Gen Z Power List
A MESSAGE From the Board
This has been a year of real work. Across New Jersey, young people rose to the challenge. They organized, they voted in record numbers, and they stepped into leadership roles that are reshaping what public service looks like in this state.
The leaders recognized on this list represent the best of that spirit. Every name reflects commitment, persistence, and the belief that our generation brings something powerful to public life. We also want to recognize the young leaders whose names are not on this list but whose impact is felt every day.
Looking ahead, we’re stepping into a year with even more on the line. New voices will step forward, new challenges will emerge, and Gen Z will continue shaping the future of this state. As a board, we’re committed to uplifting that work, supporting those stepping into leadership, and making sure this generation has the resources
it needs to thrive.
Here’s to what comes next.
GEN Z FOR NEW JERSEY IS A NONPARTISAN PAC, NAMES ARE IN NO HIERARCHICAL ORDER
Quinton law
Quinton Law made history in 2025 as the youngest person elected mayor of Moorestown, as well as the first Black mayor in township history. Law also serves as the New Jersey Government Relations Director of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) and the
Scholarship Chair for the Moorestown Alumni Association.
Zachary Blackburn
Statehouse and state elections reporter for the New Jersey Globe, Zachary Blackburn has been making his mark on Trenton and the state at large since 2024. Blackburn’s degree in Political Communication was complimented by his role as Editor-in-Chief of his college paper, the GW Hatchet.
Brett Barbin
Brett Barbin serves as Deputy Chief of Staff to State Senator Vince Polistina, Assemblyman Don Guardian, and Assemblywoman Claire Swift. Previously, Barbin served as Campaign Manager to Guardian and Swift for Assembly and Bret Richards’ 2020 congressional run in Iowa.
Jasmine Metellus
Jasmine Metellus currently serves as Manager of Politics & Government Relations at the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters, President of the Essex County Young Democrats, and Legislative & Political Deputy Director of the New Jersey Young Democrats. Previously, Metellus was Chief of Staff to State Senator Renee C. Burgess and Legislative Aide to Assemblywoman Sadaf Jaffer.
Ken Schwemmer
Most recently serving as the Legislative Affairs Advocate at New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program, Inc. (NJMEP), Ken Schwemmer is also the County Committeeman of the Morris County Republicans and an adjunct professor at Sussex County Community College. Additionally, Schwemmer was the former vice president of Roxbury Republicans Club.
Nadya Khan
Government Relations and Communications Associate at Hoboken Strategy Group, Nadya Khan also holds positions as
Co-Chair of the New Jersey Young Democrats South Asian Caucus, Vice President of Fundraising for the Middlesex Young Democrats, and a Community Action Team (CAT) member of Planned Parenthood of Central and Greater Northern New Jersey and formerly the Public Affairs Manager of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey.
Ameerah McCoy
Chief of Staff to Assemblywoman Carmen Morales, an adjunct professor at Ramapo College of New Jersey, and a member of Ramapo’s Social Work Community Advisory Board, Ameerah McCoy gives back to the state in many ways. Previously, McCoy was the Director of Constituent Services for
Assemblyman Gary Schaer.
Michael Knauss
Chief of Staff to Assemblyman Al Barlas, Michael Knauss also serves as Executive Director of the Essex County Republican Party, a Young Leaders Board Member at the Lupus Research Alliance, and a member of the Hanover Economic Development Advisory Committee. Knauss was formerly the Strategic Advisor at the New Jersey Hall of Fame.
Isaiah Gomez
Perth Amboy Board of Education Member, Executive Vice President of the Perth Amboy Young Democrats, and Chair of the New Jersey Young Democrats Latino Caucus, Isaiah Gomez is deeply committed to improving the future of his neighbors. Gomez’s communications expertise is clear through his roles as Media Content Specialist at Middlesex County Magnet Schools, and Director of Communications for the Middlesex County Young Democrats.
Mussab Ali
A 2025 candidate for Jersey City mayor, Mussab Ali is the youngest elected official in Jersey City’s history, as well as the youngest Muslim elected official in the country at the time. Ali’s credentials as a Gen Z leader are unmistakable, given his status as a Truman Scholar, Schwarzman Scholar, Paul and Daisy Soros Fellow, Harvard Law graduate, and founder of the youth-focused Ali Leadership Institute.
