Emerging state officials from 18 states to be awarded at the 2025 CSG National Conference for their leadership and dedication to public service
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 27, 2025) — The Council of State Governments has selected 20 emerging elected and appointed state officials as recipients of the 2025 CSG 20 Under 40 Leadership Award. The award honors the bipartisan leadership and public service of a class representing 18 states across all four CSG regions.
Established in 2020 through the vision of former New Hampshire Sen. Lou D’Allesandro — a public servant of more than five decades — the CSG 20 Under 40 Leadership Award was created during his tenure as CSG National Chair to strengthen engagement with younger state leaders.
Since then, the CSG 20 Under 40 community has annually welcomed a new class of inspiring public servants under the age of 40 who make meaningful contributions to their communities while exemplifying the core CSG values of civility, collaboration and innovation.
“This year’s CSG 20 Under 40 honorees are each exceptional leaders in their states. Collectively, they represent the best of America,” said David Adkins, CSG executive director/CEO. “These young leaders pursue public service with passion, and they understand the value of working collaboratively to get things done. While they have already accomplished a lot, I’m confident these state officials will make a difference for decades to come.”
2025 CSG 20 Under 40 Leadership Award Recipients
- Matt Ball | Senator | Colorado
- Terry Brown Jr. | Chief Democratic Whip | North Carolina
- Wlnsvey Campos | Senate Deputy Majority Leader | Oregon
- Justin Chaires | Senate Energy & Telecommunications Committee Director | New York
- John Fredrickson | Senator | Nebraska
- Kyle Evans Gay | Lieutenant Governor | Delaware
- Emily Gise | Representative | Oklahoma
- Kyle Hall | Representative | North Carolina
- Steven Jackson | Representative | Louisiana
- Joshua Jefferson | Deputy Secretary of Business Development | Kansas
- Trish La Chica | House Assistant Majority Floor Leader | Hawaii
- James Lomax | Representative | Alabama
- Jeremiah Moore | Representative | Arkansas
- Erica Mosca | Assembly Assistant Majority Floor Leader | Nevada
- Cindy Nava | Senator | New Mexico
- Taylor Rehfeldt | Representative | South Dakota
- Calvin Schrage | Representative | Alaska
- Ally Seifried | Senator | Oklahoma
- Mary-Katherine Stone | House Assistant Majority Leader | Vermont
- Mario Treto Jr. | Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Secretary | Illinois
Selected from a competitive pool of applicants, these leaders have demonstrated excellence in one or more of the following areas:
- Ability to engage officials across party, departments, branch and/or state lines in meaningful ways to advance the common good for their state/territory.
- Provide exceptional leadership to a state project, committee, chamber, commission or special group.
- Serve as a champion of change and seek to enhance the lives of all constituents within a specific policy area.
A recognition ceremony for the 2025 recipients will take place at the CSG National Conference, Dec. 9-13, in Chicago. Leaders from all 56 states and U.S. territories will be in attendance to exchange ideas, address complex state policy issues and celebrate the work of outstanding public servants.
To learn more about the CSG 20 Under 40 Leadership Award, visit web.csg.org/20-40. Applications will reopen in spring 2026 for next year’s class of award recipients.