Pre-debate predictions and hot takes from some of politics youngest leaders
Pre-debate predictions and hot takes from some of politics youngest leaders
Ahead of 2024's biggest night in politics so far, a handful of young leaders weigh in on what they're hoping to hear from their respective candidates.
Tonight marks the biggest night in the 2024 presidential election cycle thus far: the first debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. The stakes are high.
Ahead of the showdown, I checked in with some of the most visible — and influential — young leaders in politics to see how they’re feeling. I asked a handful of young Democrats and Republicans for their predictions, hot takes, and what they’re hoping to hear from their respective candidates — as well as what’s on their debate bingo card.
Here’s what they had to say.
📲 Organizer Memes, a progressive meme page by and for campaign workers
Prediction: “I think the real winner of the debate is the content creators. Regardless of what happens there are going to be so many clicks. And regardless of reality they will all end up sharing content that confirms their priors and does well with their base. We’re so siloed both sides will be talking about how they won.”
Hot take: “Debates are a bad format since the presidency never requires it and we should have simulation room where we give them and a team an issue to deal with in real time.”
📲 Danielle Butcher Franz, 27, CEO of center-right environmentalist group American Conservation Coalition
Prediction:
“The strongest predictor of Independents voting for Democrats in 2020 was caring about climate. We’ll see which candidate wants to win them over.”
Bingo card: “Inflation, reproductive rights, maybe SCOTUS since some big decisions have come out, probably global conflicts Israel/Hamas.”
📲 Santiago Mayer, 22, founder of youth vote organization Voters of Tomorrow
On what he’s hoping to hear from Biden:
“It’s the economy, stupid (but for real it’s cost of living).”
And from Trump:
“On a personal level, I want to hear Donald Trump explain why he wants to deport me.”
Bingo card: “Instead of a free space I have Joe Biden saying ‘folks.’”
📲 Joe Mitchell, 27, former Iowa state Rep. and founder of Run GenZ, a group that recruits young conservatives to run for office
On what he’s hoping to hear from Trump:
“He should say to look at his four years in office and compare them to four years from Biden. Do a literal compare and contrast… you can literally see the policies he’s stood for — fiscal restraint, tax cuts, a strong border, support for law enforcement, economy wise, prices — he should stand on that, and the policies he enacted. Just do a real clear compare and contrast between him and Biden, and Biden’s policies, and ask, ‘Is your life better now than it was four years ago?, If not vote for me.’”
On what he’s most curious to see: How CNN moderators Dana Bash and Jake Tapper moderate, and if Trump comes out swinging.
📲 Olivia Julianna, 21, Democratic political influencer
On what she’s hoping to hear from Biden:
“Abortion and affordability. I want to know the plan to protect my reproductive freedoms and how the President and his administration are setting up young Americans for a prosperous future as we mature into adulthood.”
📲 Harry Sisson, 21, Democratic political influencer
On what he’s hoping to hear from Biden:
“I just hope that Biden calls Trump a convicted felon to his face.”
📲 Ebo Entsuah, 30, Republican, former city councilman in Clermont, Florida, conservative
On what he’s hoping to hear from Trump:
“I want policy. I don’t care about the fluff and the jabs. Give us something of substance. Talk about the wins during his administration and where Biden’s administration has failed.”
Hot take: “Biden stays alert and outshines Trump.”
On his bingo card: “Trump will be muted more than Biden. Inflation will be the hot word of the night. ‘Threat to our democracy’ will be said at least 3x.”
📲 Sam Weinberg, 23, Democrat, Founder of youth vote organization Path to Progress
On what he’s hoping to hear from Biden:
“Strategy-wise, I hope Biden hits Trump on his felony convictions and pending trials but I worry that he won’t. Policy-rise, Biden also needs to speak to current crises that affect young people and the actions he’s taking to thwart them, from climate change to student debt to the Middle East.”
This week’s headlines 🗞
Forget CNN: Gen Z Will Be Watching TikTokers Tonight, Mini Racker for The Daily Beast, 6/27
Do the Democrats Have a Gen Z Problem?, E. Tammy Kim for The New Yorker, 6/27
Op-ed: As an independent voter and Gen-Z woman, here’s what I want to hear from Donald Trump, Rikki Schlott for The New York Post, 6/27
Op-ed: Free Speech And Reproductive Rights Are Deeply Connect — & Both Are On The Ballot This Year, Pratika Katiyar for Her Campus, 6/26
And earlier this week, I was on Spectrum News NY-1’s “The Rush Hour” talking about young voters ahead of the New York primary elections with Annika Pergament. You can watch the full clip here.
A request from Teen Vogue!
One of Teen Vogue’s 2024 election correspondents, Toni, is hoping to speak with young voters about where they're getting their news ahead of the election (if at all). If you’re interested in sharing, please reach out to Toni at aodejimi2@student.gsu.edu.