Left: U.S. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaking with attendees at a "Fight Oligarchy" rally at Mullett Arena in Tempe, Arizona. Photo by Gage Skidmore. CC BY-SA 2.0

Right: David Hogg speaking in Fort Lauderdale rally. Photo by Barry Stock. CC BY-SA 2.0

“Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence, and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.”
— Sheryl Sandberg

It is long past time to critique and apply pressure to the Democratic National Council (DNC) and our Democratic Party leadership over its status quo, establishment failures. In the current political landscape, it has become clear that Democrats are hurting the very people they claim to serve by not investing in the younger generation of leaders.

When the Republican-sponsored ‘Big Billionaire Bailout’ bill was recently tabled in the House of Representatives, it passed by a 215 to 214 vote. However, three Democrats were missing. Representative Gerry Connolly (75), had passed away from cancer the day before. In the months before the bill was passed, representatives Sylvester Turner (70) and Raul Grijalva (77) had also passed away, and their positions had not yet been filled.

Average life expectancy in the United States is just short of 79 years; and yet, a report from Axios has found that more than half of House Democrats who are 75 and older plan to seek re-election next year, including representatives Maxine Waters (86), John Garamendi (80), and Rosa DeLauro (82). 

This is an unsustainable and irresponsible model for Democratic success and the future of this country.

In December 2024, when the DNC selected the chair of the immensely powerful Oversight Committee, they chose the afore-mentioned Connolly, who had announced his cancer diagnosis just weeks prior, over Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (35), even though several Democrats on the Oversight Committee said that “she was a skilled messenger who would make a good foil to the Trump administration.” Just this past June, the motivated and hard-working David Hogg (25) was pushed out of the DNC, losing Democrats a vital piece of the energized and active youth they so desperately need to win elections.

I’m not one to be ageist, or even call for term limits, but something has to give. If establishment Democrats refuse to prioritize the recruitment, mentorship, and support of the next generation of leadership, they risk losing the good faith assumption that they can be leaders that will do what is right for the American people, even if it means stepping back from power.

Allison Murphy Dabler has held key leadership roles in the Democratic Party, including chairing the Benton County Democrats and co-chairing the State Democratic Platform Committee. She has organized campaigns, boosted voter engagement, and helped build progressive infrastructure across the Tri-Cities. In 2025, she was honored with the Norm and Shirley Miller Leadership Award for her service and impact.

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