[Dan from Michigan]

read my bio page for more on my goal to be elected by age 26.

That's tough but not impossible. My state representative (equivalent to your assembaly) was just re-elected at 24. He won his first term at 22.

It is a mix of exurban and rural areas in my district. My rep won his first race against 5 primary opponents (4 of them elected county or township officials). He also defeated the democrat by a 2.5-1 margin. All candidates except possibly two were conservatives, and all ran as conservatives (all claimed to be pro-life and pro-2a) so ideology was not a real issue here either.

My rep won his first race by knocking on 15,000 doors and being a life long resident of a very tight knit agricultural based small town community. Most active residents knew him, or knew his parents, aunts, uncles, etc. It was a classic case of small town politics.

The other state rep in my county won his first state rep race at 28. He had held an elected position since he was 18 when he won a race for township trustee.

That is the exception and not the rule. If you want to be a state rep at 26, you should probably run for a county, city, or township office at 21 or so. A state rep race in my area of Michigan usually cost $30,000 or more. In the Detroit area, it costs more. In California, I'm sure it's even more. My state rep won his race with $10,000.(most spend $25,000 in the PRIMARY).

I hope I'm not overwhelming you here, but campaigns take a lot of hard work, smart work, planning, good people backing you, the right demographics, and a little luck as well.

[AVNevis]

I guess I should lay out my more specific plan how I plan on doing this (remember it's a goal, and subject to change)

Starting this upcoming year I plan to get some experience testifying in front of legislative committies.

In 2006, Tom McClintock will be running for Lt. Governor here in California. I am planning on campaigning for him then.

Then in my senior year in high school, they offer an internship program. One of the jobs they have is working at the state capitol, including at the LG's office. Assuming McClintock is elected (which polls now say he will be, by a large margin) I should be able to get one of those posts by virtue of having worked for him in 2006.

Then in college, wherever I go, I plan to study political science while staying in touch with people at the capitol.

In 2010 Arnold is termed out, so then presumably Tom would run for governor. I would campaign for him then as well.

When I graduate college hopefully I can get some kind of job in the McClintock administration.

Then in 2016 I run for Assembly with the full backing of the Governor.

So there is my plan. I think it has about a 30% chance of actually working.