The Next 50's 2024 Impact Report
Looking back on our impact over the last two years — and ahead to the future!
A Note from the Authors
The urgency of our mission has never been more clear: After the 2024 election, only 4 Democratic senators are under the age of 50, compared to 8 Republicans—a leadership gap that widens each cycle. In the House, 39 members are 75 or older. 70% of them are Democrats, who outnumber their Republican counterparts by nearly a 3:1 margin. Among those aged 80 and older, the gap is even wider: 12 Democrats to just 3 Republicans.
This report marks both a reflection on our journey and a roadmap for the critical work ahead. As we relaunch The Next 50's newsletter on Substack, we're recommitting to our founding vision: identifying, supporting, and electing the next generation of leaders who can win in competitive districts and build lasting political power.
Since our founding in 2019, we've evolved from a promising idea into a proven political force, helping to elect 68% of our endorsed candidates and raising over $12 million to support their campaigns. What began as a small network of concerned donors and activists has grown into a strong pipeline for developing next-generation leaders and helping them win, govern, and thrive.
The 2023-2024 cycle tested our model in a challenging political environment, and our results speak for themselves. With a 70% win rate across our 50 endorsed races— including two U.S. Senate victories in Trump-won states and critical state legislative wins that came down to just dozens of votes—we've demonstrated that investing in talented young leaders who fit their districts is essential for our future.
As we look toward 2025-2026 and beyond, we invite you to join us in this vital work. Thank you for following our journey and supporting our efforts to build a stronger bench and elect new leaders who will shape the next 50 years of American politics.
Zak Malamed, TN50 Board Chair & Zach Wahls, TN50 Executive Director
The Next 50’s Mission and Accomplishments
The mission of The Next 50 (TN50) is to build a stronger bench by supporting a diverse group of next-generation leaders running in competitive districts and states. Since our founding in 2019, we have raised over $12M to support these talented candidates and elected officials. Each cycle, we identify and endorse fifty talented, up-and-coming elected officials and candidates, providing them with direct financial support, raising additional funds from our donor network, and offering exclusive leadership development and peer mentorship opportunities. Over the past three cycles, we have achieved a 68% win rate and played an instrumental role in winning some of the closest state legislative and congressional races in the United States.
We Need a Stronger Bench Now More Than Ever
For decades, the far-right conservative movement has made significant investments in supporting their young leaders. You may not have heard of these organizations, but you know their alumni: Mitch McConnell, Karl Rove, Mike Pence, Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, Candace Owens, Charlie Kirk—and most recently—JD Vance.
Conservative investment in bench building has resulted in the GOP's over-representation among young leaders in Congress, and this especially acute in the U.S. Senate, where there are eight Republican Senators under the age of 50 and only four Democratic Senators under the age of 50 – and three of those four were just elected in 2024.
Next Generation Leaders are crucial for the future of political engagement because they:
Speak directly to young voters: They understand the language and communication styles that resonate with younger generations, fostering a sense of connection and trust.
Are social media natives: They have grown up with social media and digital platforms, allowing them to effectively leverage these tools to reach and engage young voters where they spend their time.
Have shared lived experiences: They often come from similar backgrounds and have faced similar challenges as the young people they seek to engage, creating a sense of shared identity and understanding.
Connect with voters on policy issues that matter to them: They are able to articulate policy positions in a way that is relatable and relevant to young voters, demonstrating a deep understanding of the issues that impact their lives.
Bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas: They challenge the status quo and offer new solutions to longstanding problems, inspiring hope and excitement for the future.
Mobilize and organize grassroots support: They energize and empower young people to take action and get involved in the political process, creating a powerful force for change.
Hold established leaders accountable: They demand transparency, integrity, and action from those in power, ensuring that the voices and concerns of young people are heard and addressed.
