Younger Democrats Don't Plan to Wait Their Turn

[RandySF]

George Hornedo, a liberal activist and Democratic Party strategist in Indianapolis, had already been weighing a primary challenge to the local congressman when he was confronted last month by a senior Indiana Democrat.

Asked whether he was planning a run, Mr. Hornedo, 34, acknowledged he was considering it. The woman, he recalled, told him he was “going to get hurt.” He posted his recounting of the interaction on TikTok, where it quickly went viral. “Don’t let them scare you off,” one commenter wrote.

On Wednesday, Mr. Hornedo announced his campaign against the nine-term incumbent, Representative André Carson, while deriding him and those like him as “do-nothing Democrats” and promising a new generation of leadership for Washington. “The Democratic Party cannot win the future with a leadership structure that is built for the past,” he said in an interview.

A small but growing group of young Democrats are being propelled to act by outrage among rank-and-file voters, and especially among young people. Infuriated by the early months of President Trump’s second term, impatient with the status quo and frustrated with party leadership, they are mounting bids for office.



https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/10/us/politics/young-democrats-trump.html

[lees1975]

1. Good!

This is exactly what we need.

[Bettie]

2. It's sad that 34 is considered "too young"

by the party structure.

But, also to be fair, the guy he's running against isn't much older than he is at 50.

[SocialDemocrat61]

27. It's too young to be President

But that’s about it.

[progressoid]

3. This old Democrat, says "GOOD! DO IT!"

[maxsolomon]

4. I don't know Andre Carson, but I'd presume this is Indiana's most liberal Congressional district.

On edit, it's an overwhelmingly Liberal district. It's been in the hands of the Carson family for decades. He succeeded his Grandmother.

There's no harm in this primary challenge.

[lapucelle]

28. Andre Carson is a hard core liberal.

One of these info graphics is Andre Carson and the other is Alexandria Ocasio Cortez.



https://www.ontheissues.org/NY/Alexandria_Ocasio-Cortez.htm

--------------------------------------------




https://www.ontheissues.org/in/Andre_Carson.htm

[Midwestern Democrat]

42. I have no problem with primary challenges in "one party districts" - in those districts, the Democratic or Republican

primary is essentially the election and the idea that someone should be entitled to be a congressman for life by simply winning the primary for an open seat is ridiculous.

[MagickMuffin]

5. They should be encouraged to run at State level first

Get some government experience and then move on to the US level.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett started out this way. She got the experience working on the state level. Jasmine then decided to run for the vacant seat when US Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson’s announced her retirement and Johnson offered Jasmine her support.

Perhaps this would be a good approach, however, for the longest serving members I could get behind younger members deciding to run for office. Perhaps it will be beneficial in the long run.

[Retrograde]

6. We need a wide range of people in Congress

to represent the wide range of people in the country. I don't think we should kick current representatives out just because they're old (my last one stepped down after 30 years in the seat - she wasn't in the national media often, but she earned a reputation among her constituents for being accessible and the go-to person for help with government issues) but we need some young blood as well.

[Jilly_in_VA]

7. Why the hell should they "wait their turn"?

Look, I'm 80, and some of the "old guard" are younger than that, but they need to get off their frozen asses and let the young ones in. They have simply been there too long, and it shows. Look at Schumer---I like the guy, but he hasn't had a new idea in years. He's just like someone's doddering grandpa these days. Heck, Bernie's younger because he's not resistant to anything new. Schumer's been doing the same thing for so long he just thinks it's new. And the RepubliQans are just as bad if not worse. Grassley is a talking mummy, FFS. But of course even some of their younger guys sound like old farts, so there's that.....

[H2O Man]

9. So very well said!

[H2O Man]

8. Recommended.

Good.

[Skittles]

10. DO IT

if these folk are unwilling to pass the baton JUST OVERTAKE THEM ALREADY

[JI7]

11. Andre Carson is 50 years old. I don't consider 34 too young or 50 as too old

for Congress.

I'm not sure how it would look to get rid of one of the few Muslims in Congress if there is no issue with his record.

[iemanja]

13. How does threatening physical harm

to opponents look to you?

[JI7]

21. I don't know who did that but it wouldn't be right

[iemanja]

22. A senior Democrat

according to the article.

[JI7]

24. I don't see where and I didn't see the video

[iemanja]

37. Read the OP

Second paragraph.

[lapucelle]

35. It wasn't "according to the article". It was "according to what the candidate claimed

in a tiktok video".

And according to the candidate, it was not a "senior Democrat". He described the woman as a local "party elder", whatever that means.

[iemanja]

36. Read the last sentence of paragraph one

It clearly identifies the person as a senior Indiana Democrat,

[lapucelle]

39. Yes, but the lobbyist-superpac-founder candidate himself said that she was a "party elder"

in his tiktok video.

For anyone who isn't following the lobbyist-superpac-founder candidate's social media posts, his "Do Nothing Democrats" claim is on twitter, his "Dems Shit the Bed" claim is on instagram, and his "Party Elder" claim is on tiktok.

-------------------------------------------------

On his superpac website, his bio reads

George is a Senior Consultant to Prime Policy Group—Washington’s leading bipartisan government relations firm.

https://www.nextgenhoosiers.com/blank-2

Odd how the "bipartisan relations consultant" seems so one sided in his critiques.

[misanthrope]

12. Good! It adds to the party's vitality.

Get in there and mix it up early.

