This 18-year-old is now the youngest elected official in the U.S.

This 18-year-old is now the youngest elected official in the U.S.
(Image credit: Facebook/ElectSairaBlairToHouse)

Most of us, it's safe to say, didn't spend the beginning of our college years running for public office. But that's exactly how Saira Blair has spent the end of her high school career and the beginning of her freshman year of college at West Virginia University.

Her efforts haven't been in vain: Blair made history yesterday when the 18-year-old Republican defeated her 44-year-old Democratic opponent to win a seat in West Virginia's House of Delegates, becoming the youngest elected official in the U.S.

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Samantha Rollins

Samantha Rollins is TheWeek.com's news editor. She has previously worked for The New York Times and TIME and is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.