Pulling a brutal all-nighter inspired this Gen Zer to run for office
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In 2022, we’re witnessing the first wave of Gen -Z candidates running for Congress. But we’re also seeing the first wave of Zoomers running for state and local offices to effect change in their own backyards. Chegg Life sat down with a series of candidates under 30 who will be on the ballot this November. We asked them about the problems they’re running to fix, the importance of local politics, and cynicism among young voters. View the whole series here.
Nabeela Syed was in high school in Palatine, Illinois, during the 2016 election. As the editor in chief of her school newspaper, she was assigned to write the front-page story for a Trump victory, while her co-editor wrote the story for Clinton. Like many, she thought it was unlikely that Trump would win — so she didn’t write a word. Once the votes were counted, she spent a miserable all-nighter writing through tears.
As a young Muslim, Indian-American woman, Trump’s rhetoric was personal to Syed, now 23. So, after graduating with a political science degree from the University of California at Berkeley, she noticed several far-right candidates who mimicked his talking points were running for school board in her hometown. She sprung into action, managing campaigns for progressive candidates. They won, and she never looked back — her political career had begun.
In 2022, she crushed her opponent in the Democratic primary for state house in Illinois’s District 51 with over 72% of the vote. In November, she will face a Republican incumbent, with hopes of flipping her district blue.
How did you become interested in politics and government?
The turning point for me was Trump’s presidency, as it was for a lot of people. It really scared me. It made me feel that this country was not welcoming of me despite the fact that I was born and raised here and don’t know any other country. Just feeling like people in this country didn’t like me. That was when I decided: We need to force ourselves into political spaces. I have just as much of a right to be involved in politics, to advocate for things that affect me.
When did you decide to run for office?
During the pandemic, and the unrest after the death of George Floyd, I managed school board races for my high school district. Students were upset about the lack of culturally responsive curriculum and mental health services. I helped manage campaigns for three incredible candidates, who were up against conservatives talking like there wasn’t a virus, talking about getting kids back in school immediately, with no regard for science, echoing Trump’s rhetoric. Seeing that kind of leadership feel so emboldened to run in my hometown was really scary. We won those races, and then in April of 2021, I was looking for someone else's race to support. My friends and family were like “Why don’t you just do it? Why don’t you run?”
What has it been like running as a young person?
The most common response to my age is excitement, people saying, “We need young blood in office. We need new leadership. We need young people who are excited to take bold action. That was surprising because so many people tell you that age is an obstacle. But the reception of people at their doors and at the polls has been really welcoming. Then there are some people who need to be convinced, but I understand that because voters need to be as informed as possible.
Have you had people criticize your age or your choice to run?
Definitely. We had robo calls sent out about my age, how young I am, whether or not I have the experience to take on a Republican in the general. I primaried another Democrat, and we are in a suburban community that has been represented by Republicans. So there has been some: “Oh, can a young woman of color have enough appeal to voters?”
Some people did tell me: You cannot get older white people to vote for you. And I was like, “I don't know what you're talking about. Because when I go to the doors, this demographic is very excited about my candidacy. They're giving me high fives; they're giving me fist bumps or patting me on the back.” Because they are excited about me showing up at their door and asking for their support and asking about what issues matter to them, asking about what their day-to-day life looks like, and how we can help. There were times where I was like, “Are these people just being nice to me because I’m young?” But I think when we won with 72% of the vote and got over 7,000 votes, it became clear that our message was resonating.
So there has been some ageist sentiment. But those people were in the minority. And that was more early on. I think it’s become clear that this is a serious campaign, and we are doing the work it takes to flip a district blue.
While Gen Zers are generally politically engaged, some are still cynical or just exhausted with politics. What would you say to them?
I understand being cynical. It’s not fair to young people to brush that concern aside. Change in the government is a lot slower than we'd like it to be. But there’s a reason why Illinois has great access to reproductive health care. There's a reason so many people are coming to our state seeking health care. It’s because we voted in leadership into office who will stand up for the right to choose. I do believe that the Democratic Party needs to work a lot harder to engage and excite young voters. It’s frustrating for young people to keep seeing nothing done about gun violence. But I’m optimistic.
What has been the most challenging moment on the campaign trail?
Fundraising is often the most challenging aspect for any campaign. Frankly, a huge obstacle for young people running is always going to be fundraising. No matter how great of a message you have, no matter what endorsements you get, what kind of support you have, you need to be able to communicate that message.
Young people don’t have access to a network of folks who will rally behind you. My friends aren’t rich. It’s not like everyone has a lot of money to go around, especially when there are so many important races up and down the ballot. I've been fortunate to have been trusted by the many people who’ve donated to this campaign. Fundraising is not an easy task. And sending those emails is not fun for me. We don’t do it weekly, just every now and then. Young candidates are viable if you put in the work to support them. It’s easy to cast young candidates aside if you’re unwilling to donate to them or dedicate time and energy to volunteer for them. But if you do it, of course, the candidate and the campaign will not be viable. That’s how we got 72% of the vote in a primary, where people did not think we would even get 10%.
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