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NPR
The next AOC? Young Democrats are aiming to topple incumbents inside their own party
Many members of Congress don't face competitive primaries, but that's not stopping some going after longtime incumbents in safe blue districts. Here's NPR's Elena Moore.
ELENA MOORE, BYLINE: Around the country, a growing group of Democrats in their 20s and 30s are launching campaigns for Congress, and their announcements have a shared theme.
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GEORGE HORNEDO: These do-nothing Democrats? It's time for leadership that puts the people first.
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JAKE RAKOV: Democrats in Washington need backbone, courage, innovation and, yes, some fire in their belly.
MOORE: Their goal - unseating Democratic incumbents in the House of Representatives and replacing them with new voices. California's Jake Rakov is one of those candidates. The 37-year-old political strategist is running to represent the state's 32nd Congressional District, part of Los Angeles County. He's challenging 14-term incumbent Brad Sherman, who Rakov worked for in 2017.
RAKOV: It's not an age thing. I think it's become an age thing just because the people who have been there for so long are now in their 60s, 70s and 80s. I would love to go back and ask him at 40, do you think you'll still be doing this at 70? And I'd love to hear that answer 'cause I - honestly, I don't think he would say yes.
Listen to the full story or read the transcript here.