By Kiara Doyal, The Seattle Medium
In a social media statement on Sunday, July 21, 2024, President Joe Biden announced he would step down from the 2024 Presidential Election and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate. This unexpected development has sparked widespread discussions, particularly among young voters in Seattle.
Millennials and Generation Z (born between 1997 and 2012) and Generation Alpha (born between 2012 and 2024) represent not only the future of the country but also a growing force for change and political progress. Their reactions to Biden’s decision vary widely and reflect a mix of hesitancy and strong opinions about whether or not the recent events will alter their voting decisions.
Aquilla Herrara, 27, who was completely disinterested when Biden was running, says that she has now changed her mind that Harris appears to be the new Democratic nominee.
“I was not paying any attention to the race when Joe Biden still remained in the presidential election,” says Herrara. “However, now that he has dropped out, I am pretty curious and have watched a lot more of Kamala’s speeches over the last few days, and I am curious to see what Trump decides to say against her, considering that she has had some unpopular policies earlier in her career.”
Despite Biden’s endorsement, there are some young voters who remain unconvinced that Harris is the best choice for president.
Dana Brown, 30, says that Biden’s decision does not change his voting stance, as he does not believe Harris is the best replacement for President Biden.
“It doesn’t matter, it doesn’t change my plans because I was not going to vote for Biden in the first place,” says Brown. “I think Elizabeth Warren is the best candidate, but she will never claim to be a candidate. So, with that being said, I am not voting for Biden because he doesn’t do anything for us, and Kamala imprisons Black people as a Black woman herself, which I cannot support.”
“America is built on theft, lies, and defeat,” he added. “I believe that it is idiocracy to choose a president based on the better of the two. When we are choosing the leader of our country based on the better of the situation that our country is facing, which to me is the issues with our economy, that is the better presidential candidate that we should be voting for, and money-wise Trump is the better candidate for that situation.”
Payton Doyal, 27, does not plan on casting a vote this year for the presidential election and still feels the same about the Republican and Democratic parties even after Biden’s announcement.
“It does not change my voting plans,” says Doyal. “I was not going to vote either way. Despite hating both candidates to begin with, Biden and Trump, political force is a thing and with a new candidate for the Democratic Party, and the most recent assassination news, no one will stand a chance against Trump.”
Despite the debates and controversy surrounding Biden’s decision, some young voters are very optimistic about Harris’s candidacy.
Rakaya Johnson, 19, despite her previous thoughts on Harris, is optimistic about Harris replacing Biden in the presidential election and says that Harris can count on her support.
“Overall, I am happy about President Biden leaving the presidential race and endorsing Kamala Harris as the democratic candidate,” says Johnson. “In my opinion, Biden is not capable physically nor mentally to fulfill the role of President in a way that serves us anymore. This has been made incredibly clear during the recent presidential debate.”
“On a deeper level, although I believe that Kamala Harris would be a great fit for President, personally I dislike her. In the past it was heavily advertised that she is a bi-racial woman, but it seems as though she uses her identity as an angle when it is beneficial to her,” continued Johnson. “To me being Black, or in her case bi-racial, should be something that is always displayed with pride as it is a large part of who you are. But instead, she chose to use it as a tool that is only talked about when it pertains to getting people to vote for her. As a young Black woman, this is very disheartening and has developed into a lack of trust. Regardless of my opinions, I still believe that Kamala Harris would be the best option on the ballot and she can count on my vote this November.”
Davante Cooper, 29, feels conflicted by the recent events and is unsure how the presidential election will unfold.
“Prior to Joe Biden dropping out of the election, I was looking forward to a great debate,” says Cooper. “I came into this election with an open mind and all of my personal views aside, but now I am conflicted, and I am interested in what Kamala has to say and how she will potentially help move our country forward.”
Although young voters are mixed about how they feel about the upcoming presidential election, many of them are more engaged today than they were just a few days ago.