UNITED STATES: As 2024 is approaching, the election season will once again mark the face-off between Donal Trump and Joe Biden. The youth vote has always had a significant impact on elections, and the US election is no exception. Young voters played a significant role in the 2020 presidential election, outpacing 2016’s turnout. It’s anticipated that the younger vote will cast a dramatic impact on the upcoming 2024 race.
As the high-stakes presidential election in the United States approaches, the race is heating up with candidates announcing their election bids. Former President Donald Trump had earlier announced his bid and was in the race, and now, on Tuesday, US President Joe Biden announced his re-run for a second term, joining Trump and others, escalating tensions.
The current US president, Joe Biden, who is 80 years old, is already the oldest sitting US president, and former President Trump, 76, who is facing many allegations, including hush-money schemes and defamation, is going to have a tough time winning over the young voters. But will the Democrats running in the race win over the young voters?
The two newest generations, Gen Z and Millennials, and their potential impact on the country’s political future are among the most debatable topics among politicians nowadays.
The Harvard Institute of Politics (IOP) showed enthusiasm among young voters regarding their right to vote in the 2022 midterms, with their vote influencing Democrats to triumph in almost all battleground statewide races and expanding their majority in the Senate.
Over the last two decades, the political rift between generations has grown. The changing demographic trend has spurred the Democratic Party’s struggle to mobilise this demographic represents an existential challenge as well as a golden opportunity.
However, it is notable that both parties are toiling to improve voter participation to turn out the young votes, especially in the upcoming 2024 Biden vs. Trump election race.
President Biden, with the hope of securing his second term, has planned to reach out to young voters in the 18–29 age group. As per the president’s strategy team, they are trying to connect with influencers around the country to promote and commend Biden’s performance throughout his tenure in office.
It is very important for Biden to win over the youth voters. These social media influencers who have a strong connection with the locals can help them a lot in gaining the young voters’ votes,
“In addition to moms who use various platforms to gather information, climate activists, and those whose primary source of information is online, we are attempting to reach young people,” said Jen O’Malley Dillon, White House Deputy Chief of Staff.
Ironically, Biden’s admission, who had previously led a war against Tiktok and attempted to completely ban the application, has planned to reach out to TikTok influencers to spread his political message and boost his popularity among young Americans who will vote in the 2024 election.
The approach adds up, as Trump, the former president, has a sizeable social media following across several platforms. The former president will have ease in promoting his message among the public.
Trump, who has vowed to make ‘America great and glorious again,’ has strong social media control but still faces many legal challenges, including allegations of rape, falsified business records, defamation, and a hush-money scheme. Some of the Republican hopefuls who once supported him might mount a strong battle against the former president, making his race even tougher.
There will undoubtedly be more bumps along the way to the 2024 race, but for now, a Trump-Biden rematch, drab as it may be for a nation that values change, has to fight tough competition. But the question raised about whether the current or former US president will win over the youth remains unclear. Well, to get a precise answer, we have to wait for the outcomes.
Also Read: The Role of Social Media in the Trump vs. Biden 2024 Election
