Jaylen Smith Elected as One of the Youngest Mayors in the United States

An 18-year-old college student makes history in Earle, Arkansas by winning the mayoral election.

Jaylen Smith, an 18-year-old college student, has been elected as the mayor of Earle, Arkansas, making him one of the youngest people to serve as a city's top leader in the United States.

Smith, who is Black, won the mayoral race in Tuesday's runoff election, securing 235 votes compared to Nemi Matthews' 183, according to unofficial results.

If he takes office, he will be the youngest member of the African American Mayors Association. The association's current youngest member is Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb, who is 35 years old.

Smith is among a small group of people who have been elected mayor before turning 20, including Michael Sessions, who was elected mayor of Hillsdale, Michigan at 18 in 2005, and John Tyler Hammons, who was elected mayor of Muskogee, Oklahoma at 19 in 2008.

During his campaign, Smith focused on improving public safety and bringing new businesses, including a grocery store, to Earle, a city of about 1,800 people located 25 miles northwest of Memphis, Tennessee. He is a student at Arkansas State University Mid-South in West Memphis.

The young mayor-elect has not yet commented on his plans for Earle, but his election is a testament to the growing political power of young people and the ability of young leaders to make a positive impact in their communities.