Rep. Maxine Waters declined to endorse age restrictions for elected officials Thursday, saying voters should decide who serves in office based on performance and accomplishments.
The 87-year-old California Democrat made the comments during a Capitol Hill exchange following a Working Families press conference. Waters was asked whether younger Americans have a valid argument that some leaders are too old to remain in power.
What Waters Said
“What do they do? What can you document? What can you give them credit for? What can you criticize them for?” Waters said. “If you do what it takes to evaluate, then you can decide.”
When pressed on whether voters should focus on accomplishments rather than age, Waters agreed. “Performance and effectiveness,” she said.
The conversation shifted to President Donald Trump after questions about whether an 80-year-old commander in chief might be too old to serve. Waters declined to address Trump’s age directly but criticized his leadership. “The president of the United States is destroying our democracy,” Waters said.
The Primary Challenge
Waters is facing a primary challenger from progressive candidate Myla Rahman, 53, a nonprofit executive running in the June Democratic primary. Rahman has argued that the district needs new leadership aligned with younger voters.
“The average age in the district is 36 years old,” Rahman said. “When you talk about relatability, when you talk about going to the store, the price of affordability – I’m a renter.”
Waters has represented South Los Angeles in Congress for 35 years and emphasized her experience as an asset. “The Democratic Party is working as it normally does,” Waters said. “They will choose their candidates based on the relationships that they have, the work that they have done, the interests that they have shown – not about age.”
Recent Actions
Waters appeared at an anti-ICE protest in downtown Los Angeles in February, standing near officers in riot gear. “What I see here at the detention center are people exercising their constitutional rights,” Waters said.
The demonstration later descended into violence, with Los Angeles police deploying pepper balls and tear gas to disperse crowds after agitators blocked building entrances and issued dispersal orders.