Justice Horn wants his generation to continue the undertaking of social change.
Horn is running for a seat on the Jackson County Legislature. A win would make him the first Black representative of the county's first district.
Noting that he is often the youngest person in the room, Horn wants to see more activists in his generation at the table when making local policy decisions.
From gun policy to LGBTQ issues to a looming climate crisis "we have to step up to be advocates," Horn said. "And I think the best place to get that start is through local office."
Faith Rivera is running to unseat first-term Rep. Aaron Coleman in Kansas' 37th district. Coleman has had a string of accusations and police charges since coming to the statehouse.
"He doesn't represent my district or my community or Kansas," Rivera said of the state legislator.
Rivera said she got into politics because she wanted to "push back" against the treatment of Wyandotte County residents.
Seeing young activists like Horn getting into politics is "crucial and exciting," for Rivera.
Many young leaders have rallied communities members to take to the streets to demand change and Horn wants his peers to take the next step.
"Not only organizing and being a part of the process but actually having positional power," he said.
"If you see someone step up who’s young, support them, and if you don’t see anyone like you, run," Horn said in a December call to action.
- Justice Horn, candidate for Jackson County Legislature, District 1
- Faith Rivera, candidate for Kansas State Representative, 37th district
