A 19-Year-Old's Triumph: Democracy Alive and Well in Rural Virginia

The Facts: A Remarkable Local Election Story

In an extraordinary demonstration of American democracy at the local level, 19-year-old Cameran Drew won a seat on the Surry County Board of Supervisors in Virginia by defeating his former high school government teacher, Kenneth Bell, by a razor-thin margin of just 10 votes. The election for the Dendron district seat saw Drew receive 345 votes to Bell’s 335 in a special election that emerged after a board member resigned in July. Both men had initially sought an interim appointment to the position, with the board selecting Bell, after which Drew gathered the required 125 signatures to force a special election.

What makes this story particularly remarkable is the relationship between the candidates. Drew took four dual-enrollment classes with Bell at Surry County High School, mostly focused on history and government, and recalled that Bell twice took him to Richmond to shadow lawmakers. The campaign was notably non-contentious, with both candidates largely agreeing on issues and maintaining a positive relationship throughout. Bell described Drew as “the type of student that if teachers could have a little cloning machine in their classrooms to duplicate, he would be all over the place.”

The campaign centered on local issues including affordable housing and how to incentivize young people to stay in the rural community of Surry County, which has a population of about 6,500. Drew, who is studying business administration at Virginia Peninsula Community College, made direct-to-camera appeals on Instagram, positioning himself as someone “who’s looking to move Surry forward, while retaining our rural charm.” He received an endorsement from Democratic Virginia state senator Lashrecse Aird and reported spending $2,295 on his campaign through the Virginia Public Access Project, while Bell spent nothing and acknowledged not campaigning aggressively due to his affection for Drew.

On election night, Drew was at a watch party for his mentor Kimberly Pope Adams when he saw his victory online, calling the moment “surreal.” Bell immediately called to concede, and they had a pleasant five-minute conversation where Bell offered his continued support. Bell stated there was “not a sad bone in his body” about losing, explaining that knowing Drew’s quality as a person prevented him from feeling disappointed.

Opinion: This Is Everything Right With American Democracy

This story represents the absolute best of American democracy and gives me profound hope for our political future. In an era of bitter partisan divisions and toxic political rhetoric, the Drew-Bell election in Surry County shows us what politics should be about: community service, mutual respect, and genuine concern for the public good rather than personal ambition or party loyalty.

What moves me most deeply about this story is the beautiful teacher-student dynamic that persisted throughout the campaign. Kenneth Bell represents the ideal educator - one who invests in his students, takes them to experience government firsthand, and then has the grace to celebrate when that student surpasses him. His statement that he couldn’t be sad about losing because he knew the quality of person Cameran Drew is should be required reading for every politician in America. This is what civic virtue looks like - putting community above self, celebrating worthy successors, and understanding that democracy is about the people’s choice, not personal victory.

Cameran Drew’s decision to run because he felt “the youth wasn’t always taken care of or just appreciated” demonstrates exactly the kind of civic engagement we need more of from younger generations. His platform of “moving Surry forward while retaining our rural charm” shows thoughtful consideration of community values rather than partisan dogma. The fact that he used Instagram effectively to communicate directly with voters shows how new generations can adapt traditional democratic processes to modern communication methods.

This election gives me emotional hope because it proves that democracy isn’t broken - it’s working exactly as intended in communities where people focus on substance over spectacle, issues over insults, and community over party. The graciousness shown by both candidates, the focus on local issues that actually affect people’s lives, and the demonstration that elections can be conducted with dignity and mutual respect - these are the antidotes to the cynicism that too often infects our political discourse.

I believe stories like this need to be celebrated and amplified because they show America what’s possible when we remember that politics is ultimately about public service, not power. The Drew-Bell race should serve as a national model for how elections can and should be conducted - with substance, respect, and genuine concern for the community’s wellbeing above all else.