Youth Engagement Top Priority As Democrats Prepare To Galvanize Young Voters Following DNC
Source: Robert Gauthier / Getty
Bilal G. Morris | August 23, 2024 | News One |
The energy was through the roof this week as Democrats from all over the country rallied around Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago.
Even with the high enthusiasm, surrogates for the Harris campaign team and non-partisan organizations like the Young Black Lawyers’ Organizing Coalition (YBLOC) stressed the importance of continuing to engage with young voters in ways that directly speak to the issues important to them.
During a Youth Council forum on the second day of the convention, vice presidential nominee Tim Walz spoke directly to an audience of young voters about climate change, abortion access and education costs, three issues very important to Americans 36 and under.
“Around climate change, [young voters] need to take a role,” Walz said. “You know why? Because I’m going to be dead long before the impact … and you and your generation are going to feel the brunt of it.”
He also encouraged them to stay excited because the race was going to be close.
“[This election] is gonna be close … but it’s going to be won by your demographic,” he said. “You’ve got all the energy … sleep when you’re dead, not now.”