U.S. President Joe Biden’s decision to not seek re-election as the Democratic Party nominee came as a shock to many. However, the 2024 CS Global Partners World Citizenship Report predicted that politicians would soon be confronted with youth discontent head-on.
Young people are frustrated with politicians whose beliefs and worldview might not line up with youth priorities.
With Biden, aged 81, out of the race, it remains to be seen whether young voters will accept the advanced age of former President Trump, aged 78. In particular, the contrast seems stark when compared to Vice President Kamala Harris (aged 59), who will likely succeed Biden.
Biden acknowledges changed minds, age demographics of voters
Biden fully expected to seek re-election in 2024, and indeed his campaign was in full swing. After a disastrous debate performance, chock-full of pauses and confused looks on Biden’s face, his re-election plans became derailed.
Many — including those within his own party — called on him to resign.
In Sunday’s resignation statement, Biden said, “While it has been my intention to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.”
Biden’s decision acknowledged his critics’ contention that advanced age could impact his mental acuity, thereby negatively impacting his ability to carry out presidential duties.
Relationship between politicians’ age and policy priorities
By stepping out and paving the way for his younger Vice President to take over the Democratic nomination, Biden acknowledges that his age could be a liability in future leadership.
This presents a thorny issue for Trump, who is almost as old as Biden (but perhaps better at covering this up).
Mental acuity aside, Trump might have difficulty relating to younger voters’ policy priorities.
As the World Citizenship Report analysis observes, elderly politicians might not respond well to the political demands of young people.
“Young people contend that older generations — who tend to dominate the leadership of governments and legislatures — have not kept up with the[ir] demands,” the Report said.
Relationship between politicians’ age and communication
Aged politicians may also not communicate effectively with younger voters, lacking presence in the online spaces within which young voters discuss policy, air grievances against existing representation, and share ideas for the future.
In this vein, the World Citizenship Report cited a New York Times study which found that politicians are neglecting the most cutting-edge platforms such as TikTok, platforms through which young voters share their views.
This shift also affects where young people receive political information, too.
Whereas older generations received news via the television or word-of-mouth, Generation Z and Millennials tend to receive information via the internet. Politicians who struggle to use electronic media will struggle to even reach young voters, let alone attract them.
In this vein, the 2024 United Kingdom election is telling. Two small parties on opposite sides of the political spectrum — the Green Party and the Reform Party — won more parliamentary seats than expected partially due to their use of TikTok and other forms of media.
Without utilising these spaces, politicians struggle to understand political discontent and discourse; it is difficult to hear the conversation when you are not in the room.
As the US youth electorate grows, politicians should pay attention
As young voters make up a dominant share of the American electorate, politicians running in upcoming elections ought to take note, or risk being left behind.
The 2024 Report concluded, “Understanding this shift [to younger voters] is not only essential for election candidates but also for global observers seeking to comprehend the changing contours of US politics.”
To read more of the World Citizenship Report’s insights, as researched by the leading citizenship and residency advisory firm CS Global Partners, click here.
