Young, Loud, and Leading: Monroe County Joins the Youth-Led Democratic Revolution

Rochester, NY — This past week, members of the Monroe County Young Democrats (MCYD) joined a powerhouse New York State delegation at the 2025 Young Democrats of America (YDA) National Convention. They are demonstrating that young Democrats are not waiting; they are joining the frontlines.

Held in Philadelphia, the birthplace of American democracy, the convention brought together hundreds of young Democrats from across the country for four days of strategy, training, and grassroots mobilization. Far from the “kiddie table,” the gathering featured prominent

Democratic leaders including DNC Vice Chair Malcolm Kenyatta, Former Congressman Beto O’Rourke, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, and American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten. Each drove home the same point: young people are essential to the future of the party and the future of the country.

Across every speech and session, the message was clear: organize, mobilize, and run. Young Democrats aren’t just volunteers—they’re candidates, policymakers, and power brokers. New York’s delegation—one of the largest and most diverse in the country—represented voices from both urban neighborhoods and rural communities. Members of the New York State Assembly joined the delegation in a strong display of support for youth leadership. In a significant win for the state, Stephanie Campanha-Wheaton, a New York State Young Democrat, was re-elected to serve as one of YDA’s representatives to the Democratic National Committee, reaffirming New York’s national influence in youth politics.

“From the Bronx to the North Country to Buffalo, this year’s New York delegation proved yet again why it’s such an honor to lead the NYS Young Dems,” said Jovan C.

Richards, President of the New York State Young Democrats and Chair of the 2025 YDA National Convention;

“We showed up with power and purpose—welcoming delegates from our newest chapters and standing shoulder to shoulder as one of the most energized, organized, and diverse delegations in the country. Hearing Democrats of all ages and backgrounds speak to the promise and importance of young people didn’t just validate our work—it fueled it. We’re leaving Philadelphia more committed than ever to building in every corner of New York, and to helping drive this movement forward in all 50 states.”

MCYD delegates took part in organizer trainings, caucus elections, key convention committees, and policy workshops to bring back new tools and momentum to Monroe County as they prepare for the 2026 elections and beyond.

“Over the last two years, MCYD has pulled up our seat at the local and state table—this week, we brought it to the national table,” said Nayeliz Santiago, President of the Monroe County Young Democrats.

“We’ve been organizing on the ground, building bridges across generations and communities, and establishing our bench of young Democratic leaders. Now, we’re calling on more young people to get involved and help shape what comes next—and we’re asking our elders not just to support us in spirit, but to invest in us. We are not the future—we are the now.”

The Young Democrats of America is the nation’s largest youth-led partisan political organization. The 2025 convention marked a turning point: a moment where the next generation didn’t just show up—they showed what Democratic leadership looks like.