Facing Younger Primary Challenger, Waters Says No One Is Too Old To Serve.

At 87 years old, Waters is among the oldest serving members of Congress and is facing a stiff primary challenger from a younger progressive candidate.

Waters has represented South L.A. in Congress for 35 years and is fighting for her political life ahead of her June Democratic primary.

Waters is facing off against 53-year-old Myla Rahman, a nonprofit executive who’s worked in politics.

“She’s a force… Since I was 6 years old, she’s been in office, but as I do my work in the community, walk through the districts, talk to people, people want new leadership,” Rahman said.

“The average age in the district is 36 years old. That’s a big difference… When you talk about relatability, when you talk about going to the store, the price of affordability – I’m a renter,” Rahman said.

“Being able to afford housing. Raising my children in the district and school there, talking to their friends. And elections are about the future. They’re not really about the past,” Rahman added.

Waters says her experience and the energy she brings to the job every day are why she’s running for re-election.

“The Democratic Party is working as it normally does,” Waters said. “They will choose their candidates based on the relationships that they have, the work that they have done, the interests that they have shown – not about age.”