Factually! with Adam Conover Let’s Replace Our Elderly Politicians, with Amanda Litman
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Nov 12, 2025 
Amanda Litman, co-founder of Run For Something and author of "When We're in Charge," dives into the pressing issues of aging politicians in the U.S. She reveals why long-tenured officials resist stepping down and how this impacts policy representation. Amanda outlines the challenges young candidates face, like fundraising hurdles and online scrutiny. They discuss the priorities of younger leaders, such as housing and mental health, and the importance of winning local offices to foster lasting political change.
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Why Incumbents Cling To Power
- Long-serving politicians have strong incentives to stay in power because the job provides identity, benefits, and influence.
- Those structural incentives, like seniority systems, block generational turnover and preserve older leadership.
Our Legislatures Are Much Older Than The Public
- Average ages in legislatures skew old: mid-to-late 50s in the House, low 60s in the Senate, and similar at local levels.
- That demographic skew shapes policy because lawmakers lack lived experience of younger peoples' problems.
Running Is Economically Exclusionary
- Running for many offices requires quitting your job or maintaining two homes and heavy travel, making campaigns costly and exclusionary.
- High costs push out everyone except the independently wealthy or those with wealthy networks.