Our Approach: Building a Stronger Bench
Identify next-generation leaders running in competitive districts and states
Help elect these next-generation leaders with $10,000+ directly from The Next 50 PAC and soliciting additional support from our national network of donors
Support next-generation leaders after they win with our Civic Leadership Development Program to help them govern and lead
Our Success in 2024… By the Numbers
While 2024 was a difficult cycle for Democrats across the country, we are very proud of our accomplishments last year in a difficult political environment:
70% win rate, winning 35 of 50 endorsed races
20% of winning leaders won by fewer than 1,000 votes
Average winning margin of just 2.98%
One leader—Iowa Senator Sarah Trone Garriott—won by only 29 votes (0.07% margin)
Raised over $4.1 million to support next-generation leaders
100% of funds raised by The Next 50’s PAC were donated directly to endorsed next-generation leaders, not on overhead costs
Our Success in 2024… Game-Changing Wins
U.S. Senate
Endorsed the only two non-incumbents to win Trump-won states: Senators
Ruben Gallego (Arizona) and Elissa Slotkin (Michigan).
U.S. House
Maintained three competitive seats with incumbent Representatives Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Gabe Vasquez, and Jared Golden.
Flipped two red-to-blue seats with Representatives Janelle Bynum and Shomari Figures. (Only three Democratic candidates flipped House seats outside of New York and California, and Janelle and Shomari were two of them.)
State-Level Impact
Broke the Republican control of the Alaska State House to empower a multi-partisan coalition with Rep. Maxine Dibert and Rep. Robyn Burke
Ended the GOP's State House Supermajority in North Carolina with Rep. Dante Pittman
Also in North Carolina, TN50 Leader Jeff Jackson maintained Democratic control of the NC Attorney General’s office
Elected Michigan Supreme Court Justice Kyra Harris Bolden, cementing a 5-2 majority
In Wisconsin, Assembly Democratic Leader Greta Neubauer, a TN50 Leader, led her caucus in flipping 10 seats in the Assembly and putting her caucus in striking distance to win the majority in 2026.
Iowa State Senator and TN50 Leader Sarah Trone Garriott won the closest race in the state, prevailing in a recount by only 29 votes, bringing Iowa Senate Democrats within one seat of breaking the GOP Supermajority in 2026.
Lessons Learned from Our Winning Leaders
After the dust settled on the 2023-2024 cycle, we led a series of debrief conversations with our winning leaders to hear directly from them about what made the difference in their elections. While every race is different, several themes emerged from those conversations. Above all else, what is clear to us is that in today’s digital age, with omnipresent smartphones and a fractured media environment, candidate quality and fitting your district are more important than ever. Additionally, candidates who outperformed the top of the ticket shared these three qualities:
Perceived pragmatism was crucial to success
TN50 Leaders US Representatives Janelle Bynum (OR-05) and Shomari Figures (AL-02) both campaigned as moderate leaders who fit their districts and represented two of the three US House red-to-blue flips outside of New York and California
Winning State Legislative candidates found issues to campaign on that won broad appeal across the political spectrum
Meet voters where they are, both online and offline
The Right is winning the online information war; winning leaders were willing to venture into hostile territory to effectively engage a fractured media environment
Personal voter contact remains essential, from door-knocking to visiting remote communities
Effectively used social media platforms to engage voters and reach persuadable targets
Winning leaders distanced themselves from a broken Democratic brand
Over 70% of TN50 2024 winners won in Trump-carried states or districts by creating distance from the Democratic establishment
Successful candidates focused on local priorities and pragmatic solutions
“The Next 50's support of young leaders is about creating electoral majorities and building long-term power for our communities.”
- US Senator Ruben Gallego, TN50 Leader (2022)
“A Sense of Urgency” — What’s Next for The Next 50 in 2025-2026
Following the 2023-2024 cycle and the election of Donald Trump as the 47th President, we know our mission is more urgent and important than ever. The Democratic Party desperately needs to embrace a new generation of leaders with the ability to reach new voters, win close races, and take on our biggest challenges.
