Hernando High School senior James Fong is already building a resume that extends far beyond campus, positioning himself as a young voice in local Republican politics while keeping his faith and community at the center of his work.

Fong, a Republican and vice president of the Mayor’s Youth Council, has long been interested in government and public debate, but his passion for politics came at an early age. He traces his first serious engagement with politics back to the 2020 presidential election, a time where we were all stuck inside, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The 2020 election was such a divisive time for America,” Fong said. “Between the pandemic and how hostile things became, I wanted to understand what was really going on.”

At just 12 years old, Fong began closely following news broadcasts, listening to political podcasts and researching the structure and history of the American government. While he firstly viewed politics as a hobby, that mindset changed as he progressed through school.

Fong said his love grew while taking AP Government at Hernando High School, particularly after having the opportunity to observe the certification of the 2024 election results by Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves and state delegates in November of that year.

“That experience made everything feel real,” he said. “Seeing how the process works firsthand made me realize this was something I wanted to pursue seriously.”

Now a senior, Fong is actively involved in several political initiatives. His most prominent role is serving as vice president of the Mayor’s Youth Council, where he works alongside student leaders from grades 9th-12th, to represent youth perspectives and engage with local government. He sees the position as an opportunity to learn leadership and public service while also contributing to the community.

In addition to his council role, Fong is working to help revive the DeSoto County Young Republicans Club. The effort, he said, is focused on creating a space for young Republicans to engage in political discussion, volunteerism and local campaigns.

“There’s a lot of political involvement I’ve had recently, but that club has been my main focus,” Fong said.

He is collaborating with his friend Cole Tacker, who works for U.S. Rep. Trent Kelly’s District 1 office, along with DeSoto County Republican Club President Peyton Kyle and Vice President Valerie Donnelly. According to Fong, their shared goal is to provide the Republican youth  from high school students to working millennials, a unified platform.

“The idea is to give Republican youth a voice in this county,” he said. “Not just college students, but high schoolers and young adults who want to be involved.”

Beyond organizational leadership, Fong is also the founder and host of “The Fong Focus”, a podcast dedicated to discussions centered on faith, American values and civic engagement. He describes the podcast as a place for open conversation about Jesus, America and what he calls “bringing back common sense.”

For Fong, faith plays a significant role in his political journey. He frequently emphasizes the importance of staying grounded while navigating an often divisive environment.

“Faith is a great thing to have,” he said. “The stronger that is, nothing can really get in your way.”

While Fong identifies strongly with his political beliefs, he said one of the biggest changes he hopes to influence in his community is cultural, restoring civil debate and respectful discussion.

“I think debate has been severely damaged,” he said. “People don’t know how to sit down and agree to disagree anymore.”

Fong hopes to see more opportunities for students to engage in structured discussion, including the return of debate-focused activities at Hernando High School. He suggested that debates could even be held between local schools and need not focus solely on politics.

“It doesn’t have to be political,” he said. “It could be something less polarizing or even goofy. The point is learning how to discuss ideas respectfully.”

When asked which issues most concern Generation Z, Fong pointed to widespread political doubt. He said youth not trusting politicians and government institutions is common among young people on both sides of the political spectrum.

“Political cynicism is a huge thing,” Fong said. “A lot of Gen Z don’t trust authority figures or political leaders, and while some of that distrust is understandable, it’s still worrying.”

He added that many politicians holding office today have served for decades, contributing to generational frustration and skepticism.

“It’s not that their belief is wrong,” he said. “It’s just concerning how deep that distrust has become.”

Fong also challenged the idea that young people involved in politics lack knowledge or seriousness.

“People think young people don’t know what they’re talking about, but they do,” he said. “Young people are much more invested in politics than older generations often realize.”

As he looks beyond high school, Fong plans to attend the University of Mississippi, where he intends to major in political science with a focus on public policy leadership. He sees higher education as a crucial step in preparing for a future career in politics or government.

Fong advises students who want to get involved in politics to start locally and not be discouraged by the scale of the field.

“It’s intimidating, but it’s good to start early,” he said. “Most people don’t start out big. You work your way up.”

He said staying informed, reaching out to local officials and maintaining a strong support system were key to his own journey. Fong credits family, friends and mentors, including Luke Wilburn and Holden Hale — for encouraging him to stay committed.

“I’m thankful for the opportunities God has given me and for the people in my corner,” he said.

Although politics is his clear path for now, Fong acknowledged that life does not always unfold as planned. If politics were not an option, he said he could see himself pursuing a career in sales.

“That’s a scary thought,” he said. “But I trust that God would provide, like He always does.”

As his senior year comes to a close, James Fong continues to balance his academic grades with political involvement and community leadership. Whether through local organizations, civic discussion or his podcast, he remains focused on making an impact not just as a student, but as an emerging public leader.