The chairman of the Alameda County Republican Party was elected at age 20.
David Chan is a third-year UC Berkeley student studying political science who also oversees 34 college Republican chapters at universities in California.
“We’re living in a broken system, and if we don’t have young people that are going to step up, take on this system, and change it, we can expect California to continue to fall apart,” Mr. Chan said. “And it’s really because of the change in culture and the change in regulations that our government is putting forth onto the people.”
“At first it sounds great, right? Because that theoretically would mean more money back into the pockets of the people. But if you really understand and look at the economics, small businesses now have to pretty much fire people and let them go because they cannot afford it,” he said.
What we need to see is a revitalization and a restoration of common sense policy in the state of California, Mr. Chan said.
“Without that, it doesn’t really matter what any of us do as individuals, or even if we succeed as individuals. It’s about our society; it’s about our future. It’s about our kids,” he said.
“I think that we’ve reached a point now where people are starting to stand up and say that they’ve really had enough,” he said.
Mr. Chan blames both Democrats and Republicans. He said in Alameda, a good majority of the people he interacts with and even works with on a political basis are Democrats who are upset with their party and the lack of accountability that the party has within the state.
Mr. Chan said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, private schools kept a level of in-person learning while public schools were shuttered.
“[Children] were stuck at home. They were not being taught, and many people still have years of missing education. So when I look at this, I see a disparity,” he said.
He said he doesn’t see the disparity over race, but rather elitism.
“And it’s this level of elitism that’s going to get people off their seat and [have them] say, enough. This is not what America is. This is not what we signed up for. And that’s nonpartisan.”
Mr. Chan’s parents were both immigrants who fled communism in China and Vietnam. His father has nine siblings.
“They’re very lucky to have come to America and to be able to have made it here,” Mr. Chan said.
He said his grandfather fled from North Korea during the war; a background that many Koreans share.
Mr. Chan said his family roots gives him a greater perspective on the world, and this lends to a greater appreciation for the opportunities and the freedoms available in the United States.
But, he said he no longer sees the American dream that existed for his parents.
He said his parents have come to understand why he jumped into the political arena. Although they’re worried, they understand that his fight for the country, the state, is greater than any individual.
Mr. Chan said his generation, Gen Z, which is composed of people who are currently about 12 to 27 years old, is looking for something authentic.
“Gen Z is absolutely fed up. … I have friends that are graduating from Berkeley with computer science degrees, some of the best degrees that you can pursue, and they can’t even find jobs right now,” he said. “I have friends that are actually lucky enough to get jobs, and look at what they’re going through—they’re paying more than half of their income in rent.”
Through conversations with student government and the polling of students, Mr. Chan noted that one of the biggest things that Gen Z wants to see is more local control and to be able to step into local positions and implement what is best for cities at the local level.
Additionally, Gen Z is focused on environmental efforts and is widely in support of nuclear energy, he said.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing all of these frustrated younger individuals step up and actually vote for change,” he said. “It’s simple. We vote, and we vote differently.”
In terms of social media and the role it plays within politics, he thinks it can be utilized as an effort to get people out to vote.
Mr. Chan said the younger candidates who are running will be able to utilize social media to reach people, which has not been done before.
“I think that we are entering into a new era where social media, unfortunately, in my opinion, is going to be the main way that people communicate, the way that they even participate or engage civically,” he said.
As a result, he says any type of censorship is unwarranted.
“It steps on the voices of the American people and the free dialogue that we are supposed to appreciate as Americans,” he said.
Freedom of speech and open dialogue is what keeps society healthy, he said.