Eash Haughton
Director of Public Affairs at Capital Impact Group and Senior Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor-Elect & Transition Chair, Eash Haughton also volunteers all over the state. Haughton serves as Black Caucus Vice Chair of the New Jersey State Democratic Committee, Strategic Advisor to the Mercer County Young Democrats, Senior Advisor to Verlina Reynolds-Jackson for Assembly, and is a member of the Mercer County Community College Board of Trustees.
Danielle O’Byrne
Campaign Manager to Ras Baraka during his gubernatorial run, Danielle O’Byrne is an experienced campaign professional. O’Byrne was involved in the Harris for President campaign and the Biden for President Campaign as their Donor Retention and Cultivation Director, as well as the Democratic Committee of Bergen County as GOTV Director.
Rafael Escalante
A key voice at Rutgers University as former President of the Rutgers Democrats, an Eagleton Institute of Politics Undergraduate Associate, a Ralph W. Voorhees Public Service Fellow, and Senior Advisor to the Latino Pre-Law Society. While balancing schoolwork, he also interns with Make the Road New Jersey, and was selected as a Public Policy & International Affairs (PPIA) Fellow this past summer.
Adrian Orozco
Previously Political Coordinator and Political Organizer for 32BJ SEIU, Adrian Orozco has been Political Director for almost two years now. Orozco is an Associate Board Member of America Needs You, a member of the 2025 New Jersey Leadership Collective, and a former teacher at Teach for America.
Aidan DiMarco
National Membership Director for College Democrats of America, Aidan DiMarco is also an elected member of the Oaklyn Board of Education. DiMarco was previously President of the Rowan College Democrats and South Jersey Regional Chair for the College Democrats of New Jersey.
Margaret O’Shea
Margaret O’Shea is a Fundraising Associate at H&P Consulting, where she drives key development efforts and builds strong relationships with donors, partners, and community leaders across the state. She’s known for her reliability, strategic approach, and ability to turn collaboration into real fundraising results, making her a trusted member of the H&P team and a valuable asset to clients.
Dhruv Kapadia
Dhruv Kapadia is a Hopewell Valley Board of Education member. He’s an MPP candidate at the Harvard Kennedy School and a Research Assistant at the Taubman Center. The youngest person ever elected in HVRSD, he previously served as Legislative Director to Senator Andrew Zwicker, as an Implementation Coordinator in Mayor Michelle Wu’s office, and as Co-Chair of the New Jersey Young Democrats South Asian Caucus — making him a strong voice for young people.
Zoe Heath
Chair of the Sussex County Democratic Committee and Founder of Sussex County Pride, the first and only LGBTQ+ organization in the county, Zoe Heath is a bold leader for progressive youth voices. Heath recently served as a state representative to the Young Democrats of America conference this summer.
Christopher Hughes
As well as serving as Chief of Staff for Assemblyman Christopher DePhillips, Christopher Hughes is also Secretary of the Bergen County Republicans. In addition, Hughes serves as a Mahwah Board of Education Trustee.
Casey Haddox
Principal at GTB Partners, Casey Haddox is also a Board Member of Pam’s List, supporting progressive Democratic women running for the state legislature. Previously Haddox was Vice President of the South Jersey Young Democrats, Health Policy and Advocacy Manager at Virtua Health, and Director of Advocacy and Legislative Affairs at Hoboken Strategy Group.
Amirah Hussain
Director of Government Relations at the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, Amirah Hussain was formerly Chief of Staff and Director of Policy to Assemblyman Herb Conaway in 2022. Hussain was named to the ROI Women in Business Influencers list in 2023.
Addison Reilly
Previously Finance Coordinator at Madison Holmes Consulting, Addison Reilly was promoted to Finance Director at the beginning of this year. Reilly was Regional Field Director and Field Organizer at the New Jersey Republican State Committee in 2022.
Chiara Garcia
Joining State Senator Anthony M. Bucco’s office as Chief of Staff this past June, Chiara Garcia was previously Legislative Aide to the New Jersey Senate Republican Office.
Jason Ajiake
Political Director of 1199SEIU, Jason Ajiake is a political strategist and coalition-builder in and beyond New Jersey. Ajiake was previously Communication and Education Manager at the New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance, Advocacy and Community Outreach Coordinator at the Palestinian
American Community Center, and did community organizing work for Faith In New Jersey and ONE DC.
