‘No One’s Coming to Save Us but Us’: Gen Z Runs for Office

Key Points:

• Melat Kiros, a 29-year-old Notre Dame Law School graduate, was fired by her New York law firm in 2023 after publishing a letter critical of Israel’s government and the firm’s stance on pro-Palestinian activism.
• Kiros is challenging longtime Representative Diana DeGette in Colorado’s Democratic primary as a candidate backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, representing a youthful left-wing movement within the party.
• Her campaign reflects broader generational frustrations among Gen Z candidates, driven by experiences of the pandemic, social media isolation, artificial intelligence, and geopolitical conflicts like the war in Gaza.
• The recent primary upset of a veteran New York congressman by a young socialist signals a growing ideological and generational divide within both major political parties.
• Kiros emphasizes a belief that systemic change must come from grassroots efforts, expressing skepticism about traditional political avenues and the impact of individual votes.