As Democrats struggled to recover from November’s losses, there was an uncomfortable problem in California, which has long brought trends to the party.
Are their leaders too old?
Some party activists have pointed out several examples, saying leaders have been in power for a long time and they want to take political keys away from state and local office holders at a certain age.
The idea was initiated by the San Francisco Democrats in the resolution, which will take into account its scope when the party holds its convention later this month. Although this is largely a symbolic pursuit, the fact that in a place known for its respect for its elderly leaders is a fact that is worthy of attention.
California is the state of Dianne Feinstein, who died in 2023 while serving at the age of 90. It is also the home of Jerry Brown, who served as governor for two terms in the 1970s. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 85 years old; former House Speaker Barbara Lee was elected 78-year-old mayor of Oakland last month.
Not all of these leaders have raised concerns, and some have achieved significant later on, bringing the engaging perseverance brought by experience.
However, many Democrats still regret Senator Feinstein’s position as major health issues become obvious and have raised questions about her ability to focus and make decisions.
They also recalled the decision of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to not resign when President Barack Obama took office. She died late in the first term of President Trump at the age of 87, giving him the opportunity to replace her with conservative justice.
But last year, former President Joseph R. Biden raised the latest status on the issue last year when he was on the 81-year-old campaign. Many Democrats think he had waited too long before surrendering, robbed the Time Party to defeat Mr. Trump with an effective effort.
“We can't act like we don't happen, and we won't change it as a result,” San Francisco Democrat Eric Kingsbury said of Mr. Biden's decline. “Everyone sees it with their own eyes, and a lot of people tell them what they see is not the truth.”
Mr. Kingsbury, 36, is a member of the lesser-known but locally powerful San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee. He said he wrote the resolution in a direct response to Mr. Biden’s game, and some Democrats were reluctant to even discuss how to clear the way for young candidates.
His resolution calls for the exploration of mandatory retirement age for all elected and appointed leaders at the state and local levels, but without the federal government (such as Congress). It is worth noting that it does not specify a specific age.
The proposal passed last month, but only after a fierce conversation. Some opponents pointed out that Sen. Bernie Sanders, 83, from Vermont, is one of the few leaders currently active for the left.
“It's offensive,” said Connie Chan, 46, of the San Francisco Supervisory Board and local party committee. “It's age discrimination. It's discrimination against experienced people.”
The resolution will be among hundreds of items that the California Democrats consider at its convention this month, but may not go far. Even so, state laws passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor will be adopted to impose age restrictions.
If it does come true, California would be the first state to force state and local politicians to retire at a certain age. Thirty-one states (but not California) force judges to retire. The most common cutoff is 70, although Vermont allows judges to serve until the age of 90.
Age is not only a worry of democracy. Last year, voters in North Dakota, a Republican-led state, approved a measure that prohibits candidates from running for Congress if they turn 81 or older by the end of the year before the end of the term. But the measure does not affect state and local office holders, and if the eighty-year-old candidate filed a lawsuit, it is likely to face legal challenges.
In 2023, Republicans attracted attention when Republican leader Mitch McConnell asked a question at a press conference when he was 81.
There are already some federal policies that require mandatory retirement and a career that needs to be focused on. Airline pilots must retire at the age of 65, air traffic controllers must usually retire at the age of 56, and officers must usually retire at the age of 64.
Of course, people at the top of the federal administration do not have retirement age. Despite the heavy emphasis on Mr. Biden last year, many Democrats were quick to point out that Mr. Trump would be 82 at the end of his term.
“The age of Donald Trump should be paid attention to,” said Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener, who believes the president has caused damage to the economy and international relations. He recently abstained from voting on the Central Committee on the age solution.
Outside California, David Hogg, a 25-year-old political activist who survived the 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Florida, now vice chairman of the Democratic National Committee, said the Democratic Party must remove the “culture of qualifications”. Through a leader we deserve, through a separate organization, he promised to spend $20 million to support young leading candidates against older, deeply ingrained Democrats.
Ro Khanna, 48, a California Democratic representative, has long urged political generations and praised 80-year-old Sen. Dick Durbin, an 80-year-old, for his recent decision not to seek another term.
Americans seem to support the idea of office holders’ mandatory retirement age. A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center from a 2023 survey found that before Biden's age-related difficulties became clear, it found that 79% of Americans favored the age limit for elected officials in Washington, while 74% favored the Supreme Court justice.
Some Northern California residents say that while they recognize the deliciousness of the topic, the mandatory retirement age may make sense. Marcelle Maldonado, a 67-year-old retiree in Dickson, California, said she believes politicians should retire 65 or 70 people in order to make room for those with “fresh eyes and fresh ears.” But she was not optimistic that such a mandate would be passed because the politicians themselves had to approve the task.
In Oakland, Nicole Barratt, a 30-year-old employee of a plant store, said she found it strange that many professions require people to retire before they are 65, but the country's leaders do not have such rules.
“They became very isolated after a long term,” she said.
Several politicians over the age of 70 did not return requests for comment. Among them are Ms. Lee, who will be sworn in as mayor of Oakland later this month, and Antonio Villaraigosa, 72, a former mayor of Los Angeles who runs for California governor in the 2026 competition.
John Burton, a former San Francisco congressman who resigned as chairman of the California Democratic Party eight years ago, said he didn't like the idea of term limits or age limits. He respects his mature concept.
“Jesus, don't call me an older politician,” he complained in a thorny style. “I’ve never heard of it for describing me.”
He is 92.
John Laird, a 75-year-old state senator for Santa Cruz, said the idea of age restriction was “arbitrary and stupid” that he felt clearer and more dedicated than he was elected to the 31-year-old Santa Cruz City Council.
He added that California’s term limits help resolve the issue. He will be called him when he is 78 years old.
He smiled and said, “My staff told me what to say when you call on the field day.” “'Wait, I can't hear you!” and “Wait, my cardiologist is in another line!”
If any legislation that passes the age cap will go to the desk of 57-year-old Gavin Newsom – who is not a big fan. He said politicians need “the qualities of young people,” such as imagination and clarity, but these attributes have not declined among everyone's peers.
“We all deal with life physically and emotionally, and it’s different,” he said.
Some Democrats have observed that if California tries to impose age restrictions on members of Congress, Ms. Pelosi will not serve as a speaker for a second time, nor will shed her influence as a congresswoman. Last year, her actions were prompting President Biden to leave the 2024 game.
Last month, the San Francisco Central Committee decided to vote with 15 votes, eight oppositions and eight abstentions.
One committee member may be stronger than others.
Ms. Pelosi voted on the age limit through representatives. She hasn't said whether she will run another semester next year.
Coral Murphy Marcos Reports from Oakland, California.
