As the 2024 election approaches, young Democrats are facing a complex challenge in mobilizing students to support President Joe Biden. The issue is not just about engaging classmates and Generation Z voters on campus, but also navigating the nuances of global conflicts that resonate deeply with this demographic.
For Hasan Pyarali, president of the College Democrats chapter at Wake Forest University and Muslim caucus chair for the national group, the struggle to connect with students is real. "If I'm talking about electric vehicles and climate change, and then a student asks me, 'What about all the emissions caused by the bombing of Gaza?' I'm like, 'Well, you know, can't help you there,'" he said. Pyarali's concerns are not unique; many Democratic organizations and liberal groups are worried about youth voter turnout in the face of global crises.
The Israeli military offensive in Gaza has taken center stage, with President Biden supporting the effort to quell Hamas' deadly cross-border attacks. The conflict has sparked protests on campuses across the US, but Biden's condemnation of "disorder" in the demonstrations has only added fuel to the fire. Young voters are not just concerned about global issues like climate change and abortion access; they're also deeply affected by the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.
The College Democrats of America (CDA) recently sounded the alarm, calling out the White House for its approach to the conflict. "It should be made abundantly clear that calling for the freedom of Palestinians is not antisemitic," the group wrote. The decision to take a bold stand has drawn attention across ideological lines, but the CDA insists that their concerns are rooted in the difficulty of engaging young voters.
Polls show a mixed picture on how young Americans view the conflict and its impact on Biden's campaign. A Harvard/Institute of Politics poll found that 51% of young Americans support a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, while an Economist/YouGov poll showed that 32% of adults under 30 sympathize with Palestinians.
However, it's clear that young voters are motivated by different issues than their predecessors. Economic concerns, housing, and social justice are top of mind for many Gen Zers. According to John Della Volpe, the Harvard Institute of Politics polling director, "This is a different youth electorate than we saw in 2020 and 2022, and young voters are motivated by different things."
As the election approaches, young Democrats must navigate this complex landscape. Santiago Mayer, founder and executive director of Voters of Tomorrow, warns against drawing a straight line between student unrest and electoral outcomes. "I really don't think that the protests themselves are an electoral conversation," he said.
Despite these challenges, College Democrats national president Carolyn Salvador Avila remains optimistic. "Even if it's not the top at the list, [Biden's Israel policy] is still something that's keeping people who would otherwise fully support this party from being 100% sure that they're going to cast their vote for Biden."