If you want to understand where Connecticut is headed, don’t look to the political insiders. Look to our young people.

Across this state, they are not waiting their turn to step into the arena. They are organizing, asking hard questions, and leading in Connecticut politics in a way that should make all of us pay attention.

I’ve seen this up close in my own race. As a Democrat running for State Representative in Newtown’s 106th District, I’m in a competitive primary then a general election against a seven-term Republican incumbent. It’s a tough race, but the driving force behind my campaign is the involvement of passionate, dynamic young people. I could not do this without their tireless support.

Their energy is real and it is positively shaping the future of our state.

Young people are not just participating, they are driving electoral outcomes. This past January, the Young Democrats of Connecticut mobilized to support Christine Vitale in Fairfield, helping power her decisive 12-point victory over Republican State Sen. Tony Hwang. That is real electoral impact.

When Connecticut candidates, including our most senior statewide elected officials, value and seek out the support of young people and their political organizations, it sends a clear message that their voices carry weight. That is exactly how it should be.

At a recent state representative debate in Newtown hosted by the College Democrats of Connecticut, the student moderators asked deeply-researched and impressive questions. They were thoughtful, direct, and grounded in the real challenges facing Connecticut. This was civic engagement at its best.

After the debate, a college student approached me and asked how she could help. She is now a core part of my campaign. That moment filled me with immeasurable pride. Young people are raising their hands to step up and volunteer.

These are not just future leaders. They are leaders today. And this extends beyond campaigns.

The Junior Newtown Action Alliance, a group of high school students committed to gun violence prevention, is organized, focused, and making a real difference in Connecticut. They are doing serious work in Hartford to push for safer communities and demand real action. Their leadership should make all of us proud.

Our state legislature is also powered in large part by young staffers who work long hours behind the scenes to move policy forward. They bring urgency, perspective, and a deep commitment to public service.

Gen Z is redefining what political engagement looks like. Not just through their TikTok creativity or Instagram energy, but through serious, sustained political leadership. As a millennial aging out of the “young Democrat” category faster than I’d like to admit, I can proudly say they are raising the bar for all of us.

The question is not whether young people are ready to lead. The question is whether the rest of us are ready to meet them with the same passion they are already bringing to our democracy.

Because if we are, Connecticut’s future is in very good hands.

Brandon Moore of Newtown is a Democrat running for election in the Connecticut House District 106.