Pictured above: Brooks Clifford who is a sophomore at Georgetown University

By Brooks Clifford

Sept. 25, 2024: According to the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University, more than 40 million members of Gen Z (defined as people born between 1997 and 2012) will be able to vote in the 2024 Presidential Election. To put that into perspective, that is more than 25% of the votes cast in the 2020 Presidential Election. As you can see, the youth vote will have a major impact on choosing our new President in November and also on future policies implemented in our country.

So, what do young Americans care about? In 2022, with the help of Schoen-Cooperman Research, I surveyed 800 people ages 18 to 29 across the country to shed light on the values of "Young Americans."  Those surveyed were of different ethnicities and genders. Here are three of the key survey findings:

-Young Americans serve their communities but are largely disengaged with national politics and macro-level issues.

-Young Americans are more likely to be galvanized by a leader who is positive, inspirational, and who can communicate in a highly effective manner.

-Young Americans are optimistic about their future, but do not feel as positive about the current strength of American democracy.

Overall, Young Americans have strong opinions about issues they care about, the leaders and people that appeal to them, and the future of the United States. However, the majority appear to be uninformed, misinformed, or disappointed in America’s choices for leaders, because these leaders don’t embody the characteristics or care about the issues important to Young Americans.

Presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump recognize these issues and are working to garner the support of Young Americans although with different strategies.

According to NPR, Harris’ campaign has a goal of “reaching 150 college campuses across 11 states,” as well as “doubling her youth organizing staff” and running ads on “social media, in school newspapers and on college websites.”  Earlier this month, she also received the endorsement of singer Taylor Swift who has a large and broad fanbase, which includes Young Americans.

Candidate Trump, on the other hand, is taking more of an online-specific approach through posts on Tik Tok, as well as collaborating with high-profile social media figures.  For example, Trump appeared on the podcasts of famous comedian Theo Von and social media stars Logan Paul and Adin Ross.  He also played 18-holes of golf with the most recent US Open Champion Bryson Dechambeau which was broadcast on Dechambeau's YouTube channel.

The Young Americans of today will have a significant impact on political movements, elections, and the policy and legislation that will define the US in the coming decades.

Currently, the majority of us are still forming our political beliefs and affiliations, which will be molded by our education, the people in our lives, and most importantly, by the leaders themselves, and will eventually come to be the future of the United States. 

To see how Bronxville has voted in Presidential Elections over the past 100 years, click here.