Childhood can be bittersweet, and while it is difficult to look back at the blissful moments without some sense of nostalgia, progressing into maturity and leaving behind parts of adolescence is necessary. Yet there are some figures that have become shadows throughout our youth, and once again are making an appearance at the polls in 2024. The vast majority of the 21st century, since 2008, has seen in some fashion Joe Biden, Donald Trump, or both, in America’s presidential general elections; becoming pieces of a past that many want to abandon, yet cannot break free from.
Discontent has become evident among young people, and a recent survey of over 100 volunteering Trinity Prep students reinforces this conclusion. Among the students who responded as Republicans, under 30% said that they were happy Trump would be the nominee, and among Democrats only 6% were happy Biden was the nominee. Independents and those who don’t identify with a party seemed to be even more frustrated with the two leading candidates, as only 2% were happy with those choices.
There seems to be significant dissatisfaction with candidates handling the issues young voters find important. One survey taken in 2023 by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement found that young people’s top issues were the economy, climate change, gun violence and abortion. Recently, there has also been a shift in attentiveness to foreign matters.
While it is true that there are immeasurable differences between the two presidents, on the surface, without diving deep into the causes, many teens and young adults feel as though neither seem to address any of those issues appropriately. Whether it be a recession under Trump or massive inflation under Biden, a withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord under the Republican or record high temperatures under the Democrat, gun violence under one old guy or gun violence under another old guy, it all starts to feel the same.
While the responsibility for these problems should not rest solely on the president, many voters place the blame on the person in office when these events occurred.
In addition, the 81- and 77-year-old candidates are shockingly not resonating with the youth. Florida State House Representative Anna Esakamani understands that there is a sense of separation between the two very distant generations.
“Both the candidates are seniors, so when it comes to generational perspectives, there’s not a lot of connectivity,” Eskamani said. “Even when folks try to go online and use these platforms it feels manufactured, it doesn’t feel authentic and I think a lot of young people look for authenticity in civics and in their leaders.”
In order to start seeing some change in perspectives, Eskamani believes that both politicians and the youth can do a better job listening and having conversations with one another. Social media, while it can be a good way to build connectivity, is also prime for the spread of misinformation, and often people can post or comment without any fact checks.
“With social media, it is so easy to call people out with no consequences and that fuels the lack of dialogue and conversation,” Eskamani said. “But I think that the officials themselves also need to be intentional in talking to young people, hear the criticism and try to lead with change … millennials and Gen Z are two of the largest and most diverse voting blocks in American history. So don’t take us for granted.”
Those who are of age and intend to arrive at the polls in November, but do not like either of the options available and do not want to go third-party, might be uncertain as to who they will vote for. Eskamani suggests to consider voting for the candidate who you would want across the table if you were fighting for issues you cared about.
“It’s easier to influence someone that aligns with you on values versus not so,” Eskamani said. “Who’s an easier opponent to persuade on your issues to get them on your side? I think when you frame it like that it can help folks think about it in a different way. You’re not always voting for your favorites.”
