Heard Tell Podcast: Redistricting & Being A Speck Of Blue In Red West Virginia w/ Del Kayla Young

The latest Heard Tell podcast has West Viginia Delegate Kayla Young (D-Kanawha,35) talks to Andrew Donaldson about redistricting, running for office, being a speck of blue in a very red state, and going past stereotypes and news cycle headlines about West Virginia.

With redistricting in full swing nationwide, the coverage and conversation about what to one person might be redistricting is to another gerrymandering has reached a fever pitch. We try to turn down the noise on this always touchy topic and turn to Kayla Young, the sitting delegate for West Virginia’s 35th district. Del. Young is the perfect person to talk to about this as she serves in a evenly split (2 Republicans, 2 Democrats serving) district that is economically and racially diverse, but also is in a state that is losing a congressional district, and changing all the House of Delegate districts. We’ll talk about how all that change affects on of the most foundational principles in America – representation. Also, Kayla’s story of how she went from unemployed food truck owner when Covid hit to winning elected office is must hear, and we talk about finding coming ground and getting things done even as a member of a super-minority. Plus, we get past stereotypes about West Virginia and talk about while there are many problems, there is much opportunity, which Kayla Young herself lives as someone who left and then came back to the state to raise her family and make a difference. So on this episode of Heard Tell, one of the most progressive office holders in one of America’s reddest states gives her unique perspective on politics, culture, and – most importantly – the technique for properly making a great eggroll.