By Carter Holloway
2026 Youth Governor
I am so excited about all the 77th Annual Alabama YMCA Youth Legislature will bring, and I hope you feel the same way.
As you debate and encounter delegates from all over the state this weekend, please consider the Y-Core values:
• Caring
• Honesty
• Respect
• Responsibility
Let’s be caring by embracing each other during debate and empathizing with each other when things don’t go our way. While this conference allows you to have a lot of good times, it’s always possible that your bill, debate or your election might not go your way, and it is up to every one of us to help each other through those times by being caring.
Honesty is a BIG value at this conference. I know it’s tempting to lie about a small detail to make your bill look better. I know it’s tempting to use artificial intelligence (AI) for your pro and con speeches. You are all smart and you all deserve to be here because of what you can think of on your own.
This program has given me a voice and a platform that makes me feel comfortable enough to share that voice. I want that to be the same experience every one of you has as well, and the only way we can do that is if we respect each other and each other’s opinions.
Finally, make sure you are responsible for yourselves in the Alabama State House. We are given an opportunity to be in a place where not many people have the pleasure of going, so please be responsible when you are in that setting.
Have an amazing time at the 2026 Alabama Youth Legislature.
More About Alabama’s 2026 Youth Governor
By Anderson Byrd
TomorrowTODAY staff writer
Carter Holloway is a senior at Spain Park High School. The youth governor plays a key role in ensuring Youth Legislature goes smoothly while also helping delegates have a meaningful and enjoyable experience. Holloway has participated in the Youth Legislature program for four years. He describes the governor’s job as both demanding and rewarding. He emphasized his importance of leadership and responsibility. He is passionate about Youth Legislature and he encourages young people to stay informed and engaged in civic matters and politics in general, believing students and our young people are the future of our government. While in Youth Leg, he has made connections with students from across the state and nation, including those he met last summer while attending at the YMCA Youth Conference on National Affairs. Holloway will attend Hampton University in the fall as a computer science and cybersecurity major and be a part of the Navy ROTC program. He plans to attend law school in the future, becoming an attorney and eventually pursuing a career in politics, continuing his commitment to leadership and service as a whole.
Watch Alabama Youth Gov. Carter Holloway on Capitol Journal Week in Review on Alabama Public Television at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, and at noon Sunday, March 1, 2026.