He can’t buy a beer or rent a car, but 19-year-old John Tyler Hammons can run for Mayor of Muskogee, Oklahoma (and WIN!). With all the talk of record youth turnout this primary season, Hammons’ victory for mayor shows that young people are paying attention to politics and participating in the political process more than ever before. Hammons didn’t just squeak by–he won every single district of the city, something unprecedented in a Muskogee mayoral race. His platform of having a more transparent government and keeping citizens better informed of city operations resonated with voters, who gave him 70-percent of the vote against former Mayor Hershel Ray McBride. On CNN this morning, Hammons said he wanted to build a network of young elected officials who could use each other as a support system. His story should inspire more young people to run for office and make a real difference in their communities.

Other posts by Adam Fogel

• Pawlenty Vetoes Automatic Registration Bill - May 22nd, 2009
• One in Four Military Voters Disenfranchised - May 13th, 2009
• DC Vote Advocate Jack Kemp Passes Away - May 4th, 2009
• Ohio SoS Releases Elections Report - April 22nd, 2009
• On Emancipation Day, No Democracy in D.C. - April 16th, 2009
• Growing Chorus for Voter Registration Modernization - March 20th, 2009
• Rep. Jackson Reintroduces RTV Amendment - March 11th, 2009
• Taxation Without Representation Alive and Well in D.C. - March 6th, 2009
• Call Your Senator for DC Voting Rights Today! - February 23rd, 2009
• OH SoS Throws Hat in the Ring for U.S. Senate - February 18th, 2009