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They are youngish, smart and mostly progressive, and they are taking over. They are the 30-something Democrats, and they are becoming the new face of the state Democratic Party.

The election over the weekend of 37-year-old Albuquerque attorney Brian Colon as chair of the state Democratic Party, over a much older and seasoned former state Rep. Michael Olguin, is the latest indication that a new generation of Democratic leaders and ideas are taking hold.

Meanwhile, the state GOP re-elected 64-year-old Alan Weh to lead the party through this important presidential election year.

This and other recent elections are beginning to show a generational shift in New Mexico Democratic politics. And it is a good one.

To use a tired basketball analogy, sometimes winning is about how deep your bench is - meaning: You need strong players waiting in the wings to pick up the slack and bring in a win. With so many long-serving 50-, 60- and even 70-something leaders in the state Democratic Party, there is a concern that perhaps there will be a dearth of good candidates to replace those retiring. And that's only if and when legislative or other elected offices are pried from their longtime holders.

Not only that, but the graying of the party often means it struggles for new ideas and new energy. While experience increases with long-serving older legislators, the new ideas and needed reforms often take a back seat. But if the last few elections are any indication, the Democratic Party is developing a deep bench of 20-, 30- and 40-somethings to take the reins when the time is right.

Colon and other youngish Dems who have won elections at all levels of government provide some real hope for reform and new life for a tired state Democratic Party.

Colon joins fellow 30-ish Dems including state Auditor Hector Balderas, Public Regulation Commission Chairman Ben Ray Lujan, Albuquerque City Councilors Martin Heinrich and Michael Cadigan, state Representatives Al Park and Moe Maestas, former state attorney general candidate Geno Zamora and many others who are in line to become the much-needed new leadership for our state's future.

The influx of young Democratic candidates and elected officials reflects a sea change in a state party that has sometimes been characterized as old-school, good-old-boy and even patronista. Most of these new leaders are highly educated, reform-minded and aggressive in the policies they are pushing at the state and local levels. Because most innovation in public policy is at the state and local levels, that's good for New Mexico.

Better news still for the Democratic Party is that even younger 20-something up-and-comers are making their marks. Newly-appointed Bernalillo County Clerk Maggie Toulouse has changed the face of elections in the state's largest county. State representative candidate Antonio Sandoval, who narrowly lost his race to an incumbent in a strong Republican-leaning West Side district, is someone to watch. Other rising stars are Javier Benavidez, an Albuquerque City Council staffer, and Chris Catechis, who ran a strong race for City Council in 2005.

As a politico entering his 40s and concerned about how deep our political bench is, I find it reassuring that so many young leaders have not lost faith in our political system and are trying to bring the kind of new energy and fresh ideas that are sorely needed in the Democratic Party. Let's hope more of them get a chance to get in the game - sooner rather than later.

Griego is an Albuquerque writer and former Albuquerque City Council member.