BTN News: In recent days, there has been a big change in politics. After President Joe Biden stepped down from the presidential race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, Generation Z voters have shown huge support. They have been very active on social media, sharing memes and content inspired by pop star Charli XCX, who supports Harris.
This wave of “Kamalove,” or love for Kamala, shows a change in how Generation Z feels about the Democratic Party. This generation has often felt ignored. Youth-led progressive organizations have said for months that Biden had problems with young voters. They urged him to focus more on issues important to them or risk losing their support. Now, with Biden out of the race, young leaders hope Harris can address their concerns and use this new energy among young voters.
Youth organizations across the country have quickly responded to Biden’s decision. Groups from states like Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan, California, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania have thanked Biden for stepping aside and expressed excitement about supporting a new candidate. Seventeen youth groups have already endorsed Harris, showing unity in their support.
Zo Tobi, communications director for the Movement Voter Project, summed up the feeling by saying, “This changes everything. The world as it is suddenly shifts to the world as it could be.” As the campaign moves forward, both Harris and her Republican opponent, Donald Trump, are focusing on young voters. These voters could play a key role in deciding important states.
In a recent video message shown at a conference for Generation Z activists and elected officials in Atlanta, Harris stressed the importance of the youth vote. She spoke about her support for gun safety, abortion rights, LGBTQ rights, and climate change. Eve Levenson, national director of youth engagement for Harris’s campaign, praised the strong response from young voters. She noted actions like new voter registrations, small donations, and students eager to form campaign groups on campuses.
Trump is also trying to attract young voters but with a different message. In a speech at a Florida faith conference organized by Turning Point USA, he called Harris “incompetent” and “far-left.” He promised to protect religious freedom if elected for a second term. He assured his audience he would defend Christians and other religions in public spaces.
John Della Volpe, polling director at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics, compared the current youth energy to that during Barack Obama’s campaign. Although there are few reliable polls, he described the current dynamic as a mix of Obama’s hopeful atmosphere and the urgency seen after the Parkland shooting. Many young people feel heard for the first time and believe their actions can make a difference in politics.
This new direction in the election has reignited hope among young voters. They have long been disenchanted with politics and the country’s direction. Many now feel a renewed sense of possibility. Nearly 60% of adults under 30 voted for Biden in 2020, according to an AP VoteCast survey. However, his popularity among this group has since dropped. Only about a quarter expressed a favorable opinion of him in a recent AP-NORC survey conducted before his withdrawal.
Other surveys, including those by The New York Times/Siena and CNN, indicate that Harris has a slightly better standing among young adults than Biden did. Sunjay Muralitharan, vice president of College Democrats of America, expressed relief at Harris’s entry into the race. Despite regular coalition meetings with Biden’s campaign team, Muralitharan was concerned about Biden’s appeal to young voters, noting a shift towards more leftist groups.
College Democrats have been vocal on issues like the Gaza conflict, urging the party to prioritize youth concerns. Muralitharan highlighted Harris’s support for crucial issues like climate change and reproductive rights. He suggested she could shift away from Biden’s approach to Gaza. “The perpetual obstacle has been that Biden is seen as the lesser of two evils, especially regarding the Gaza crisis,” he said. “But that changes now.”
Santiago Mayer, executive director of Gen Z Voters of Tomorrow, praised Biden’s campaign for creating a new framework for youth engagement. He believes this can now be used to support Harris. “Generation Z loves Vice President Harris, and Vice President Harris loves Generation Z,” Mayer said. He emphasized their readiness to mobilize for her campaign.
The enthusiasm among young voters marks a pivotal moment in the election cycle. As both Harris and Trump vie for this crucial demographic, the engagement and support of Generation Z could shape the future political landscape. The shift from Biden to Harris represents not just a change in candidates but a renewed hope and energy among young voters who feel their voices are finally being heard.
