WASHINGTON — Democratic and left-wing youth organizing groups are seizing a recent opportunity to mobilize younger voters now that Vice President Kamala Harris is his party’s candidate for president.
Young Adult Voters — including millions of Generation Z representatives — could be crucial to deciding the race pitting the 59-year-old Democrat for the Oval Office against former President Donald Trump, the 78-year-old Republican presidential candidate. Gen Z members eligible to vote this year are between 18 and 27.
These groups say young voters are excited about the chance to elect someone who better represents their demographic, since Harris would be the first female president, the second black president and the first president of South Asian descent. About 45% of Generation Z voters are young people of color, according to Citizen Science and Engagement Information and Research Center at Tufts University.
Democrats nominated Harris after President Joe Biden, 81, dropped his re-election bid following a impoverished performance in a June 27 debate and intense pressure on him to drop out of the race.
The organizing groups also highlight the connection Harris demonstrates with young people on issues that have historically mattered to this demographic, such as protecting reproductive rights and climate action.
Battleground States
With less than three months to go until Election Day, these groups are in full swing. They are focusing on states that have historically been particularly close in presidential elections, using their state and local chapters to recruit young voters.
Kati Durkin, western vice president of Young Democrats of America, said they have a “pretty focused campaign plan” that focuses on customary swing states — such as Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — to reach YDA members in those states and facilitate members connect with their peers.
“We’re really thinking about: How do we mobilize young voters using our network of charters across the country? So how do we get out there and tell people on a college campus in Nevada, ‘Hey, here’s how to register to vote, here’s why voting is so important, and here’s why we’re really excited about Vice President Harris?'”
YDA, an organization directly affiliated with the Democratic Party, is the largest youth-led political organization in the country with more than 20,000 members in all 50 states.
Durkin said the group is making sure that “while our folks on the ground are doing their job, we’re bringing in folks from Washington and New Yorkers back home and getting them to help make decisions in a state like Nevada, but also making sure that when the DNC does youth outreach, we’re bringing our members there, helping with that infrastructure.”
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Similarly, College Democrats of America — the official student chapter of the Democratic National Committee — communicates with local chapters that are on the ground in their areas to encourage voting.
“We’ve seen a lot of local organizations putting in a lot of effort, especially in counties that may have historically been Republican, to get young people out to vote, make sure that people on their campuses or in their states are actively registered to vote (and) are excited to vote,” Gia Iyer, CDA’s deputy communications director, told States Newsroom.
CDA also works with other youth organizations to ensure their message reaches a wider social media following.
“It’s just about reaching out to as many young people as possible and getting them excited about this election,” Iyer said.
Youth and advocacy groups rally around Harris
Shortly after Harris announced her intention to seek the Democratic nomination, a coalition of youth organizations, including YDA and CDA, endorsed her.
“As an advocate for reproductive freedom, climate action, economic justice, and gun violence prevention, Vice President Harris is uniquely positioned to build a coalition of young voters who will lead her to victory,” 17 youth and advocacy groups said in a statement in slow July. statement.
The organizations highlighted Harris’ historic role in the presidency if elected, as she would be “the first woman, first Asian American and second Black president.”
“As representatives of the most diverse generation in our nation’s history, we see ourselves in a Kamala Harris presidency,” the coalition said.
Volunteer registration
Voters of Tomorrow — one of 17 organizing groups supporting Harris — saw more affiliate applications and volunteer sign-ups in the three days after Harris’ decision was announced than in the two months before.
This left-wing organization aims to escalate voter turnout among young people and has a network of chapters in more than 20 states.
Deputy spokeswoman Jessica Siles said the group’s key activities include running a training camp for young people and weekly phone calls and text messages.
Siles said the group’s network of chapters “will also be organizing on different college campuses, whether it’s voter registration drives or town halls with local candidates, just trying to meet young people where they are, whether it’s on campus or online, and trying to connect them with the resources they need to protect our future.”
Recent polls show Harris has an advantage over Trump, especially among young voters. Morning Consult Survey conducted Aug. 9-11, 48% of voters ages 18-34 said they would choose Harris, while 41% said Trump.
Durkin of the YDA said: “Harris is not only the right candidate for this position, but she has generated so much emotion. I haven’t seen that in years, I mean, it wasn’t until this morning that a friend of mine wrote to me and said, ‘Is this what hope looks like?’”
Harris is “someone who has historically put effort into advocating for her values, which are our values, and helping young people. I think that’s a big part of what’s generating the excitement,” Durkin added.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walzwhom Harris chose as her vice presidential candidate also generated enthusiasm from young voters.
CDA’s Iyer said Harris is “really appealing to a younger, more progressive audience, which is great,” adding that “Walz is an incredible governor in his own right who has done a lot of good for people across his state, and it’s a really great combination to see someone who actually stands up for the issues that matter to young Democrats like CDA members.”
Undecided voters
Although Harris is gaining support among young voters, pro-Palestinian organizers are putting pressure on both the Biden administration and Harris, who is campaigning for president, to impose an arms embargo on Israel. It is not yet clear how much of an impact opposition to Israel’s war with Hamas might have on turnout among young Democrats.
The nationwide campaign “This is not another bomb” is the latest initiative Non-Aligned National Movementwhere a wide group of organizers, including young and progressive voters, protested Biden’s Politics regarding the war between Israel and Hamas.
The organizers are insisting on Harris “depart from President Biden’s disastrous Gaza policy,” stating that “the call for a ceasefire and arms embargo is a moral and humane imperative.”
Activists are also holding “One More Bomb Day of Action” with rallies across the country the weekend before the Democratic National Convention.
