Jesse Maldonado pushed boundaries and made political history in Idaho.

“I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t think I could at least come close,” Jesse Maldonado said. In 2013, Maldonado ran for city council in Lewiston, Idaho, at the age of 18. Fresh out of high school and with minimal political experience, he thought, “Why the hell not? Why not me?” Even his mother thought he would lose, he said.  

Maldonado proved everyone wrong.

Growing up in a predominantly white community, Maldonado, then 13, was inspired during the 2008 presidential election by national figures such as Barack Obama and Governor Bill Richardson. “Watching these minorities compete in this race as a minority myself was very inspiring,” he said. 

In 2012, Maldonado participated in his first campaign, volunteering for John Rushie during the Idaho District 6 State Legislature election. During the election, Maldonado grew close with Rushie’s campaign manager, Trae Turner. 

The two formed a bond that led to Turner running Maldonado’s campaign for city council. “We joked that he was always an old soul…he had his eyes on a bigger picture, even at a young age,” said Turner. But Turner was not the only reason Maldonado ran for city council. 

During Rushie’s campaign in 2012, the Idaho Democratic Party made a statewide push to get local cities to pass non-discrimination ordinances. Lewiston’s city council voed the ordinance down.. 

“The city councilors were afraid to do it. We knew we were never going to get it passed with the current city council,” said Turner. Maldonado heard the call for change and answered with his “why the hell not” attitude. 

In 2013, Maldonado launched his campaign for city council. He ran with a promise to voters to pass the ordinance if elected. Though Maldonado’s age was a concern for voters in that election, he said ironically, it helped out his campaign. 

“I was very lucky to be 18. I was the lead of every story,” said Maldonado. Voters were curious, which meant free press, he said. Maldonado campaigned door to door as well as via social media, something other candidates weren’t using, he said.  

Maldonado was one of eight candidates running in an election to fill four seats. He said he won the fourth seat by more than 300 votes, beating out a sitting mayor, a current city councilman, and a former fire chief. 

One of the things Maldonado thought Lewiston voters liked about him was that he was “normal.” “If somebody ever asked me a question, I didn’t know, I would say I don’t know…I wasn’t trying to play the politician,” he said. 

Maldonado made good on his campaign promise. In 2014, the Lewiston City Council approved a non-discrimination ordinance banning discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender with housing, employment, and public accommodations, according to Boise State Public Radio News.

It took over ten months for the ordinance to pass. Maldonado said he realized there was more to politics than what was displayed on TV shows such as “West Wing.” “There was so much more monotony and frankly boring stuff…things are slower than I thought they would be,” Maldonado said. 

He served one term that ended in January while attending Lewis-Clark State College. Maldonado said he never planned to run for re-election. In 2023, he received his master’s degree in public administration from the University of Oregon. Maldonado currently serves as the fundraising chair for the Democratic Party of Lane County.