POCATELLO — The Idaho Democratic Party’s State Central Committee has awarded Pocatello City Council member Hayden Paulsen the Idaho Young Democrat of the Year award.

Paulsen’s interest in public service traces back to second grade, when he discovered student government and a desire to help others. He knew from a young age that he wanted not just to be involved, but to be a decision-maker who could have a positive impact on people’s lives.

Decades later, Paulsen has made good on those aspirations. He currently serves as a Pocatello City Council member, vice chairman of the Bannock County Democrats and treasurer of the Idaho Democratic Party.

Paulsen received the 2026 award March 7 during a meeting that served as the prelude to the annual Frank Church Gala in Boise. He was in the Gem State’s capital on official business as party treasurer and learned he was the recipient only moments before his acceptance, when State Central Committee Chairwoman Lauren Necochea began telling a story about a stalwart young Democratic door-knocker from the 2022 campaign season.

“It’s not surprising to me that Hayden received this award,” Sen. James Ruchti said. “He has strong values, an incredible work ethic and desire to make his community better.”

At 31, Paulsen has built an impressive academic record alongside his civic work. In 2016, he graduated from Pepperdine University in Los Angeles with a bachelor’s degree in international studies. In 2018, he enrolled in graduate school at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center through Johns Hopkins University and earned a certificate in Chinese-American relations. In early 2021, he graduated with a master’s degree in strategic studies and international economics.

“I went to college at Pepperdine, and its motto is leading a life of public service,” Paulsen said. “When you’re freshly 18 going to school, that’s kind of cheesy, but it really did stick with me. I want to help people. I genuinely just want to make other people’s lives better and that’s why I do it.”

Paulsen returned to Pocatello around 2020 and two years later walked into the Bannock County Democrats office looking to make an impact.

“I couldn’t just complain on my phone or at the TV or the news, I had to be involved,” Paulsen said. “I showed up and said, ‘How can I help?’ I started door knocking, then rapidly became the vice chair of the county party. A year later, I was elected to Pocatello City Council. Then a year later, I became the treasurer of the state party. Through all of that, it opened up so many connections and so many doors. That’s why I’m so involved. I guess maybe it’s hard for me to say no, but I think one of the main reasons that I got the award is that I show up. I show up to all of it and help to the best of my ability. I think that was noticed.”

Paulsen’s ambitions didn’t end there. He also serves on the board of the Pocatello Free Clinic and as a liaison for the senior activity center. On Wednesday, he stayed at the facility and shared lunch with several seniors.

For Paulsen, public service also means educating the community and occasionally compromising on policy — but never on his values. In a political climate marked by division, he is drawing on his background in strategic studies to encourage civic engagement at the grassroots level.

“It really only takes 2 to 3 percent of the population in a sustained movement to cause complete change,” Paulsen said. “I’m not saying it has to be violent. There’s been totally peaceful movements, but 2 to 3 percent of the population in a sustained movement completely changes the government. I just wish people would be more active. I’ve always had that nugget in my brain that is motivating me to educate the people, rally the people, help the people.”

Among his primary concerns is what he describes as a rise in authoritarianism at the state and federal level.

“They want to consolidate control from the top down,” Paulsen said. “I vehemently oppose that and I will speak out against it. I wish that wasn’t the case, because I want to be out here talking about health care and housing. But right now, I truly think that we are at a crisis point in our country and state of top-down authoritarianism or at least attempts to consolidate power in that way.”

Paulsen’s charge to Gate City residents is to make their voices heard.

“Every single person, whether you’re Joe Schmo, Jane Doe, a random person in the state, city, country, you have to be vocal about your needs,” Paulsen said. “You have to actually show up to vote and you need to show up to make your elected people accountable. It was so cool at the Capitol a couple weeks ago when I spoke just to see all these different people from walks of life, from the ACLU to Planned Parenthood to teenagers to all these people coming to speak up, showing up to say ‘Leave our cities alone.’ I think that’s very powerful.”

He also encouraged residents to engage directly with the Pocatello City Council.

“Come to the meetings, speak at public comment, call us and email us,” Paulsen said. “We represent you. You are my boss. Give me direction. I think that applies to anybody who’s elected.”

In the coming year, Paulsen said he will weigh several significant decisions, including potential runs for higher office within Idaho or the Democratic Party, or pursuing his goal of attending law school.

“It’s definitely going to be something bigger, something more impactful,” Paulsen said.

Regardless of future outcomes, Paulsen views his continued work as both a civic responsibility and a moral necessity.

“I think it’s a non-partisan thing that you should care about your neighbor, even if you don’t have kids, you should care about the future generations,” Paulsen said. “I don’t have kids, but I know a lot of children, from teaching piano to my niece and nephew to babysitting, etc. I’m really not doing this for me. I’m trying to make a better world, one for everybody now, but also these babies that are going to grow up into the world that we are creating.”