Our Urgent Mission
As an organization, we emphasize “a sense of urgency” when it comes to the importance of rapidly scaling our efforts to support these leaders and emerging leaders across the country. The 2024 election results demonstrated a clear pattern: where next-generation leaders ran authentic campaigns focused on local issues, Democrats outperformed. With 20% of our winning leaders prevailing by fewer than 1,000 votes, we know that our targeted approach makes a real difference in close races.
Building on our 70% win rate in 2024 and the $4+ million we invested in next-generation leaders, we will continue to rapidly expand our investments while working to build a sustainable infrastructure that can match the Right's work in this space dollar-for-dollar over the long run.
In order to support these leaders, The Next 50 will continue to grow and strengthen as an organization in pursuit of these priorities:
Strategic Priorities for 2025-2026
In order to support these leaders, The Next 50 will continue to grow and strengthen as an organization in pursuit of these priorities:
1. Building a Stronger Bench to Win Now and in the Future
Strengthen our endorsement pipeline with fifty more endorsements in the 2025-2026 cycle
Expand our work in key battleground states like Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Arizona, and Georgia where next-generation leaders can make the most impact
Deepen our focus on candidates who fit their districts and have a demonstrated ability to connect with voters across the political spectrum
2. Growing Financial Support and Infrastructure
Scale our direct financial support from $4.1 million in 2023-2024 to a target of $6 million+ for the 2025-2026 cycle
Develop our regional fundraising networks to connect local donors directly with candidates in their areas
3. Expanding our Civic Leadership Development Program
Host our next Civic Leadership Summit in Washington DC (November 2025) as we expand our partnership with NewDEAL Leaders, working together to assemble over 100 next-generation elected officials from across the U.S.
Create peer mentorship networks connecting experienced leaders with first-time officeholders
The Bench Doesn't Build Itself — Join Our Movement!
The mission to build a stronger Democratic bench is not just about winning elections—it's about creating a new generation of leaders who can effectively govern and deliver results for their communities. As Senator Ruben Gallego, a TN50 Leader, noted: "The Next 50's support of young leaders is about creating electoral majorities and building long-term power for our communities."
How You Can Make a Difference
The Next 50 PAC
Direct Candidate Support: 100% of your contribution goes directly to endorsed candidates, thanks to generous operational donor who cover our overhead
Early Investment Impact: $5,000 maximum contribution per calendar year ($10,000 for the 2025-2026 cycle)
Early Investment is Smart Investment: Contributions made this year have the greatest impact in helping candidates build momentum and sustainable, on-the-ground organizations
The Next 50 Action
Talent Pipeline: Help us identify and support promising candidates in key districts
Research & Analysis: Fund our work to identify districts where next-generation leaders can win
Leadership Development: Support our training programs for the next generation of leaders
The Next 50 Foundation
Long-term Investment: Support our work to build a sustainable infrastructure for progressive leadership
Civic Leadership Development Program: Fund leadership development for newly elected officials
Knowledge Sharing: Help us source and share best practices from successful campaigns
Success Stories: The Impact of Your Support
Jeff Jackson (North Carolina Attorney General) received support from The Next 50 in back-to-back cycles, and won a close race in North Carolina to maintain Democratic control of this essential office. Attorney General Jackson has emerged as one of the best next-generation communicators on social media platforms.
Sarah Trone Garriott (Iowa State Senate) won by just 29 votes, a victory that brings Iowa Senate Democrats within one seat of breaking the GOP supermajority. Our support helped fund her robust voter contact program that made the difference in this nail-biter race.
Maxine Dibert and Robyn Burke (Alaska State House) helped break Republican control of the Alaska State House, demonstrating how next-generation leaders can build multi-partisan coalitions to govern effectively.
Support Our Work
Ready to help build the bench? Visit thenext50.us/donate to make a contribution or contact us at info@thenext50.us to learn more about how you can support our work.
Follow our journey: Connect with us on social media @TheNext50US on most major social media platforms to stay updated on our leaders' progress and upcoming events.