Feeling disillusioned about national politics? Here’s reason to hope for a better future: This fall, Vermont fifth graders are electing the state’s first Kid Governor through a program run by the Vermont Secretary of State’s Office.
Twenty-six schools across the state held primaries in which fifth graders chose one of their own as a candidate. Each school’s candidate and their classmates made a one- to three-minute campaign video. A panel of judges, myself included, narrowed the field to seven finalists.
Fifth graders at more than 50 schools across Vermont cast their ballots last week, and the results will be announced next Wednesday. Anyone can watch the final candidates’ campaign videos at vt.kidgovernor.org. I highly recommend it. These kids have energy, confidence and some good ideas, too.
Each of these 10- and 11-year-olds had to focus on one issue and come up with a three-point plan to address it. They’re identified by first name only — they weren’t allowed to reveal their last names or their schools during the election.
Some of them sound like miniature — though more endearing — versions of adult politicians. “Hello, I’m Lincoln, and I’m running for Vermont’s Kid Governor,” says a boy in a dark three-piece suit and tie, standing on a woodsy river bank. “I think that everyone should have access to affordable health care, because, according to the Vermont Department of Health, there are over 20,000 people in Vermont who don’t have health insurance. This needs to change!”
Lincoln’s plan includes educating fifth graders, making posters and organizing students to write to their elected officials, urging them to lower health care costs. “If we get enough fifth graders writing letters, then we have the power to make a huge difference,” he says.
Rosyln, one of his opponents, wants to focus on people experiencing homelessness. “This is important to me because almost every time I go to stores, I see homeless adults and kids,” she says. “I believe we can do something about it together. That’s why I’m running with a mission to help people who are homeless feel seen, cared for and supported.”
Behind her as she speaks are four classmates, holding handmade signs that say things such as “hardworking” and “problem solving.”
Rosyln pitches “a fun run for hope” to raise money for homeless shelters. “It’s fun, it’s healthy, and every step we take, someone takes a better step towards a better life.” She wants to organize community potlucks where homeless people are “honored guests.” To sum up: “This plan isn’t just about giving things,” she says, “it’s about giving kindness, giving time and giving hope.”
Phoebe aims to improve children’s mental health. Her plan includes having kids advocate for hiring more therapists and guidance counselors in schools. Karin tackles a similar topic, noting that kids with mental health issues can become adults who perpetrate school shootings. One of Karin’s ideas is for a group of students, trained by a counselor, to become “a peer support squad.”
Westyn, an athlete who plays hockey, football and baseball, is campaigning against bullying. “Did you know that one-fifth of kids are bullied?” he asks. “If you feel unsafe, it is very hard to focus on what you are doing, and we need to change that.”
His plan features a “forgiveness day” on the 19th of every month, when you apologize to people you were mean to, and “hopefully they forgive you.”
Gaelen wants to improve school lunches, though his proposal to ban ultra-processed food such as chicken tenders might be a tough one for his target demo to swallow. Fun fact: Gaelen is the only candidate whose video includes a blooper reel.
Rumano’s campaign is the only one with a slogan: “Vermont Strong Inside and Out.” She wants students to spend time outside every day experiencing nature. She’d also organize a Vermont Screen-Free Challenge, in which students trade screen time for doing things like skiing, drawing and baking. “When we put down screens, we pick up connection,” she explains.
On November 19, the Secretary of State’s Office will announce which of these brave fifth graders will become Kid Governor. The others will be part of the cabinet. Together they’ll work on some of these issues until next year’s election.
Developed by the Connecticut Democracy Center, the whole experience is designed to teach kids about the voting process, evaluating candidates and how to work together with others to accomplish a goal.
For more feel-good youth civics stories, find the results of the 2025 Good Citizen Challenge in Kids VT, Seven Days’ parenting magazine, inside this week’s issue.
This article appears in The Winter Preview Issue 2025.
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