Let’s Elect the Next Generation of Leaders

When President Obama left office, he gave the next generation of Americans some advice: "If you're disappointed in your elected officials, grab a clipboard, get some signatures, and run for office yourself." I did just that, but it wasn't easy. Young candidates often lack the personal resources or professional contacts necessary to get their campaigns off the ground.

That's why I decided to launch Clipboard PAC. Our mission is to help candidates under the age of 30 flip seats from Red to Blue, and we support campaigns across the country. By giving candidates an early financial boost, we hope to build a government that's more inclusive, more representative, and more forward-thinking.

Our party hasn’t done a good enough job of encouraging the next generation of progressives to run for office. We need to investright nowin building a Democratic bench that’s ready to take on the challenges of the coming decades.

- Will Haskell

Former CT State Senator

Meet Our Candidates

  • Nick Jacobson

    Nick is running to flip Pennsylvania’s 85th State House District Blue. He is dedicated to lowering the cost of healthcare, investing in public education and supporting local farms. He is a graduate of Yale University and the Lewisburg Public Schools, and he has experience working within the state government to promote access to rural healthcare and support public school students. Nick is challenging the leader of Pennsylvania’s Freedom Caucus, and he hopes to expand the Democrats’ 1 vote margin in the House of Representatives.

    You can learn more about Nick’s campaign here.

  • Ashwin Ramaswami

    Ashwin is running to flip Georgia’s 48th State Senate District Blue. He’s challenging an incumbent Republican who was indicted alongside Donald Trump for attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election. If elected, Ashwin will work to expand healthcare access, lower costs for working families, and protect democracy. He would be the first Indian American in the Georgia State Senate, as well as the Senate’s first Gen Z member. He would also be the only State Senate with a computer science and law degree.

    You can learn more about Ashwin’s campaign here.

  • Madeline Ryan Smith

    Madeline is running to flip Georgia’s 158th House District Blue. A native Georgian, Madeline is a steadfast advocate for individuals with disabilities. Due to a genetic eye disease, she is blind and relies on the assistance of her guide dog, Mercury. Madeline currently serves as the Disability Caucus Chair for the Georgia Democratic Party, and she received both a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a Master’s in Social Sciences from Georgia Southern University. If elected, she’ll fight to expand Medicaid, reform a broken criminal justice system, and enact strong laws to prevent gun violence.

    You can learn more about Madeline’s campaign here.

  • Jeremy Gray

    Jeremy is running to flip Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District Blue. A native of Opelika, Alabama, he was a professional football player before becoming a State Representative. As a lawmaker, he earned national attention for spearheading a lift of the 28-year ban on yoga in public schools. He's been a champion for small business, early childhood education, and has an impressive track record of delivering progress for his district despite a Republican supermajority.

    You can learn more about Jeremy’s campaign here.

  • David Bruen

    David ran to flip District 11 of New York’s Rockland County Legislature from Red to Blue. David’s campaign focused on addressing climate change, ending gun violence, and empowering young people to take part in the democratic process. As Student Body President at Syracuse University, David represented over 18,000 students and has made a difference by advancing environmental sustainability, increasing access to mental health resources, and investing in a free menstrual products program.

    You can learn more about David’s campaign here.

  • Jaime Martinez

    Jaime ran for the North Allegheny School Board in Pennsylvania. A graduate of the North Allegheny schools, Jaime previously served for two terms as a student representative on the Board. He is a Co-Founder of North Allegheny for Change, a grassroots, youth-led coalition focused on improving the educational experience of all students and promoting inclusion. Jaime's firm belief in public education and commitment to trust and transparency motivated him to seek a seat on the board, aspiring to become its first Latino and youngest member in living memory.

    You can learn more about Jaime’s campaign here.

  • Jason Ford

    Jason ran to represent Virginia’s 28th District in the State Senate. A 2020 graduate of the University of Mary Washington, Jason currently works as a Center Manager at Rappahannock Goodwill, helping locals find access to training, education, and employment. If elected, Jason will be the youngest member of the Virginia Senate in almost 200 years. His campaign was focused on protecting reproductive freedom, preserving clean air and water, and reducing the cost of childcare. He challenged a Republican incumbent who has used violent language when referring to Democratic candidates.

    You can learn more about Jason’s campaign here.

  • Jade Harris

    Jade ran to represent Virginia's 3rd District in the State Senate, taking on the chamber's top Republican (who has been in office for longer than she's been alive). Her campaign was centered on expanding access to mental healthcare, protecting reproductive choice, and strengthening unions. She currently serves as a member of the Town Council and the Vice Mayor of Glasgow, Virginia, where she has worked on improving water infrastructure and supported investments in repairs for a local community center. A former March for Our Lives organizer, Jade worked to empower young voters in her district.

    You can learn more about Jade’s campaign here.

  • Zach Coltrain

    Zach Coltrain was the youngest person ever to run for the Virginia House of Delegates. As a 20-year-old gay Democrat, he fought to shake things up at the State Capitol and restore a Democratic majority. The 98th District includes his hometown of Virginia Beach, and his campaign is prioritizing environmental protection, affordable healthcare, and investments in public schools like the ones he attended.

    You can learn more about Zach’s campaign here.

