Voices to Watch: The Next Generation in Statehouses
In our earlier spotlights, we introduced readers to emerging Democratic leaders transforming politics at the local and executive level, from Southern progressives to Midwestern mayors. Today, we turn our attention to a different kind of power, the kind built inside statehouses, where the next generation of Democratic legislators is redefining what bold, values-driven policy looks like outside of Washington.
These five young lawmakers — all under 40 — are crafting ambitious legislation, holding the line in tough environments, and inspiring a new wave of civic engagement. They are rising through the ranks not with grandstanding, but with results.
Here are five Democratic state legislators to watch.
Stay Informed. Stay Loud.
Subscribe to The Coffman Chronicle for no-BS political analysis, action guides, and daily truth bombs you won’t get from corporate media.
Mallory McMorrow (Michigan, 38)
When Mallory McMorrow delivered a searing speech on the Michigan Senate floor in 2022, defending LGBTQ+ families against right-wing attacks, it went viral for all the right reasons. However, McMorrow didn’t stop at headlines. She’s since become one of Michigan’s most effective progressive voices, advancing environmental policy, infrastructure investment, and working-class economic priorities in one of the nation’s key battlegrounds. Now running for the U.S. Senate in 2026, she’s showing how to turn state-level leadership into national impact without abandoning the people who put her there.
PBS NewsHour via YouTube
Kalan Haywood II (Wisconsin, 24)
Photo by Narayan Mahon.
Elected at just 19 years old, Kalan Haywood is now Assistant Minority Leader in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Representing Milwaukee’s north side, Haywood brings a sharp focus on restorative justice, gun violence prevention, and public education. Young, ambitious, and already shaping legislative strategy in a tough political climate, he exemplifies what youth leadership looks like when it’s taken seriously. Haywood isn’t just preparing to lead someday. He’s doing it right now.
David Morales (Rhode Island, 25)
Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current
At 25, David Morales has already become one of Rhode Island’s most impactful legislators. A former Sunrise Movement organizer and democratic socialist, Morales champions legislation focused on healthcare justice, immigrant rights, and taxing the wealthy. His policy chops are matched by a deep connection to his community in Providence’s District 7. Morales is building a model of grassroots governance, proving that progressive values don’t need to be watered down to win. And did we mention he moonlights as a wrestler?
See our previous lists of rising stars here:
Bride Rose Sweeney (Ohio, 32)
A policy force in the Ohio State House, Bride Rose Sweeney helped design and lead the state’s bipartisan “Fair School Funding Plan,” winning widespread praise for addressing long-standing education inequities. As one of the youngest women ever elected to the chamber, Sweeney has become a quiet powerhouse in the budget and finance sphere, earning recognition as a pragmatic progressive with statewide potential. Her ability to win cross-party support without compromising values sets her apart in a polarized state.
Greta Neubauer (Wisconsin, 33)
Photo by: Twitter/RepGreta
As Minority Leader in the Wisconsin State Assembly, Greta Neubauer leads Democrats in one of the most gerrymandered and ideologically hostile legislatures in the country. She’s helped block far-right rollbacks on labor, climate, and reproductive rights, all while supporting a new wave of progressive candidates across the state. Neubauer cut her teeth as an environmental activist and is now forging coalition strategies that stretch beyond her base. With sharp messaging, legislative grit, and a calm command of the chamber, she’s quietly become one of the party’s most effective young leaders.
Why They Matter
These five rising lawmakers are building power the hard way, by organizing communities, drafting legislation, and navigating conservative-dominated state governments. In an era when so much attention goes to federal gridlock, these leaders remind us where real progress is often made, and who’s doing the work to make it happen.
Stay Informed. Stay Loud.
Subscribe to The Coffman Chronicle for no-BS political analysis, action guides, and daily truth bombs you won’t get from corporate media.
Bibliography:
“From Auto Designer To MI Senator: Mallory McMorrow.” WKAR Public Media, December 24, 2018.
“Michigan lawmaker Mallory McMorrow announces Democratic bid for US Senate.” AP News, April 2, 2025.
“A Rising Democratic Star Is Ready for New Leadership — Without Chuck Schumer.” Politico, March 25, 2025.
“Mallory McMorrow.” PBS News.
“Kalan Haywood II.” UNCF.
“Kalan Haywood on His First Few Months in Office.” Milwaukee Magazine, June 18, 2019.
“Rhode Island politician by day, wrestler by night.” WCVB, September 6, 2023.
“Rhode Island’s youngest state legislator: An advocate for the working class.” The Boston Globe, April 14, 2021.
“This R.I. state rep is lord of the ring.” Rhode Island Current, March 28, 2023.
“Cuyahoga County Democrat Bride Rose Sweeney wins battle of District 16” News 5 Cleveland, August 3, 2022.
“Rep. Sweeney makes history as Ohio Statehouse's youngest elected official.” NBC4, November 15, 2018.
“Neubauer elected new leader of Wisconsin Assembly Democrats.” TMJ4, December 20, 2021.
“Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer joins DLCC’s board as Dems look to win majorities in 2026.” Wisconsin Examiner, May 12, 2025.
“Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer says popular issues could get more ‘air time’ next session.” Wisconsin Examiner, December 12, 2024.
 | A guest post by
|
Love their energy and passion.....they are what we need to reform the party into something that truly represents who we are now. And to the extent any entrenched old-school dems try to dismiss them, take it as a sign that they are definitely on the right path (i.e. Mandami -NY).
I wish all of them good luck and much success.