List of the youngest state legislators in the United States

This is a list of the youngest individuals elected or appointed to a state legislature in the United States.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Overview

The National Conference of State Legislatures estimates that only 5% of state legislators are under the age of 30.[1]

List
Name State Political Party Date of Birth Age Upon Taking Office Tenure Notes
Saira Blair West Virginia Republican July 11, 1996 18 years, 176 days Jan 3, 2015 - December 1, 2018 Her father, Craig Blair, is a member of the West Virginia Senate. He previously represented the same House of Delegates district in which his daughter was elected.
Jacob Bachmeier Montana Democratic Jan 29, 1998 18 years, 339 days[2] Jan 2, 2017 - Present Upon being sworn into the Montana House of Representatives, he became youngest state legislator in the United States at the time.
Tony Labranche[3] New Hampshire Democratic November 11, 2001 19 years, 22 days Dec 3, 2020 - Present Currently the youngest elected New Hampshire legislator.
Josh Holstein West Virginia Republican November 2, 2001 19 years, 31 days Dec 7, 2020-Present
Joe Sweeney New Hampshire Republican Nov 8, 1993 19 years, 27 days Dec 5, 2012 - Present
Caleb Hanna West Virginia Republican October 29, 1999 19 years, 44 days Dec 1, 2018 - Present The youngest African-American in America to be elected to a state legislature[4]
Jack Uhde Montana Democratic August 27, 1957 19 years, 129 days[2] January 3, 1977 - ?? Youngest member in history of the Montana House of Representatives
Kalan Haywood Wisconsin Democratic June 5, 1999 19 years, 157 days January 2019–present Youngest member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
Jesse Laslovich Montana Democratic October 3, 1980 20 years, 92 days[2] Jan 3, 2001 - Feb 10, 2010
Joseph Stallcop New Hampshire Democratic May 7, 1996 20 years, 214 days Dec 7, 2016 - Aug 6, 2018 Switched party to Libertarian.
Caleb Dyer New Hampshire Republican May 5, 1996 20 years, 216 days Dec 7, 2016 - Present Switched party to Libertarian. The only Libertarian floor leader in the United States.
Amber Mariano Florida Republican Nov 1, 1995 21 years, 32 days[5] Dec 3, 2016 - Present Her father is a county commissioner in Pasco County, Florida.
Patrick J. Kennedy Rhode Island Democratic July 14, 1967 21 years, 171 days Jan 1, 1988 - Jan 3, 1993 Later the youngest member of the House during the 104th Congress.
Drew Christensen Minnesota Republican May 21, 1993 21 years, 230 days Jan 6, 2015 - Present
Tulsi Gabbard Hawaii Democratic Apr 12, 1981 21 years, 234 days 2002-2004 Daughter of Mike Gabbard, who was elected to the Honolulu City Council the same year
Jewell Jones Michigan Democratic Apr 11, 1995 21 years, 265 days[6] Jan 1, 2017 - Present Youngest legislator in Michigan history
Jeramey Anderson Mississippi Democratic Dec 6, 1991 21 years, 355 days Nov 26, 2013 - Present Upon being sworn into the Mississippi House of Representatives, he became youngest African-American state legislator in the United States at the time.
Sherrod Brown Ohio Democratic Nov 9, 1952 22 years, 55 days Jan 3, 1975 - Dec 31, 1982 Later Ohio Secretary of State (1983-1991) and United States Senator from Ohio (2007-present)
Ryan Fecteau Maine Democratic Sep 18, 1992 22 years, 76 days Dec 3, 2014 - Present Fecteau is the youngest openly gay state representative in the United States.
Christina Hagan Ohio Republican Dec 11, 1988 22 years, 81 days Mar 2, 2011 - Present Her father, John Hagan, previously represented the district[7]
Josie Tomkow Florida Republican Oct 15, 1995 22 years, 198 days Jan 2019 - Present Youngest legislator in Florida
Avery Bourne Illinois Republican Nov 30, 1992 22 years, 77 days Feb 15, 2015 - Present Originally appointed to Illinois House of Representatives; elected 2016
Adam Putnam Florida Republican July 31, 1974 22 years, 97 days Nov 5, 1996 - Nov 7, 2000 Later Baby of the House during the 107th Congress and 108th Congress.
Bakari Sellers South Carolina Democratic Sep 18, 1984 22 years, 113 days Jan 9, 2007 - Jan 6, 2015
Will Haskell Connecticut Democratic Jun 28, 1996 22 years, 195 days Jan 2019 - Present Defeated incumbent Republican who had served since before he was born
Lauren Plawecki Michigan Democratic Jan 29, 1994 22 years, 305 days Nov 29, 2016 - Jan 1, 2017 Elected in special election to succeed her mother Julie in the Michigan House of Representatives. She was succeeded by the winner of the general election Jewell Jones.
Josh Svaty Kansas Democratic Nov 7, 1979 23 years, 62 days Jan 8, 2003 - July 14, 2009 Kansas House of Representatives
