Elections can be vicious. Candidates and supporters often tear each other down in a bid for their party to win. A 13-year-old girl hopes to change all that with the Candidate Pledge. She even has Tim McGraw on board.
The country singer shared 13-year old Hannah Kate McFadden’s organization with his followers. He said she was a reminder that older generations should act as role models for younger generations. The pledge encourages people to be respectful during elections.
He wrote, “#TheCandidatePledge was created by 13-year old Hannah Kate McFadden!! A reminder that our children are always watching. May we lead them with integrity.” He closed the tweet with lyrics from one of his songs. He wrote, “#StayHumbleandKind.”
Hannah Kate McFadden Created the Candidate Pledge
According to her website, McFadden started the organization after someone bullied her for supporting a candidate. Someone vandalized a sign for a candidate she volunteered with. McFadden replaced the sign, and afterward, someone covered the trees in her yard with toilet paper.
“I was feeling demoralized. And thinking about giving up on volunteering when Maria Shriver sent a tweet encouraging me, saying, ‘Keep going! I’m inspired by [you]!’ This is what encouraged me to create The Candidate Pledge,” McFadden wrote.
McFadden is a Tennessee native. She hopes to change the toxicity of elections on a local, state, and even national level as a result. She encourages both politicians and their supporters to sign the pledge. So far, she’s even got Tennessee senator Ferrell Haile to sign the pledge.
Being respectful to other candidates, no bullying and no name-calling is on the list of rules pledge agree to follow. Pledges also promise to stick to the issues, respect others’ opinions, and to be an adult.
“At the end of the day, all that matters is what you say and do–that shows who you really are. Be positive and learn to listen to others,” McFadden said. “I deserve better and my generation deserves better than what we are seeing in government and politics these days.”