Jake Ephros
A 2025 candidate for Jersey City Council Ward D, Jake Ephros is a teacher, union organizer, and activist. Ephros led Jersey City’s Right to Counsel campaign, and is an adjunct professor at Saint Peter’s University and Hudson County Community College.
Emily McGrath
Commissioner Aide to Gloucester County Commissioner Matthew Weng, Emily McGrath simultaneously serves as President of the South Jersey Young Democrats. McGrath is also an Egg Harbor Township County Committeewoman and was Deputy Campaign Manager to Fitzpatrick, Harrell & Bender during their 2023 run for Legislative District 2.
Athina Fassu
Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs to Governor Phil Murphy and Chair of Mercer County Young Democrats, Athina Fassu has been an important youth voice in Democratic politics. Previously Fassu served as Assemblyman Wayne P. DeAngelo’s Legislative Director, before coming to the governor’s office as a Senior Legislative Aide.
Jeffrey Wood
Chief of Staff and Legislative Director to Assemblywoman Aura Dunn, Jeffrey Wood was previously Executive Director of the New Jersey Dental Association. Wood was also Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Assistant at the Insurance Council of New Jersey and Staff Assistant for U.S. Senator Pat Toomey.
Jessica Murray
Vice President at Hoboken Strategy Group, Jessica Murray is also a member of the 2025 New Jersey Leadership Collective and the Mercer County Young Democrats. Previously, Murray was Chief of Staff to State Senator Linda R. Greenstein and Deputy Chief of Staff to Assemblywoman Nancy Pinkin.
Frank Velez
Frank Velez III is a lifelong resident of Belleville, New Jersey, currently serving as the 2nd Ward Councilman with a term through June 30, 2028. Before his council tenure, he spent three years as a trustee on the Belleville Board of Education, advocating for special-needs families, students, and staff. Frank ran for General Assembly in this year’s election cycle.
Josh Kutner
Kutner serves as Chief of Staff to Assemblywoman Michele Matsikoudis, and previously worked as her Deputy Chief of Staff, Legislative Director, and District Manager. Kutner has also served as Chairman of the Somerset County Young Republicans for four years and as an auditor for the Miss New Jersey Competition for over nine years.
Matthew Brodsky
Chief of Staff to State Senator Linda R. Greenstein, Matthew Brodsky was previously a Field Organizer at New Jersey Victory 2024. Brodsky also volunteers with the Mercer and Middlesex County Democratic Organizations.
Kemani Scott
As Director of Policy & Legislation for State Senate Majority Caucus Chair Troy Singleton, Kemani Scott also holds roles as Chairman of the Allentown Borough Democratic Committee and Treasurer of the Monmouth County Young Democrats. Scott was elected to the Upper Freehold Regional Board of Education earlier this month.
Daniel Han
POLITICO-New Jersey reporter Daniel Han has been covering the state’s health care and political beat since 2021. Han is a Rutgers-New Brunswick graduate and was born and raised in New Jersey.
Jay Vaingankar
Jay Vaingankar is a former White House and Department of Energy official. In DC, he helped lead operations to keep the White House safe in a pandemic, and led implementation of clean energy investments to create manufacturing jobs around the country. He serves on the boards of the Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice and the Coalition for Peace Action. Jay now works in policy and strategy in community solar.
Luke Ferrante
As Political Director for Jack Ciattarelli’s gubernatorial campaign, Luke Ferrante is an influential voice in Republican state politics. Ferrante was the Regional Field Director during Ciattarelli’s previous run for governor, Campaign Manager for Nick De Gregorio’s congressional run, and served as Political Director for the Republican State Committee afterwards.
Om Savargaonkar
As Coordinated Campaign Director for the New Jersey Democratic State Committee, Om Savargaonkar has been a key player in state Democratic success, previously working as Senior Advisor and Statewide Organizing Director to Mikie Sherill’s gubernatorial campaign. Savargaonkar was also named Campaign Manager of the Year in 2023 by the New Jersey Globe.