Ben Cardin Maryland Democratic Oct 5, 1943 23 years, 92 days Jan 5, 1967 - Jan 6, 1987 Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates and later U.S. Representative and United States Senator
Jennifer Sullivan Florida Republican Aug 1, 1991 23 years, 97 days Nov 6, 2014 - Present
Julian Ivey Maryland Democratic Aug 3, 1995 23 years, 169 days Jan 2019 - Present
Aaron Schock Illinois Republican May 28, 1981 23 years, 229 days Jan 12, 2005 - Jan 3, 2009 Later Baby of the House during the 111th Congress and 112th Congress
Corey Mock North Dakota Democratic Feb 17, 1985 23 years, 288 days Dec 1, 2008 - Present Minority Leader of the North Dakota House of Representatives since 2014.
John King[8] Illinois Republican Feb 15, 1927 23 years, 334 days[9] Jan 15, 1951 - Jan 15, 1957 Youngest person elected to Illinois House of Representatives in its history at the time of his election.
James Monroe Virginia Anti-Federalist Apr 28, 1758 23 years, 338 days Apr 1, 1782 - June 1782 Founding Father of the United States and U.S. President
Marilinda Garcia New Hampshire Republican Jan 1, 1983 23 years, 339 days Dec 6, 2006 - Dec 3, 2008 Later served in the New Hampshire House of Representatives from April 29, 2009 to December 2, 2014.
Kylie Oversen North Dakota Democratic Feb 3, 1989 23 years, 340 days Jan 8, 2013 - Dec 5, 2016 Elected Chair of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL at 26, making her the youngest U.S. state party chair at the time.[10]
Greg Jergeson Montana Democratic Dec 29, 1950 24 years, 5 days[2] Jan 3, 1975 - Jan 3, 1980 Later served two additional tenures in the Montana Senate; 1987–2003 and 2013-2015
Romaine Quinn Wisconsin Republican July 30, 1990 24 years, 157 days Jan 3, 2015 - Present Elected Mayor of Rice Lake, Wisconsin at 19.
Corey Parent Vermont Republican Jul 8, 1990 24 years, 183 days Jan 2015-Present Elected to Vermont House of Representatives in 2014; elected to Vermont State Senate in 2018
Emily Cain Maine Democratic Mar 29, 1980 24 years, 278 days Jan 1, 2005 - December 5, 2012 Maine House of Representatives Minority Leader 2008-2010; in 2012 elected to State Senate, served until 2014; currently the executive director of EMILY's List
Calvin Say Hawaii Democratic Feb 1, 1952 24 years, 337 days Jan 3, 1977 - Present Later Speaker of the Hawaii House of Representatives
Cleo Fields Louisiana Democratic Nov 22, 1962 25 years, 40 days Jan 1, 1988 - Jan 1, 1993 Later Baby of the House during the 103rd Congress
Gouverneur Morris New York Federalist Jan 30, 1752 25 years, 222 days Sep 9, 1777 - Jun 30, 1778 Founding Father of the United States and a signatory to the Articles of Confederation and the United States Constitution
James William "Will" Morefield Virginia Republican January 10, 1984 26 years, 2 days Jan 12, 2010 - Present
Abby Finkenauer Iowa Democratic Dec 27, 1988 26 years, 16 days Jan 12, 2015 - Jan 3, 2019 Elected Congresswoman from Iowa's 1st district in 2018.
Jeannie Haddaway Maryland Republican Apr 30, 1977 26 years, 111 days Aug 19, 2003 - Jan 3, 2015
Cedric Richmond Louisiana Democratic Sep 13, 1973 26 years, 119 days Jan 10, 2000 - Jan 3, 2011 Later Congressman from Louisiana's 2nd district (2011-present)
Moira Walsh Rhode Island Democratic Aug 23, 1990 26 years, 133 days Jan 3, 2017 - Present
Greta Neubauer Wisconsin Democratic September 13, 1991 26 years, 136 days Jan 27, 2018 - Present Daughter of former State Representative Jeffrey A. Neubauer
Tricia Cotham North Carolina Democratic Nov 26, 1978 28 years, 116 days Mar 22, 2007 - January 11, 2017 Originally appointed to North Carolina House of Representatives; elected 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014; her mother Pat Cotham serves on the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners.
Kyrsten Sinema Arizona Democratic Jul 12, 1976 28 years, 182 days Jan 10, 2005 - January 3, 2012 Elected to Arizona State House in 2004, in 2010 elected to Arizona State Senate. In 2012, 2014 and 2016 elected to House of Representatives in Arizona 9th District. Elected Senator from Arizona in 2018.
Jay Jones Virginia Democratic June 1, 1986 28 years, 302 days Jan 10, 2018 - Present
Claire McCaskill Missouri Democratic Jul 24, 1953 29 years, 165 days Jan 5, 1983 - February 2, 1988 Later elected Missouri State Auditor in 1998 and 2002; ran unsuccessfully for Governor of Missouri in 2004; elected Senator from Missouri in 2006 and 2012.
Donald Betts Jr Kansas Democratic Feb 8, 1978 24 years, 339 days Jan 13, 2003 - January 12, 2009 Kansas Senate - Previously served in Kansas House of Representatives in 2003, winning Senate seat in a special election. Later ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Congress; first African American to accomplish Juris Doctorate (JD) in Australia.

