It’s hard enough to get the average college student to vote in a presidential election, let alone participate in the nominating process. But 20-year-old Michael Hensley is not your average college student. The University of Tennessee political science major is one of the youngest delegates headed to the Republican National Convention this summer in Cleveland, Ohio.
Hensley currently balances his schoolwork with constituent casework. He was offered a staff assistant job with Congressman John Duncan, Jr. (R-Tenn.) during his junior year of college, and assists constituents dealing with government organizations like FEMA, the U.S. Department of Education, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Tennessee Valley Authority.
“I often joke that I’m either a college student or congressional aide depending on what day of the week you call me,” Hensley said.
Hensley ran as a committed delegate supporting Marco Rubio for Tennessee’s 2nd Congressional District. Rubio received just one delegate from this district — which means Hensley beat out several government officials and business leaders on the ballot to win the slot on Super Tuesday.
Hensley said he was reluctant, at first, to run against people who have worked in state politics for decades.
“I felt that I should wait a couple more years to earn my spot at the convention,” he explained. “Finally, after a lot of encouragement from family and friends, I decided to move forward, as I felt so strongly about the vision Marco Rubio had for our country.”
Hensley also ran because he believes it’s important for millennials to get engaged in the political process.
“Many of our peers bought into the false narrative of hope and change that Barack Obama championed during the last election cycle,” Hensley said. “Many millennials are now placing their future into the hands of a self-proclaimed socialist. We must reverse this notion and convince our generation that conservative policies — those of limited government, individual freedom, and the free enterprise system — work best and provide the most opportunity to grow and improve our lives.”
Even though Rubio has now suspended his campaign, Hensley is committed to supporting him during the first two rounds of voting at the convention, as required by the Tennessee Republican Party.
“Should a contested convention occur, it is possible that Rubio could release my commitment, allowing me to support any of the other remaining candidates left in the race,” Hensley said. “If it reaches that point, I will decide which candidate to support based on who I believe can best unite our party and secure a victory in November.”
