My name is Adrian Brakeley. If you don’t know me, I’m a father, a veteran, a proud Johnston County Democrat, and for the past two months, I’ve had the privilege of serving as the 84th President of the Young Democrats of North Carolina. Like many of us, the shock of the 2016 election and everything that followed pushed me off the sidelines and into the work of defending our values and our future. After ten years in the U.S. Air Force, I came home determined to stay in the fight, and for the last three years I’ve devoted myself to organizing, building local power, and helping young people across this state step into leadership. Every day I’m reminded why this work matters, who it matters to, and why we can’t afford to let up now.
Taking the reins of an organization as big as YDNC is not a simple task, but it’s one I’m really excited about. If you don’t know the work Young Democrats have been doing in North Carolina (and you might not – we’ve been a little inconsistent about shouting about it, but part of my job is to change that), then you’re in for a real treat.
Since taking office, we’ve ramped up our efforts to charter new chapters, and not just in bright blue places and big cities, either – just the other week I was in Wayne County for a Young Democrats interest meeting, and yesterday, our Western Regional Vice President (shout out to Sydnie!) was out in Macon County organizing young people. In fact, right now, we have 6 new chapters somewhere in the pipeline for formation, from every region of North Carolina, because from Murphy to Manteo, young people are ready to stand up for what we believe in.
Young people are tired of a country where we can’t afford housing and groceries. Young people are tired of a country where saving for retirement feels like a pipe dream. Young people are tired of a country where a would-be despot goes after our neighbors for the color of their skin or the specifics of their gender. For so many of us, we were promised an American dream that has never been in our reach, no matter how hard we worked, and 2026 is going to be the year that young people help us take our country back.
But we have to have the tools needed to get organized. See, here’s the thing with young voters – we’re pretty sharp. We can tell when we’re being pandered to or when someone isn’t authentic. As much as I’d love to be able to share the magic trick for mobilizing young voters, there isn’t one. Just like with any community, turning us out only really happens if we put in the work to show up consistently and organize everywhere.
That’s why YDNC is going to be so important in 2026. Right now, we’re chartering new chapters, building a pipeline for engagement, and getting young people excited about what the Democratic Party has on offer—and it can make the difference next year, if we let it.
But here’s the deal. Remember how I mentioned that young people are tired of being unable to afford housing and groceries? Yeah, as much as I’d love it if YDNC’s own membership could fund everything our organization needs to do, it just doesn’t work that way.