References
  1. http://www.courant.com/politics/hc-aundre-bumgardner-young-lawmaker-20141117-story.html
  2. Fraser, Jayme (December 5, 2016). "New Montana lawmaker will be the youngest serving state legislator in America". Billings Gazette. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  3. "Tony Labranche". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2021-01-09.
  4. Matthis Johnson, Susan (January 6, 2019). "Youngest black legislator in America ready to get to work for WV". Charleston Gazette-Mail.
  5. https://www.cosmopolitan.com/politics/a12252792/amber-mariano-florida-state-representative/
  6. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/jewell-jones-youngest-black-state-lawmaker-america-n741101
  7. Robert Wang (March 1, 2011). "Christina Hagan to replace Snitchler in 50th". Archived from the original on March 5, 2011. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
  8. King IV, John M.; Dooley, Carylyn K.; King, Mark M.; Rogers, Sally K. (January 20, 2016). "John King 1927-2016". Denver Post. Denver Colorado: Legacy.com. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  9. Howard, Robert (October 15, 1950). "Mrs. O'Neill Favored for State Senate: Fights Hard to Take Barr's Seat". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois – via ProQuest.
  10. Reininga, Ben (2015-03-24). "She Runs The Democratic Party In A Super-Red State (& She's 26)". Refinery29. Retrieved 2015-10-23.

See also
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