Trent Levitt
A Flemington Borough Councilman, President of the Hunterdon County Young Democrats, Chair of the Flemington Borough Democrats ,and recent campaign manager in LD23, Trent Levitt is committed to serving his community. Levitt is also a longtime member of the Flemington Borough Environmental Commission.
Paul Duerr
Paul Duerr serves as Secretary of the Hawthorne Democratic Organization where he ran for council-at-large this year. Paul is an author and historian as well as a student at Rutgers New Brunswick.
A’dorian Murray-Thomas
Founder and CEO of SHE Wins, Inc., a leadership and mentoring organization for girls impacted by violence in Newark, A’dorian Murray-Thomas has reimagined what youth leadership looks like. Murray-Thomas was elected to the Newark Board of Education in 2019, and currently serves as an Essex County Commissioner for District 2 as the youngest member of the Board.
Elliot Schneier
Deputy Chief of Staff for Assemblymembers Roy Freiman and Mitchelle Drulis, Elliot Schneier successfully ran the Bucko, Isla, and Geiger campaign, electing Democrats to the Bridgewater Township Council for the first time in 37 years. A former Peace Corp volunteer, Schneier taught English in Cameroon before working as Deputy Organizing Director of the New York State Democratic Party.
Alex Solomon
Senior Research Associate with the New Jersey Senate Republicans, Alex Solomon was previously their Research Associate and served as Communications Director for the New Jersey College Republicans. Solomon volunteers with the American Legion Jersey Boys State, is a trustee at the New Jersey Boys State Foundation, and is a member of the Rider University Alumni Board of Directors.
Chris DeColitis
President and CEO of DeCotiis Strategies, Chris DeCotiis is a member of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce (NJCC)
Young Professionals Board of Directors and was recognized as a 2025 NJBIZ Rising Star. Previously, DeCotiis was a Business Analyst Consultant at CGI and Development Officer at Choose New Jersey, Inc.
Ryan True
Ryan is currently a Field Director for the New Jersey Senate Democratic Majority, assigned to Vinnie Kearney in Legislative District 21. Ryan True was also President of the Rowan College Democrats from 2023 to 2024, and held multiple roles within the College Democrats of New Jersey. True was
previously Deputy Campaign Manager and Field Director for Herb Conaway Jr.’s 2024 congressional campaign.
Maddy Goffredo
As Constituent Services and Field Representative of U.S. Senator Andy Kim, Maddy Goffredo played a key role in electing Senator Kim through her several directorial roles throughout the campaign. Before her time with the Senator,
Goffredo was a Research Fellow at the Network Contagion Research Institute.
Divon Pender
A member of the South Plainfield Board of Education and Coordinator of Student-Athlete Development at Kean University, Divon Pender is invested in youth education. While earning his MA in Higher Education, Pender was a Graduate Assistant on Admissions and Diversity Initiatives, and worked on educational equity research before that.
Antonio Lombardi
As Legislative Coordinator of Middlesex County and Executive Vice President of the Middlesex Young Democrats, Antonio Lombardi is an integral part of Middlesex County. Lombardi previously served as Outreach Coordinator to the New Jersey
Assembly Democratic Office.
Donnie DeDio
DeDio serves as Chief of Staff for State Senator Kristin Corrado and was recently elected to the Wayne Township. DeDio is also Commissioner of the Wayne Township Board of Adjustment and serves on the Wayne Police Athletic League’s Board of Trustees.
Ross Traphagen
A three-term councilman on the Clinton Town Council, Ross Traphagen is dedicated to serving his community. Traphagen is also the Vice President of Riverside Communications, CEO of 1732 Solutions, and a partner of TAPinto.net.
Valerie Kologrivov
Valerie Kologrivov serves as Chief of Staff to Assemblywoman Lisa Swain and Assemblyman Chris Tully in New Jersey’s competitive 38th Legislative District. She previously served as Legislative Director and Legislative Aide, after working as
Deputy Campaign Manager for Outreach on Congressman Josh Gottheimer’s 2020 reelection campaign. A seasoned political strategist, Kologrivov plays a critical role in the success of Bergen County’s Get Out the Vote operations.
Stephan Lally
Deputy Chief of Staff to Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin since early 2024, Stephan Lally was previously Advisor to the Speaker and Director of Appointments for over two years. Lally is also an elected member of the Woodbridge Board of
Education.
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