Elect a New Generation of Democratic Leaders

By David Hogg, Co-founder of Leaders We Deserve, a grassroots organization dedicated to electing young progressives.

• Families woken up with guns in their faces. Kids zip-tied and traumatized for life.
• U.S. citizens cuffed and detained for hours without a warrant.
• Homes and personal belongings destroyed.
• A community and countless lives changed forever.

This is life in America today — where military raids against our own people are routine and Black and Brown communities are terrorized.

What’s happening in Chicago right now should horrify everyone in this country — and every elected official needs to speak out and stop normalizing fascism.

A South Shore apartment building in Chicago — where families, working people, kids, and seniors live — was raided by the military and ICE in the middle of the night.

But turn on CNN or look at too many prominent Democrats’ social media, and you’d have no idea our cities are under siege.

A lot of Democrats are staying silent — and it’s normalizing and enabling Trump’s shocking cruelty. They’re not showing enough urgency as our own government puts cities under siege and masked agents grab people from the street and disappear them to foreign countries without telling their loved ones.

This is exactly why I left the DNC. Too many Democrats in D.C. are silent, complacent, and beholden to special interests. They treat public office like something they’re owed — not a responsibility to earn from the people they serve.

We expect complicity from Republicans — but when Democrats are silent, it’s even more disgusting. They represent the communities under attack — and when their constituents need them most, many of them fail to meet the moment.

At Leaders We Deserve, we’re building a new generation of young, progressive leaders — an inspiring vision for the Democratic Party that people actually like and want to vote for.

It’s why we back people like Democratic State Senator Robert Peters, age 40, in his run for Congress. He represents the South Shore community — and he’s showing up, meeting with impacted families, and demanding accountability.

We need more leaders like Robert — ones who meet the moment, use their power, and speak out — not ones who think it’s acceptable to put out a press release and go M.I.A. while our rights are destroyed.

Endorsing changemakers

We just rolled out our latest round of 2026 endorsements — and I couldn’t be prouder or more excited about these candidates.

Take Democrat Justin Pearson, age 30, a bold, effective leader who always does what’s right for his community — not for his own political safety. He is one of the “Tennessee Three,” whom Republicans expelled Justin from the state legislature for standing up to the NRA after a school shooting. He also stopped a billion-dollar corporation from building a harmful oil pipeline in his community.

Now, he’s challenging a longtime Congressman in Tennessee’s 9th District who has failed to deliver for Memphis — and we couldn’t be more excited to back him.

Then there’s Donavan McKinney, age 33, in Michigan’s 13th District. Donovan’s challenging one of the most corrupt and ineffective Democrats in D.C — a guy who takes millions from AIPAC, broke his no-corporate-PAC pledge, and spent more taxpayer money on advertising than any other member of Congress.

Donovan’s the opposite — he delivers real results for Detroit, including millions for gun violence prevention, replacing lead pipes, and taking on private utilities that have long controlled Michigan politics.

Our other endorsees share their courage:

Christian Menefee (TX-18) — As Houston’s County Attorney, he’s proven he’s not afraid to take on the powerful — including Trump, mega-polluters, and corporate fraudsters.

Randy Villegas (CA-22) — An educator, organizer, and proud son of immigrants who can flip a highly competitive swing seat — but first must win a primary against one of California’s most conservative Democrats.

Akbar Ali (GA-HD-106) — At 21 years old, he would be the youngest state rep in Georgia history, proving that young people can beat the odds to lead with courage.

This is what real leadership looks like.

Learn more at Leaders We Deserve.