IGP Roundtable Explores the Power of the Youth Vote

In a roundtable discussion, held on October 3 as part of the Institute for Global Politics’ Election Series, experts explored the evolving role of young voters in U.S. elections, emphasizing their growing influence and the barriers they continue to face. The panel highlighted key trends in youth political engagement, the challenges of mobilizing this demographic, and the potential for bipartisan collaboration among young leaders.

The event featured John Della Volpe, director of polling at the Harvard Institute of Politics; Layla Zaidane, president and CEO of the Future Caucus; and Adam Met, adjunct professor at Columbia SIPA and a climate policy advocate. The discussion was moderated by Michael Nutter, David N. Dinkins Professor of Professional Practice in Urban and Public Affairs at SIPA, and former mayor of Philadelphia.

Della Volpe noted that without the participation of young people, Donald Trump would likely have won a second term in 2020. Volpe highlighted key trends, such as the record high turnout among 18-29 year-olds in the 2018 midterms and 2020 presidential election. He examined an important shift in voter enthusiasm leading up to the 2024 election, particularly among young voters. While Democratic enthusiasm among youths has seen a notable increase, Republican enthusiasm has slightly decreased. Despite these trends, Volpe noted that even if Kamala Harris were to secure 58 to 60 percent of the youth vote, it might not be enough to secure a win.

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Adam Met, who balances careers in music and climate policy, shared insights from his work on mobilizing climate voters. Met described a shift from the traditional "ladder" model of engagement, which involves gradually increasing participant involvement, to a "hurricane" model, whereby young people are integrated into the heart of a campaign and encouraged to actively spread the message, empowering them to engage others. He cited a study conducted with Ticketmaster to explore "collective effervescence," a concept coined by the sociologist Emile Durkheim that describes how shared energy in group settings can mobilize individuals. The study found that people are more likely to take action when they can see clear, local results and when they are encouraged by their peers.

Additionally, Met noted that young people deeply understand the connection between climate change and their daily lives. However, when campaigning, it's often more effective to avoid using the term "climate" directly. Instead, discussing relatable issues such as food prices, transportation, and energy costs helps voters recognize the local impacts of climate policies, making them more likely to engage in the conversation.

Referring to a new report released by her organization, Layla Zaidane noted the rise of Gen Z and millennial-age candidates, which now make up one in four congressional candidates, a significant increase from 2020, where one in six was Gen Z or millennial. She also discussed the barriers young political candidates face, especially in advancing past primary elections. Factors such as party establishment support, which often includes funding and media attention, make it difficult for newcomers to break through. Even when young candidates do secure endorsements, they are often perceived as lacking the experience of older candidates. Gender disparities are also evident, with 70 percent of young candidates being men, a trend that is even more pronounced among Gen Z candidates. Additionally, a growing number of young candidates are running as independents or third-party candidates, reflecting a shift away from traditional party affiliations.

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Addressing Mayor Nutter’s question on gender disparity, Zaidane reflected on the barriers faced by many elected officials, especially women, including low salaries that often fall below the average American worker's income and political cultural threats of today, which contributes to the underrepresentation of women in politics.

Volpe discussed the hurdles to sustaining youth voter engagement. Volpe introduced two critical categories of young voters: "Show Me" voters, who have participated but remain skeptical of the results, and "Teach Me" voters, who feel disconnected and lack basic civic knowledge.

Both groups, the panelists agreed, require tailored strategies to increase voter turnout and maintain political enthusiasm.