California Democratic Representative Maxine Waters, 87, pushed back against criticism of her age during a street interview, arguing that voters should evaluate politicians based on their accomplishments rather than their years.
Waters made the comments to a TMZ producer following a Working Families press conference in Los Angeles. The exchange comes as Waters faces a competitive June Democratic primary challenge from 53-year-old Myla Rahman, a nonprofit executive, marking a generational test in the South Los Angeles district.
What Waters Said About Age and Leadership
When asked whether younger Americans have a valid point that some leaders are too old to govern, Waters rejected the premise. “What do they do? What can you document? What can you give them credit for? What can you criticize them for? If you do what it takes to evaluate, then you can decide,” Waters said.
She emphasized that performance should be the measure of fitness for office. “Performance and effectiveness,” Waters said when the producer suggested voters focus on accomplishments over age.
The conversation shifted to President Donald Trump’s age after the producer raised concerns about an 80-year-old president. Waters declined to address Trump’s age directly but criticized his leadership. “The president of the United States is destroying our democracy. He’s made unkept promises. He is enriching himself and his family with cryptocurrency,” Waters said.
When pressed on whether there should be an age limit for the presidency, Waters returned to her core argument. “People should be evaluated and thought of in terms of what they do,” she said. She maintained that position even when asked about a hypothetical 100-year-old candidate.
The Primary Challenge
Waters has represented South Los Angeles in Congress for 35 years but faces her toughest reelection battle. Rahman, her 53-year-old challenger, has centered her campaign on generational change and relatability.
“She’s a force. Since I was 6 years old, she’s been in office, but as I do my work in the community, people want new leadership,” Rahman said. She highlighted the district’s median age of 36 years old as evidence of a generational mismatch.
Rahman emphasized her personal connection to district concerns. “When you talk about relatability, when you talk about going to the store, the price of affordability – I’m a renter. Being able to afford housing and raising my children in the district,” Rahman said, framing the race as one about the future rather than the past.
Waters’ Defense of Her Candidacy
Waters argued that her experience and daily commitment to the job justify her reelection bid. “The Democratic Party is working as it normally does. 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,” Waters said.
Waters has remained active in district advocacy. In February, she appeared at an anti-immigration detention center protest in downtown Los Angeles, where she stood before officers in riot gear as demonstrations escalated.
“What I see here at the detention center are people exercising their constitutional rights,” Waters said during the demonstration. Protests later descended into confrontations with police, who deployed pepper balls and tear gas to disperse crowds near the federal detention facility.
