Young Democrats of Mississippi re-charter, plan first meeting

Political organization powered by young people returns to build statewide voice

By Courtney Ann Jackson

Published: Jun. 5, 2026 at 10:27 PM CDT

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - A political organization powered by young people is officially back in Mississippi.

The Young Democrats of Mississippi are working to re-engage young people and build a statewide voice. The group is re-chartering and will hold its first virtual general body meeting Saturday at 11 a.m.

“We’re going to change Mississippi for the better,” said Elijah Karriem, vice president of Young Democrats of Mississippi.

Young Democrats of Mississippi isn’t a new organization, but it hasn’t been active in quite some time.

Now, the group is re-chartering and recommitting to making its voices heard.

“We said, you know, it’s time for us to stand up again and do the work ourselves,” Lydia Grizzell, president of Young Democrats of Mississippi, said.

Grizzell said Democrats have deep roots in Mississippi, and she believes that history matters as they rebuild.

“Mississippi definitely has roots in what it meant for substantial change across the country… It was right here in Mississippi when Freedom Summer took place... It seems approaching much a structure much like that even now. And so we’re exploring what that looks like in the modern era,” Grizzell said.

Current events are also shaping the narratives around getting the younger generation involved.

“The young Dems have actually already been in the process of rechartering pre-Callais, but we will say that decision definitely created a sense of urgency around our organization and what that means for us presently, not so much in the distant future,” Grizzell said.

Elijah Karriem is the new vice president.

“Our platform is: educate, mobilize, and elect,” he explained, saying they aren’t about just shouting. “We’re someone that looks at the legislation and develops the policies around it,” Karriem said.

He said the goal is to create a space where young people can learn, speak up and translate engagement into real policy and elections.

“Just because Mississippi may be a deep red state, just wait until the young people show up to the rooms,” Karriem said.

To learn more about the organization, visit www.ydms.org/.

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