RU Ready
A civic engagement initiative, the mission of RU Ready is to provide students with the motivation and the civic, political, and expressive tools they need to address public problems in their community.
Learn MoreYoung Elected Leaders Project
Launched in 2002 with funding from the Pew Charitable Trusts, the Young Elected Leaders Project (YELP) studies and works with young people who run for or hold public office. We provide unique insight into youth representation in U.S. political institutions and study young leaders’ experiences in public office.
Visit our current Congressional Dashboard tracking age in the 119th Congress
About the Young Elected Leaders Project
The Young Elected Leaders Project team is currenty led by:
- Dr. Elizabeth Matto, Research Professor and Acting Director of Eagleton’s Center for Youth Political Participation.
- George Quinn, Lead Graduate Research Assistant – YELP Data and Development
- Shannon DelGuerico, Undergraduate Research Assistant – Social Media
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Data
Enter our Data Page
YELP collects data on young people in politics at federal, state, and local level and provides analyses on the age, gender, and racial composition of political bodies in the U.S. Learn more about youth representation on our Data page or follow the links below.
Presidents as Young Elected Leaders
Even the Presidents of the United States had to start somewhere. Check out past Presidents as Young Elected Leaders.
Original Report: Political Generation Next
After its launch in 2002, the Young Elected Leaders Project collected data on young elected officials throughout the United States and conducted surveys about their background and leadership experience. In May 2003, young elected leaders (age 35 and younger) were invited to the Eagleton Institute of Politics for a conference on young people serving in office. In 2004, Ruth B. Mandel and Katherine E. Kleeman published the project’s findings in the report titled “Political Generation Next”. The full report can be downloaded here. The key findings of the report are summarized below.
Research Opportunities with Young Elected Leaders Project
We are hiring for two undergraduate intern roles to join the Young Elected Leaders Project, with start dates in Spring 2026. Click here for more information about applying.
RU Running Political Campaign Training
The Young Elected Leaders Project was proud to host RU running in spring 2025. We look forward to hosting RU running again in Spring 2026.
For more information on RU Running? Political Campaign Training, contact jronan@eagleton.rutgers.edu