Generation Z may hold the keys to the White House and parties know it – Brandon Sun

WASHINGTON – 18-year-old Carter Fay felt his future was in danger when he voted early in the United States election.

“The truth is that I think our democracy is in danger. So do people in my generation,” said Fay, from the battleground state of Georgia.

“To be honest, we are scared.”

Fay is one of the estimated eight million Gen Z voters who may participate in the presidential election for the first time. There is a power behind this generation that is angry at the current political system and worried about its future.

And the race to the White House still looks tight.

Many young people were dismayed when it appeared the election would be a repeat of the 2020 matchup between President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump.

Trump was weakening the Democrats’ grip on the youth vote, making inroads among young white men without a college education. It also had growing support among young Black and Latino men.

Democrats were worried that young voters, indifferent to the two older candidates, would not even be able to go to the polls.

A tumultuous turn followed a disastrous presidential debate and Biden removed his name from the Democratic ticket. Vice President Kamala Harris rocketed to the nomination, fueled by numerous memes, viral moments and the excitement of young Americans.

Marc Trussler of the University of Pennsylvania said polls show young people overwhelmingly support Harris, around 60-40. However, there is a serious gender gap.

“Young men are much more pro-Trump,” said Trussler, director of data science for the university’s public opinion research and election studies program.

“But even among young men, there is probably a connection between Harris and Trump, maybe a little bit pro-Harris.”

Evan, who recently attended a Trump rally in Pennsylvania, said this was his first time voting for president. The 20-year-old, who did not give his last name, said he had been running a business since he was 12 and that it was difficult under the current management.

“I see the prices of things, inflation, up and down, up and down,” Evan said. “Now, it’s like it’s finally our turn to have money in this world, to do the things we want, and… (we) can’t afford anything.”

Trump has strategically sought to reach voters like Evan who are frustrated about their future prospects and concerned about what they call the “woke” culture of the left. He has appeared on “sister” podcasts such as the wrestling-themed Six Feet Under, the sports-themed Bussin’ with the Boys, and “The Joe Rogan Experience.”

Their rallies have the feel of a monster truck rally rather than a political event. Celebrity endorsements include Kid Rock, Hulk Hogan and local rap artists from battleground states.

Trussler said he’s connecting with first-time voters, but also with people who traditionally aren’t interested in politics and rarely vote.

“I think we saw that both candidates pursued strategies that would not have been considered in previous elections,” Trussler, who is Canadian, said.

Harris has also appeared on podcasts like “Call Her Daddy” and has received celebrity endorsements from Beyoncé and Taylor Swift. The vice president and his team were praised for their success on social media, where they linked to viral moments.

“Campaigns have enlisted (people) on social media to implement these types of strategies,” said Melissa Haussman, professor emeritus at Carleton University in Ottawa. “It just doesn’t grow organically.”

For the first time, Democrats will meet voters where they are, Fay said. The University of Toronto student said his generation grew up on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. This is where they entered politics and activism.

“There’s no real way to see things change that we want to see change,” Fay said. “It’s really important that my generation, now Gen Z, has the ability to go out and vote.”

Fay said many of her peers care about issues that affect their future, such as climate change, social justice, education and gun laws.

“My generation had to go to school and actually grew up fearing for their lives,” he said, pointing to the Apalachee High School shooting in September.

They also attach importance to freedom. Fay added that young women of her generation have fewer rights than the previous generation.

Surveys also suggest that peer influence may be an important factor in voter turnout.

A poll by the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics found that 79 percent of young people say they plan to vote if their friends participate. Only 35 percent plan to attend, even if their friends don’t.

Trussler said this could be critical. In general, youth participation is lower than other groups.

But about 55 percent of voters ages 18 to 29 cast ballots in 2020; This is a huge increase from the previous election. They played a key role in Biden winning battleground states and capturing the White House. Young people going to the polls in droves again could be a boon for Democrats on November 5.

Young Republicans are also motivated and talking to their friends, said George Constantine, 20.

“If they like Trump, keep following Trump,” Constantine said at the recent Trump rally in Pennsylvania.

“Don’t let your friends, your school, the internet tell you anything else. What is best for your heart is what you think.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 3, 2024.