Vice President and newly promoted Democratic nominee Kamala Harris has pledged to win the young vote in this election, riding the wave of online “Kamala Love” driven by Gen Z.
In a pre-recorded online address to attendees at a two-day Young Voter Summit in Atlanta, Harris said she was elected the first woman vice president of the United States in 2020 “because young voters turned out to vote.” She praised the Biden-Harris administration for making “historic progress” in fighting gun violence and climate change, all of which are “on the line again this November,” Harris said.
“We know young voters are key, and we know your vote can’t be taken for granted,” she said. “It has to be earned, and that’s exactly what we intend to do.”
Since Joe Biden wrapped up his reelection campaign and endorsed her as his running mate for Republican nominee Donald Trump in November’s election, young supporters have flooded social media with coconut tree video clips and “Brat Summer” memes, reflecting how her campaign has shook up a presidential race that many Democrats feared would slip away.
In an interview on the sidelines of the summit, Pramila Jayapal, the progressive U.S. representative, said the level of enthusiasm she’s seen for Harris over the past six days, especially among young people, is “undeniable.”
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Jayapal, chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, which is divided on whether Biden should step down. “The closest he’s come is probably Barack Obama.”
Jayapal cited the Harris campaign’s record fundraising and surge in early support, saying, “But it’s so much more than that. Just the amount of money that’s been raised. The fact that it’s come from grassroots donors, the fact that it’s from first-time donors, volunteers, registered voters, that’s really palpable.”
Jayapal said Harris, the first woman of color to lead a major party’s presidential nomination, had a unique opportunity to inspire young people as well as black and brown voters. He also said Harris was a strong voice on issues important to young people, particularly abortion rights.
“I think on every count, including the fact that she’s a prosecutor and she will prosecute convicted felons, this candidate can lead us to victory,” Jayapal said.
Doug Jones, a former Alabama senator and Biden aide, said Democrats were eager to come together after a tough few weeks.
“It’s not just moving at lightning speed, it’s moving with a passion that I’ve never seen before,” he said in an interview at the conference. “It’s extraordinary.”
Many young people have expressed hope that Harris will distance herself from Biden’s approach to Israel’s war on Gaza.
During Thursday’s meeting, Vice President Harris said she implored Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept a ceasefire that would halt fighting in Gaza and release hostages. In comments after the meeting, Harris highlighted the suffering of the Palestinians while also recognizing Israel’s right to defend itself.
“We cannot turn a blind eye to these tragedies,” Harris said this week. “We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to the suffering. And I will not be silent.”
Jayapal said, About 100 House Democrats Ms Harris, who boycotted the Israeli prime minister’s address to Congress this week, said it would be “complicated” for her to chart her own path while serving as vice president.
“I know she has deep empathy for the Palestinian people,” Jayapal said, adding that he had discussed the issue with Harris recently. Pointing to Harris’ comments after meeting with Netanyahu this week, the Seattle Democrat said, “I think she was trying to signal that she wanted to take a different path, that she wanted to consider doing things that President Biden hasn’t considered or decided not to do.”
Jayapal noted that it’s not just young, Arab and Muslim Americans who are calling for the administration to change course: Black religious leaders and labor groups have also joined in calling for an end to America’s aggressive military aid to Israel.
“I think she’s heard all of that,” Jayapal said, “and we’ll just have to wait and see how she actually does it.”
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Jayapal has also joined the search for Harris’ running mate. Harris is endorsing Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a strong supporter of labor who Jayapal believes could help Democrats win the Midwest. Waltz is one of more than a half-dozen candidates being considered as potential running mates.
Trump made his case to young Florida conservatives at a faith conference organized by the far-right youth advocacy group Turning Point Action. In his speech on Friday, Trump vowed to “protect Christians in our schools, our military, our government, our workplaces, our hospitals and our public places.”
He also told the rally that if he were to return to the presidency in November’s election, “there would be no need to vote again.”
“Christians, go vote! Just this one time, you don’t have to vote again,” he said, accusing the vice president of being “incompetent.”
Speaking at a private fundraiser in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, on Saturday, Harris called the attacks on her by Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, “just bizarre.”
Recent polls show that Republicans Support grows among voters under 35 middle Widespread disillusionment The current state of American politics, institutions, and leadership. But an Axios/Generation Lab poll found that A poll conducted after Biden left office showed Harris leading Trump by 20 points among younger voters.
Youth-led groups that have been calling on Democrats to invest more in young people are hopeful that Harris can harness this new energy for her campaign, which has already seen active participation from an enthusiasm they’ve dubbed “Kama Love.”
“The energy here is driven by Vice President Harris and the hope she has given young people and the vision she wants to achieve for us,” said Marianna Pecora, communications director for Tomorrow’s Voters, which is organizing the Atlanta Youth Year summit. “Young people are excited, they’re energized, they’re finding politics fun, they’re paying attention to something they haven’t seen in a while. I don’t think that momentum is going to die with a meme.”
a A handful of New poll This week saw Harris, the top Democrat, gain a lead of several points over Trump, showing that the national race against the former president is now tight.
Speaking at a private fundraiser in Massachusetts on Saturday, Harris called herself an “underdog” to Trump in the presidential race. “We are underdogs in this race. We’re on even footing. We are underdogs in this race, but this is a people-powered race,” Harris said.
Tomorrow’s Voters, an organization led by liberal Gen Zers, recently joined a coalition of 17 youth groups to endorse Harris, with the newly formed alliance aiming to boost her in the 100 days remaining until Election Day.
On July 21, after Biden endorsed Harris, tomorrow’s voters Best fundraising day everAbout $125,000 has been raised, and applications and requests to start new chapters are pouring in.
