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Joe Vogel and Jeffrie Long Jr. became the first members of Gen Z elected to the Maryland General Assembly this month.
Vogel, a 25-year-old political activist, immigrated from Uruguay to Rockville as a toddler. He鈥檚 gay, Jewish and Latino, and each of those aspects of his identity shape his perspective.
Starting in January, the Democrat will represent the people of Montgomery County鈥檚 Rockville and Gaithersburg in Annapolis alongside incumbent state Dels. Kumar Barve (D) and Julie Palakovich Carr (D).
Vogel said he decided to run for office to give back to the community in which he grew up. He said he鈥檚 determined to make resources more accessible for everyone.
鈥淲e live in a community and a state where a lot of people are doing really well, but a lot of people are being left behind,鈥� he said.聽
Maryland has some of the best hospitals and research facilities in the country, he said, but not all residents can afford health care. It鈥檚 the same with education 鈥斅燤ontgomery and Howard counties are known for their public schools, yet other areas in the state struggle.
Vogel said his priorities for the legislative session will be related to education, mental health and addressing hate crimes.
He鈥檒l come to Annapolis with some political experience, having worked on campaigns for presidential candidates like Joe Biden, Cory Booker and Hillary Clinton.
State Sen. Cheryl Kagan (D-Montgomery), who represents the same district, recruited Vogel to run for office 鈥斅爐he two have worked closely together since 2014, when he aided her campaign.
Even though Vogel was 鈥減retty likely鈥� to win in November after getting through the July primary, according to Kagan, he dedicated his time to engaging volunteers and canvassing for other Democratic candidates like U.S. Rep. David Trone, who narrowly won Maryland鈥檚 most competitive U.S. House race in its 6th congressional district.
鈥淚鈥檝e always found him to be smart, hard working and collaborative,鈥� Kagan said.
Vogel graduated from Harvard University with a master鈥檚 degree in public policy earlier this year, and from George Washington University with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in political science and government in 2018.
Long ran for office to help his community and because he saw an opportunity for a young person of color with 鈥渮eal,鈥� 鈥減assion鈥� and 鈥渢enacity鈥� to earn a seat at the table. He turned 26 on Nov. 12, four days after the general election.
A Brandywine resident, Long in the general election ran unopposed in District 27B, which covers portions of Prince George鈥檚 and Calvert counties.
Long brings a plethora of political experience through his work as the legislative director for then-state Del. Michael Jackson (D) 鈥斅爊ow a state senator 鈥斅燼nd state. Sen. Joanne Benson (D) of District 24. He was also a legislative aide for late Senate President Mike Miller (D).
As a result, he鈥檚 familiar with the legislative process as well as constituents and their needs, seeing as Jackson and Miller both represented District 27.聽He鈥檚 also the senior pastor of Communion Church in Prince Frederick.
To win his seat, Long defeated Del. Rachel Jones in the Democratic primary, 54.33% to 40.34%. Jones had been聽聽in February 2021 after Jackson was elevated to the state Senate to replace Miller.
Long plans to spend his first year in Annapolis advocating for bills on infrastructure, transportation and housing in addition to forming relationships with his colleagues. He said he鈥檚 also interested in protecting the environment, strengthening school systems and equity.
鈥淚 recognize I don鈥檛 just go in for myself, but the 40,000 people in my constituency that I will represent in my constituency,鈥� Long said. 鈥淭o be able to carry that banner, and to carry it proudly, is a very surreal feeling.鈥�
Long graduated from Liberty University with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in clinical psychology.
State Sen. Sarah Elfreth (D-Anne Arundel) made history in 2018 when she became the youngest woman elected to the Maryland Senate at age 30.
She said there鈥檚 a 鈥渄efinite strength鈥� in having age diversity in the state legislature because it brings about different perspectives and experiences.
鈥淭he whole point of the General Assembly is to have a representative body,鈥� Elfreth said.
Political experts predicted a red wave nationally for the midterm elections. But that didn鈥檛 materialize thanks in part to young voters.
Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison and other Democratic state leaders聽聽last month targeting college voters at the University of Maryland. Speakers included Gov.-elect Wes Moore, Comptroller-elect Brooke Lierman and U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen.
鈥淲e are the buffer. We are the firewall that saved democracy,鈥� Long said.
