We like to think that public service is still a noble thing. You run, get elected, and go to Washington, D.C., or your state capital to represent the people who sent you there. When serving at the state level, you really are that citizen politician that the Founders envisioned. Very often, the people who serve at the statehouse go on to a statewide office or to a national elected position. We know all too well the behavior that goes on at the national level. But that same behavior and its results may be filtering down to state legislatures as well.
What happens to idealistic, motivated young lawmakers when public office becomes unsafe, financially stressful, and incompatible? More and more, the answer is just… they leave.
— Future Caucus (@futurecaucus) February 5, 2026
Read The Exit Interview to find out why 👇 https://t.co/q4EDbb4Aid
Future Caucus is a nonprofit, nonpartisan group aimed at Millennial and GenZ-age lawmakers. They recently interviewed 89 state legislators in 31 states. What they found does not set a positive tone for the talent pool where potential candidates for higher office come from. Many young state lawmakers find themselves rethinking their choice to serve. They cite things like low pay and family-unfriendly environments. However, there is good news. Most of those young legislators still say they believe in public service.
Running for any public office is a big decision, and might require a bit of research. That research might lead one to this statistic: that as of 2024, the average state legislator made around $44,320. Of those surveyed, 81 percent said that it did not cover their cost of living expenses. But the most concerning thing for legislators is the increasingly violent atmosphere in today's political climate. They reported routinely receiving death threats, armed protesters in galleries, and very real fears for their spouses and children.
One of the main catalysts for many of these lawmakers was the assassination of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband in June of 2025. Many described it as a game-changer for how they viewed the risks of remaining in office.
Michael F. Smith is a Republican in the Delaware House. He says he has had to have a difficult conversation with his kids, ages 14, 11, and five, about their safety. He also talked about threats to himself, saying, "I've gotten threatened in person, in the mailbox, in email, you name it. Hate to say it this way, but it's unfortunate how normal it is now." Smith says he has thought about quitting, as he has a second job, but his wife encourages him to stay with it.
A study of dozens of Gen Z and millennial state legislators across the country who are actively questioning whether to remain in public service. The report finds the number one concern is political violence — followed by the cost of livinghttps://t.co/j9j9Lp4Y9U
— Justice is Served (@pleasesaveour) February 5, 2026
Should there be some sort of hotline state legislators could contact in real time in the event of a threat? Layla Zaidane, the President and CEO of Future Caucus, says that most states don't have such a hotline or response system. She added, "People imagine them (state legislators) as members of Congress who have staff and bodyguards. No. They're just regular people who everybody knows where they live."
Aging swamp creatures in Washington, D.C. who won't take a hint and call it a career is not a new phenomenon. As of May of 2025, more than half of the 30 House Democrats who were 75 years old or older planned to run again in 2026. And it's not just Democrats who can't seem to find the door; a few Republicans are on the list as well. If the path to higher office runs through statehouses, just how long are those who will bring fresh blood and fresh ideas to Washington willing to wait?
Future Caucus's report concludes that many of these young legislators have already decided that theirs is a "when," not "if" decision to leave public service, and look on it as an exit interview of sorts. But whether it is the Congressional nursing home attitude we complain about, or the violence in politics that doesn't seem to be ratcheting down anytime soon, we could be doing the next generation of lawmakers a serious disservice.
This new report from @futurecaucus is a hard read, but an important one. We cannot let political violence, demoralizing gridlock, or low pay drive out an entire generation of lawmakers.
— Layla Zaidane (@layla_says) February 5, 2026
But that's exactly what's happening.
Read The Exit Interview: 🔗 https://t.co/Yna3vVypIm https://t.co/fgSVhTLHfh
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