The Class of 2024 Graduated at the Dawn of a Presidential Election; Who Are They Voting For?

All individuals interviewed will not be named for privacy reasons

This year’s graduating class of 2024 received their diplomas at the dawn of the presidential election. Most of them, having turned 18 and registered to vote, are now part of a new generation whose voting behavior is eagerly anticipated. Back in 2020, at the height of a polarized and volatile political climate, kids born in 2005-2006 saw the country pick between the same two candidates who will face off again in 2024. This lack of new candidates unanimously upset all interviewed 18-year-olds, with one student explaining, “It is disheartening to see a rematch of the same election that caused so much stress and political upheaval back in 2020.” While most were generally annoyed or unhappy with the choices on the ballot, repeatedly describing having to “choose between the lesser of two evils,” some students harbored strong support for both Trump and Biden, and in some cases, neither, citing specific policies or actions that resonated with them.

TRUMP: Female, Biracial, Lives in Menlo Park, Republican

Upset with the current economic situation, rising cost of living, and heightened inflation, this student said, “Fiscally conservative policy has stood out to me as our nation loses faith in the economy under the Biden administration. Despite having a well-performing economy under our current president, the heightened cost of living and higher taxes overshadow this, making me feel as though my family and I will end up paying more in taxes and living expenses.” Additionally, this student explained that Trump’s agenda regarding immigration stood out to her, saying, “Seeing the influx of illegal immigration and places like New York being put in a state of emergency due to illegal immigration, which I feel is going unchecked, Trump’s promise to safeguard our nation from illegal immigration has been a major appeal to me. I continue to hear stories of illegal immigrants being a net fiscal drain, claiming welfare benefits that put pressure on taxpayers who are paying their fair share. All in all, I like how Trump says he will crack down on illegal immigration while fostering legal immigration pathways.”

BIDEN: Male, White, Lives in Palo Alto, Democrat

Faced with the choice between a Republican and a Democrat, this student feels pulled to Biden, the nominee of the party close to him. He explains that, “I have always been exposed to the ideals of the Democratic Party, as both of my parents are Democrats and so are most of my friends.” Although he highlighted that he has arrived at his political opinions largely from his own research, or at least verified his beliefs on his own, saying, “I believe that although my family and friends played a big role in my political socialization, I feel as though I would register as a Democrat no matter what. Beginning in 2020, I became extremely politically active on social media and was rapidly exposed to liberal ideas and media that shaped the beliefs I harbor today; I think that form of political socialization really kickstarted my passion for politics and activism.”

ABSTAINING: Female, Hispanic, Lives in Menlo Park, Independent

Feeling stuck between choices she feels are bad candidates, this student feels she is in a moral rut; saying, “I feel like Trump and Biden are both very bad candidates and not fit for the highest office in the nation. I have seen Biden be a largely ineffective leader whose mental capacity worries me, but I have also found Trump to be a volatile and destructive figurehead who could have even more cataclysmic consequences if reelected.” This student feels her moral compass is clouded and wishes for new candidates altogether, but for now, feels that, “I should not be forced to pick between two lesser evils as people usually tell you to do. I would expect there to be a clear and reasonable choice for a candidate I support, and there is not, and for that reason, I am conscientiously abstaining from voting.”