Youngest Legislator Pushes for Bi-Partisanship

Augusta - Maine’s youngest legislator, Rep. Justin Chenette of Saco, 21, has helped form a legislative youth caucus in hopes of bringing Democrats and Republicans together.

A record number of 13 members of the Maine Legislature are under the age of 30, but the caucus will include any Representative or Senator, Democrat or Republican alike, that aims to improve the lives of young Mainers according to Chenette.

“The purpose of this caucus is to bridge the political divide between the parties and set the example of strong bi-partisanship for the rest of the legislature,” says Rep. Chenette. “You won’t have to worry about one of us storming out of a meeting if we disagree. Finding solutions to the issues we face isn’t Democratic or Republican and legislators on both sides generally want to work together.”

The caucus will work on ways of finding common ground with issues most impacting a younger generation including college affordability and jobs to keep young people working and living in the state.

Chenette will serve as Vice-Chair of this newly formed caucus.