100,000 First Bosses

My Unlikely Path as a 22-Year-Old Lawmaker

By: Will Haskell

Narrated by: Will Haskell

The underdog story of Will Haskell, who became a Democratic state Senator in 2018 at age twenty-two—taking on an incumbent who had been undefeated for Haskell’s entire life and earning an endorsement from President Obama—is “an inspiring and wise blueprint for how you can change the world...get engaged and fight for the future you want” (Tammy Duckworth).

President Obama left office with these parting words for Americans: “If you’re disappointed by your elected officials, grab a clipboard, get some signatures, and run for office yourself.” Twenty-two-year-old Will Haskell decided to do just that. If he ran for office and won, he would become the youngest state Senator in Connecticut history.

For years, Haskell’s hometown had reelected the same politician who opposed passing paid family leave, fought increases in the minimum wage, and voted down expansions of voting rights. Haskell’s own vision for Connecticut’s future couldn’t be more different, and he couldn’t stand the idea of an uncontested election. In 2018, he would be a college grad looking for his first job. Why not state Senator?

When Haskell kicks off his campaign in the spring of his senior year, he’s an unknown college kid facing a popular incumbent who’s been in office for over two decades—as long as Haskell’s been alive. Haskell’s campaign manager is his roommate, and his treasurer is his girlfriend’s mom. He doesn’t have any professional experience. But he does have a powerful message: there’s no minimum age to being on the right side of history.

Six months later, Haskell’s shocking upset victory gives him a historic seat in the state Senate and the responsibility to serve the 100,000 constituents in his district. Like any first job, his first term as a legislator is filled with trial and error. Creating a program that funds free tuition at Connecticut’s community colleges—nice work. Falling asleep on the senate floor—needs improvement.

In the tradition of Pete Buttigieg’s Shortest Way Home and Greta Thunberg’s No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference, this is “a call to action for young people to engage fully in public life at this critical moment for our democracy and our planet” (Jon Ossoff).

25-Year Old State Senator Nails His Narrative

A memoir by a 25-year old in his second term in the CT state senate tells the story of a young man just out of college who decides to run against an entrenched Republican incumbent. This wonderfully written narrative tells the story of Will Haskell's improbable election victory achived with amazing focus on the district's voters, and his transition to being a state senator responsible to everyone in the district. Haskell captivates the reader with just the right mixture of self-reflective humility, ambition to do something worthwhile, and humor. It's hard to stop listening, especially because it's read by the author.

An education for people who don't know politics

Will Haskell's book is like a tutorial for 20-somethings who want to influence the political process. More than anything else, he helps a new generation understand why democracy is so important and how Americans in their twenties and thirties can more past their cynicism about the world of politics. Haskill understands that election to office is a form of public service. It comes with a duty to stay in touch with constituents, to be their voice without losing your own conscience in the process, to help them when you can, and to be open to what they have to say. In particular, he speaks to a new generation that ought to see the politics of democracy as a way to move the country forward without veering off into demagogy or authoritarianism. Haskell narrates the book himself, and his candid, low-key, and self-deprecating style brings a credibility that rings true. It is a book very much worth reading.

Will might be a unicorn, and so can you

Will’s story is remarkable and super inspiring and yet he seems pretty chill about the whole thing. This book is a play by play of his rise from undergrad government major to state Senator in a matter of months. Recommended for anyone interested in American politics and how the system works today. (Young people might mess around and give politics a good name).