At 14 years old, young Dean Roy from the state of Vermont in the United States has become the youngest candidate for governor in the region’s history. He announced his candidacy for the November elections, although he is not necessarily expecting to win.
In an interview with the Associated Press, he expressed a desire to “start a movement” and encourage American youth to get involved in politics. To challenge the American two-party system, Dean Roy has decided to create his own party called “Freedom and Unity,” guaranteeing him a place in the election.
Very critical of politicians
“I know it may seem crazy for a 14-year-old to run for governor, but honestly, look at who’s in charge right now,” Roy declared in a post on his campaign’s Instagram page. “They’ve been in power for an eternity, and it’s still not working.”
Interestingly, nothing prevents a minor from running for governor in Vermont, as it is the only state in the US without an age limit. Most states require candidates to be at least 30 years old, but not all.
Those who have left the door open to youth have often quickly closed it to avoid “joke” candidacies. In Kansas, legislators introduced a requirement in 2018 for gubernatorial candidates to be at least 25 years old after six teenagers ran for office.
Even though he is not yet taken seriously by other candidates, Dean Roy has made the effort to work on his platform and believes that the greatest issue affecting his fellow citizens is housing and the cost of living.
“If I can make people believe that I represent a threat to them, then I will know that I have succeeded,” he concluded. “Because what I want is to show them that young people have a voice. We are going to make things happen. The future is now.”
