) has said that it expects multiple people to file early bird status, and many more to begin announcing their candidacies starting August 1st. No person has announced, filed, or speculated an intent to run for either the Youth Senate or the Youth Presidency. Although there is ample time for this to come, it sets an alarm. Elijah Manley, chairman of CORE, has stated that he is working with many student organizations at colleges and universities across the country to expedite the process and bring about more awareness. With support from many organizations, the 2020 youth elections look more plausible. Some main issues and points in the campaign will be: the ratification of the Youth Constitution, Climate Change, Education, Gun Violence, and young people's rights.
The process of ratification is falling behind, with only one State— Florida, ratified. This is a failure on CORE & the Continental Youth Assembly (CYA), according to some from conservative student organizations like the College Republicans & others at Texas A&M University. According to Manley: "There are conclusive plans to bring about a faster ratification process in the making." It seems that there is planning, announcements coming, and more, which is all a forecast into the future.
Stay tuned.
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