New Delhi: Fourteen-year-old Dean Roy will be on the ballot for Governor in the US state of Vermont after forming his own party—the Freedom and Unity Party. In November, he will become the first candidate under the age of 18 to appear on the state’s general election ballot.
“I know it sounds crazy—a 14-year-old running for governor, but honestly, look at the people in charge right now,” Roy said in a post on his campaign’s Instagram page. “They’ve been doing this forever, and things still aren’t working.”
Roy served as a legislative page, an internship-like programme for high school students, at the Vermont Statehouse last year.
His Instagram page is his main campaign platform. It’s filled with his campaign promises and the changes he wants to make in Vermont.
“We need to make Vermont’s healthcare affordable. It starts with lowering administrative costs. Would you rather vote for a Democrat or a Republican in Vermont?” he said in a social media post.
Roy is a freshman (9th grader) at Stowe High School. He argues that young people deserve a voice in politics and should participate in large numbers to bring about the change they want to see.
However, a young ninth-grade student appearing on the ballot has drawn both praise and scepticism. While some question how someone who is not eligible to vote can run for office, others praise the emergence of a young voice in American politics.
The current governor, Republican Phil Scott, applauded Roy’s interest in politics and public service but questioned whether someone so young is ready for the responsibilities and position.
“He believes it’s important for our youth to get involved,” said press secretary Amanda Wheeler in a report by Fortune. “But the Governor also believes that a teenager may not be best suited to serve in that role, given the lack of experience and lived perspectives youth have at that point in their lives.”
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Age is just a number
Roy is not the only young entrant in Vermont’s political arena. An eighth-grader, Ethan Sonneborn, sought the Democratic nomination for governor in 2018 but finished last in a four-way primary.
Roy secured his spot in the general election by creating his own party. Both boys were able to run because the state constitution sets no minimum age requirement for gubernatorial candidates, requiring only that they have resided in the state for at least four years.
Many US states have established minimum age requirements for governors, often set at 30 years. In Kansas, lawmakers introduced a rule in 2018 requiring gubernatorial candidates to be at least 25 years old after six teenagers ran for office.
Roy has also addressed questions about his age in his campaign posts, where he responds to doubts about his ability to govern. For Roy, age is just a number and does not limit his ability to speak out or work for the country.
“I don’t necessarily expect to win,” he said. “What I do expect is to start a movement and get more young people to come in behind me and say, Yeah, we also want to make change.”
Roy has been receiving significant attention and praise on social media, with many users applauding his confidence and willingness to step into politics at such a young age. His campaign posts have sparked discussions among young voters, with some calling him an inspiration for greater youth participation in governance.
“Children would run the country better than the current elderly people,” wrote one user on Instagram.
“Dean Roy is proof age isn’t a barrier to making a difference—love to see young people stepping up,” read another comment on X.
At the same time, many users have raised concerns about his age and whether someone so young can handle the responsibilities of public office. Critics argue that experience and maturity are essential for leadership roles of such scale.
“He can’t even vote for himself lol,” said one user on X.
“If you have to be 18 to vote, so should you to run for Office,” another user added.
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)