WASHINGTON—The following is a statement from Nancy LeaMond, AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer about age and elected officials:

“A candidate’s qualifications, ability, and stance on the issues is what matters – not the year they were born. Making sweeping judgments based on identifiers like race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender and disability is not acceptable. It should also be unacceptable to discriminate based on age.

“Candidates who want to win elections need to pay attention to older voters, because the majority of people who cast ballots are age 50 and over. Candidates must address the issues that matter to 50+ Americans including protecting Social Security and Medicare, lowering the cost of prescription drugs, and ensuring financial security.”

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About AARP
AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation’s largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org, www.aarp.org/espanol or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspanol and @AARPadvocates, @AliadosAdelante on social media.