Biden has created a major divide in the Democrat party.
Young Democratic voters are issuing a stern warning to President Joe Biden, indicating that he must pivot on critical issues, including the Israel-Hamas conflict, or face potential backlash at the ballot box come November.
Elise Joshi, the executive director of Gen-Z for Change, formerly known as TikTok for Biden, stressed to The Hill that dismissing Gaza’s significance could prove detrimental to Biden’s electoral prospects. She emphasized that a growing sense of apprehension has been palpable over the past six months concerning the president’s stance on pivotal issues.
Against the backdrop of widespread anti-Israel protests on college campuses nationwide, the Gaza conflict has emerged as a pivotal issue for many young voters, with some polls indicating dwindling support for Biden. A recent Harvard survey revealed a notable decline in Biden’s approval among 18-29-year-old voters, plummeting from around 60% in 2020 to 45%. Additionally, a CNN poll showed Biden trailing by 11 points among young voters in a hypothetical matchup against former President Donald Trump.
Kidus Girma, the campaign director for the Sunrise Movement, a grassroots organization advocating for climate change action, lamented Biden’s perceived inadequacy in addressing the concerns of young voters. Girma asserted that Biden’s failure to engage sufficiently with this demographic could have adverse electoral consequences, stressing the necessity for a progressive agenda to resonate with these voters.
Regarding the Gaza conflict, Girma highlighted the pivotal role Biden’s approach will play in garnering support from young voters in the upcoming months. He underscored the importance of Biden acknowledging the calls for peace in Gaza, citing demands for an end to unconditional military aid and a permanent cease-fire. Girma emphasized that heeding the voices of the majority, particularly young Americans advocating for justice, is imperative to quelling unrest on college campuses.
In response to recent campus demonstrations, Biden condemned violent acts while affirming the right to peaceful protest. He emphasized the distinction between legitimate dissent and unlawful behavior, asserting that vandalism and intimidation have no place in peaceful protest. However, Joshi criticized Biden’s remarks as “shameful,” alleging a mischaracterization of protesters, particularly in light of his support from the Black Lives Matter movement in the 2020 election.
In essence, young Democratic voters are signaling to Biden the necessity of aligning his policies with their concerns, particularly on issues like the Israel-Hamas conflict, as failure to do so could carry electoral repercussions in the upcoming midterm elections.