  • Bently Paiz

    Bently ran to represent the 5th District on the City Council of New Braunfels, Texas. At 18-years-old, he's determined to make his community more affordable for Gen Z. Although the race was non-partisan, Bently was drawn to politics by the Black Lives Matter movement, and he has worked on local Democratic campaigns. He earned the endorsement of former State Senator Wendy Davis. As a member of the City Council, Bently would prioritize investments in public transit and flood mitigation.

    You can learn more about Bently’s campaign here.

  • Nabeela Syed

    Nabeela represents the 51st District in Illinois’ House of Representatives. The 22-year-old community organizer is focused on addressing the crisis of climate change, making college more affordable, and investing in public education. A graduate of the public schools herself, Nabeela made history as the first Muslim and South Asian woman elected to Illinois’ state legislature. Learn more about her campaign by visiting https://www.nabeelasyed.com.

  • Ryan Thompson

    Ryan graduated from the College of Charleston in 2022, shortly after launching his campaign to represent the 106th District in South Carolina’s House of Representatives. His campaign focused on the severe shortage of teachers in his community, and he fought to boost pay for educators. Ryan, who is gay, ran for an open seat in a historically Republican district. At 21-years-old, he’s 34 years younger than the average state lawmaker in South Carolina. Learn more about his campaign by visiting https://www.thompsonforsc.com.

  • Skyler Johnson

    Skyler ran to represent the 1st District in New York’s State Senate. At 22 years old, he fought to unseat an incumbent who has a record of voting against reproductive freedom and opposing stronger gun regulations. His hometown district hasn’t been represented by a Democrat since 1914. Learn more about his campaign by visiting https://skylerforsenate.com.

  • Sydney Clinton

    While still in college, Sydney ran to represent the 98th District in the South Carolina House of Representatives. An experienced activist who grew up in the community she aims to serve, Sydney fought for stronger gun laws and urgent climate action. She believes it’s critical for young people to run for office, as her generation will bear the brunt of legislative decisions for decades to come. Sydney challenged a deeply-entrenched Republican incumbent who often runs unopposed. Learn more about her campaign by visiting https://www.scforsc.com.

  • Ashton Ramsammy

    Ashton ran to represent Minnesota House District 32A, which includes his hometown of Blaine. He is Guyanese-American and is a child of immigrant parents. Ashton's experience working in county government has given him an up-close look at housing and educational disparities in his community. As a state legislator, he would work to close those disparities and secure funding for the modernization of Highway 65 -- a critical but congested corridor that runs through his district. At 21 years-old, Ashton would be the youngest legislator in Minnesota's history. To learn more about Ashton, visit https://ashtonformn.com/.

  • Jonathan Hildner

    Jonathan ran to represent the 54th District in the Texas House of Representatives. The son of a Brigadier General who died in Afghanistan, Jonathan is determined to improve healthcare services for veterans in his Texas. Having organized young voters in Georgia and Iowa, Jonathan knows that it takes to build a grassroots campaign. He'll never shy away from supporting reproductive freedom or voting rights, and he has a vision for a future in Texas where no one feels unheard or left behind. To learn more about his campaign, visit https://www.hildnerfortx.com/.

  • Rianna Czech

    Rianna ran for the State Senate in Pennsylvania’s 50th District. A member of the LGBTQ+ community, she grew up on a family farm in rural Corry and went on to serve in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. She believes that the quality of a child's education shouldn’t be contingent on the zip code in which they live, and she'll fight to invest in her community's public schools. She currently works as an automotive technician, and she's eager to make sure every Pennsylvanian can earn a living wage. To learn more about her campaign, visit https://www.czechforchange.com/.

  • Anthony Eliopoulos

    Anthony ran to flip the 13th District in the Ohio State Senate. A 1st Lieutenant in the Ohio Army National Guard, he has worked in the Office of Senator Sherrod Brown to connect Ohio’s veterans with the services they deserve. He’s committed to growing the middle class by providing labor organizations with more opportunities to bargain, fight for higher wages, and ensure better working conditions. Unlike his Republican opponent, Anthony will always support reproductive choice and freedom. To learn more about his campaign, visit https://www.anthonyforoh.com/.

  • Stephanie Manning

    Stephanie Manning ran for County Commissioner in Limestone County, Alabama. A social worker who cares deeply about social justice, Stephanie hoped to improve infrastructure in underserved communities and reduce environmental pollution. If elected, she would fight to invest in mental healthcare services for her community. She’s built skills working across the aisle, and and she’s determined to make sure every citizen feels included in local government. To learn more about Stephanie’s campaign, visit https://www.manningforlimestonecountycommissionerdistrict3.com.

  • Gabriel Gonzalez

    After winning a competitive primary, Gabriel ran to flip the 119th District in the Florida State House of Representatives. Born and raised in the district, Gabriel is a 22-year-old, gay, first-generation American, the son of Cuban and Nicaraguan immigrants. He's a graduate of the Miami-Dade County public schools, and he's running to protect Florida's natural environment, invest in sustainable infrastructure and increase funding for public schools. He hoped to bring Gen Z's perspective to the State Capitol, and he made headlines in the fight against Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill.

  • Sam Lawrence

    As a 19-year-old college sophomore, Sam worked to flip Ohio 47th District in the State House of Representatives from Red to Blue. He ran to make corporations pay their fair share and promote the use of renewable energy in Ohio. If elected, he would fight for new laws that make workplaces fairer, schools safer and healthcare more affordable. He built a team of young volunteers to flip a longtime Republican stronghold, and the national press is taking notice.