[Orrex]

14. I hope they're ready to get peered at wearily over a pair of half-glasses

Last edited Thu Apr 10, 2025, 10:15 PM - Edit history (1)

That’s charisma, baby!

[betsuni]

15. Oh, boo hoo. The evil !STATUS QUO! Democratic Establishment is out to get you. Be like Joe Biden, just do it.

Wasn't he 29 or so when he was elected? Biden wouldn't whine, play martyr, bash the Democratic Party, or endlessly repeat meaningless populist jargon like "status quo."

[SunImp]

16. Imagine if this is how our party leaders acted

Young people are the future & I hope they're more like AOC

[JI7]

25. Yes, but in this case this guy isn't going to get much support

becsuse he is challenging an incumbent that is critical of Israel and the challenger worked for Obama and Buttigieg who are seen as the problem .

It will be interesting to watch.

[Celerity]

38. Agree.

[BurnDoubt]

17. NOW IS THE TIME..............................

to start a parallel campaign. New candidates for EVERY office, confronting their likely opponents on every issue up for a vote, and offering an alternative to the fuckery, building name-recognition and gravitas. Get out there early. Get on the record. Get in their face and on their case. Get ahead of the sane-washing, personal attacks and slander well ahead of the Election. Draw the comparison, and make them wear their bigotry and hypocrisy and pound it, pound it, pound it until it goes in. Every Day. As it stands, they've done their homework and neutered all the institutions designed to prevent misguided miscreants from commandeering our government for their own aggrandizement and/or nefarious purposes. To wit: We're already Fucked. They "move fast and break (other peoples') stuff", kick over the gameboard and declare themselves the winner and impose their own rules (govern by fiat, claim emergency) over an impotent Congress and Judiciary. It's "We The People" vs. the Klown Kar Kabal. Next time, it's A-Game or Forlorn Hope... (Assuming a Next Time.)

[NNadir]

18. That mentality gave us AOC. I sometimes disagree with her, but she's my ideal of what a Democrat should be.

We are better off for having her.

[democrank]

19. Kicking for all young activist Democratic leaders

I welcome them with open arms.

[Conjuay]

31. The people I want to see in my government would have:

A pitchfork in one hand
A flaming torch in the other
and a 100 dB mouth.

Up there and in the republicans' noses.

You know, a MTG type- except with a functioning brain.

[JI7]

41. I don't want any MTG type on my side

[live love laugh]

20. The only problem I have with this is that so many Republicans pose as Democrats.

Name calling like “do-nothing Democrats” and threats are not something that Democrats tend to do.

[BaronChocula]

23. I usually can't deal with the "where's the data" crowd

But I am curious how genX and millennial candidates are impacting our politics. I have nothing but the deepest respect for AOC for example, but I'm curious as to whether or not she's moving a needle. This is nothing against the younger generations.

JUST ASKING. NO NEED TO PILE ON.

[Celerity]

43. Gen Xers have already started turning 60 years old, and even the youngest are already in their mid 40s, so hardly

can be called young. Maybe on this skewed 'far older than the average group' board, but not in terms of the whole of US demographics.

In a recent DU poll only 5% (last time I checked) of hundreds of respondents were younger than Gen X (all whom turn 45 to 60yo in 2025), and there were zero Gen Z respondents (ie no one under 28/29yo).

[marble falls]

26. If they can win, let them jump right in.

[Mountainguy]

29. "Do-Nothing Democrats"

Not very happy that this guy is trying to attack the entire Democratic caucus just to make a name for himself politically.

Pretty fucking stupid to be running attacks that will turn people off of the Democratic brand.

[MuseRider]

30. I find this encouraging and exciting.

In my 70's I am bored sick of my party. How about letting people run the way they want to and let the voters decide instead of making them joiners of the older people and our older, often safer ideas. You did your job, run as much as you want but stop stopping those who are younger and have different lives to lead and encourage. Hey! How about you get behind one of them and give them all you have to get them through the hoops. They do not have to agree, it is OUR job to sort that out but just because you have been there before does not mean your old ideas are the best ideas not the worst. We will respect you for all you have done.

Mothers have to let go so how about 50 year old older statesmen /women as advisors with a ton of experience.

[lapucelle]

32. He certainly sounds like a go-getter. He heads a consultancy agency and founded a super pac

Meet the Founder George Hornedo

An Indianapolis native, George Hornedo is President of Hornedo Strategies—a consultancy specializing in government advising and political strategy. Concurrently, George is a Senior Consultant to Prime Policy Group—Washington’s leading bipartisan government relations firm.

https://www.nextgenhoosiers.com/blank-2

----------------------------------------

Next Gen Hoosiers

https://www.opensecrets.org/outside-spending/detail/2024?cmte=C00877241&tab=summary

[lapucelle]

33. If you put aside the "Do Nothing Democrats" and the "Dems Shit the Bed" comments,

he sounds really nice. His sideline is senior consultant for the K Street lobbying firm Prime Policy Group which he touts as "Washington’s leading bipartisan government relations firm" in his super pac "Meet the Founder" bio.

https://www.nextgenhoosiers.com/blank-2

https://www.opensecrets.org/federal-lobbying/firms/summary?cycle=2024&id=D000045879

[Buns_of_Fire]

34. "It's your turn, step up and take it,

If you've got the guts to hang on, you can make it

Come on,
Come on,
Come on,
Come on,
Come on,
Come on,
TAKE IT!!" ~The Who

[Sky Jewels]

40. Go Young Dems!