As November approaches, it seems all Americans are willingly (or unwillingly) focused on the landscape of the 2024 election. There is a general sense of crisis among politicians and the public alike, and this race feels far more important than the last.
For young people entering their first or second election cycle, it can be easy to overlook the hard work being done to address the everyday issues facing Americans as the opposition dominates the media. is. The importance of optimism among young voters cannot be underestimated, as they are perhaps some of the most needed.
[This story originally appeared in Love Now Media.]
Understanding “Gen Z voting”
Although often dismissed as an overly “woke” and “lazy” generation, after the 2020 election, the Gen Z vote became one of the most important votes to win. Our vote played a critical role in the initial success of the Biden campaign, mobilizing young people around the world to get out to the polls and vote blue. Biden’s account on the youth-led TikTok racked up a combined 13 million likes in just one week in fall 2020, according to Gen-Z for Change.
In the end, Americans ages 18 to 29 made up about one-sixth of the 2020 electorate, with Biden leading by more than 20 points among them. Biden’s progressive response to the coronavirus pandemic and social movements like Black Lives Matter appears to have been a catalyst for this support.
In 2024, following Biden’s victory, former President Donald Trump appears to have sought out social media celebrities to garner similar support from Gen Z. Trump is trying to garner votes that have previously cost him the presidency by appearing on Kickstreamer Adin Roth’s channel and inviting TikTok star Bryce Hall on stage.
If presidential elections are a family holiday, local elections are Sunday cleaning. If you don’t work all year round, or if you don’t accumulate “small things”, there’s no way you’ll be fit to welcome customers.
Unfortunately, for politicians like Trump, there isn’t much room for political language or familiar faces when it comes to winning over young voters. Instead, Gen Z is looking for open and honest answers about the questions that matter to them. Despite early support for President Biden, there is now overall dissatisfaction with his tenure in office, with 76 percent of Gen Z voters expressing disapproval as of May 2024.
As they gear up for the 2024 election, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Trump have made plans for the next four years (even though the nation already knows what life will be like under their leadership). is tasked with convincing Americans that it can offer something different. . It’s clear that in order to get into power, you have to offer something different to young Americans.
Issues surrounding the parties involved
In the summer of 2024, Love Now Media conducted a series of interviews with Gen Z voters here in Philadelphia to gauge what concerns them most. Based on these conversations, Philadelphia’s young voters want to see solutions to drug use, homelessness, gun violence, and education. When we looked at national trends, we found that gun violence is one of the biggest concerns among young voters. When asked by the Love Now media team what he would like to see change in Philadelphia, Bashir simply stated: [problem]”
Given the influx of gun violence across the country and the more than 50 school shootings in the US this year, some believe that nothing is being done to address gun violence. Maybe. However, this is not entirely true. To offset the disappointment, local officials in Philadelphia are taking steps to address the violence.
Congressman G. Loni Green, District 190, who is up for election this year, has worked extremely hard to address gun violence in West Allegheny. Greene has consistently voted in favor of protective orders, universal background checks, and restrictions on firearm ownership. The elected District Attorney of Philadelphia has awarded nearly $4 million in grants to anti-violence organizations in and around Philadelphia that work to address the root causes of gun violence. When asked about her preferred solution, interviewee Kayla said: [about] Get a gun and do something else with your time. ”
As of September 30, 2024, gun violence in Philadelphia is down 40% compared to 2023. While this is an encouraging statistic, the relationship between violent crime and poverty is strong. Both addresses should not be mutually exclusive, and as a result, the cost of living has consistently been a common concern among young voters.
More than 20 percent of Philadelphia families live below the poverty line, and the city holds the title of “America’s Poorest Large City.” The title suggests a kind of careless sin committed by the media and internalized by citizens. Sonrisa, who we spoke to this summer, said: “If people have a basic standard of living, and it’s supported financially by the government, we may actually be able to realize our best selves.” It’s just hard, and it shouldn’t be. But it’s there.”
Our reputation will get through to people. I’ll admit that even I feel a little sick when my aunt affectionately refers to my hometown as “Filthydelphia.” These bad news and scary statistics deter people from participating in elections, especially if they are made to feel like their experience is not a priority for candidates.
First-time voters tend to get caught up in the slew of media outlets trying to convince them that all bets are on the presidential election. While this seems to be effective in getting people to vote, if voters don’t feel like they’re well represented, it’s easy to feel like hope is lost. But that’s not the case.
In 2023, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted 103-100 in favor of a bill to increase the minimum wage from $7.25 to $15. The bill did not pass the Pennsylvania Senate, but several Senate seats are up for election in 2024. Meanwhile, Sen. Bob Casey, the Senate’s most outspoken Democrat, has spoken out about what he calls “grieflation.” Casey authored four reports on the issue and invited Pennsylvanians to testify before the House about the impact corporate greed had on their lives and families.
Photo taken at Love Now Media’s More Loving Philly event on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 15, 2024.
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