High school student founds campaign for a New Jersey Gubernatorial Youth Council

by Taylor Lorenz - 09/26/17 4:22 PM ET

James Wellemeyer, a senior at the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey, is on a mission to give young people more of a voice in politics.

It all began last spring when Wellemeyer, an avid news consumer, began to feel like he and his fellow teens were being misrepresented in the media. He said that news programs frequently made it seem like young people don’t care about politics, but in fact, he and many of his peers care deeply, they just didn’t have the opportunities to get involved.

Wellemeyer decided to create an initiative called the New Jersey Gubernatorial Youth Council and quickly set to work setting up a website, social media presence and rallying support. The council, made up of teenagers from across the state representing each of New Jersey’s congressional districts, hopes to advise the governor on policy relating to those who cannot yet vote.

“Many other young people around New Jersey do not know enough about politics to get involved or even get informed,” Wellemeyer said. “My hope is that the New Jersey Gubernatorial Youth Council will inspire and help more young people from all around the state to get involved and will give all New Jersey youth a voice in their government.”

So far, his campaign for the council has garnered endorsements from five New Jersey assemblymen and women, over a dozen mayors, three state senators and one gubernatorial candidate. Wellemeyer has also assembled a team of more than 40 young volunteers who have been working through the summer to further the cause.

Those interested can keep up with Wellemeyer’s campaign on Facebook or via the council’s website.

“We hope and believe the establishment of this type of council will not only increase political engagement amongst youth but also help the governor make important decisions on educational, health, drug, environmental and gun policy, all of which affects America’s youth just as much as — if not more than — the nation’s adults,” Wellemeyer said.