by Jimmy Yates ‘21

I disagree with my parents on some political issues due to our 25-year age difference. Now imagine trying to find someone 50-60 years older than you to make the most important decisions for the nation for the next four years. Discovering what to believe and why is hard enough. First time voters also must match their values with some presidential candidates older than their grandparents. This is the dilemma that young voters such as myself go through when preparing to vote for the next president.

The Republican nominee, President Trump (age 73) and Democratic candidates Elizabeth Warren (age 70), Bernie Sanders (age 78), and Joe Biden (age 77) are among the frontrunners for the Presidential Election of 2020. 

The concern is that these older candidates have trouble keeping up with the times. Take Biden, for example. One of his main criticisms is that he is disconnected from voters and living in the past, displaying an “affectionate” behavior towards others as well as a “clumsy grasp of gender and race,” as CNN worded it. Biden, Warren, and Sanders were teenagers in the 1960’s, when basic civil rights dominated politics. Today, gun violence, LGBT rights, and climate change overlook politics and candidates older than our grandparents are leading the Democrats into the presidential election. While they have more experience than younger candidates, if the aforementioned candidates grew up during crisis significantly different from today, can they relate to what young voters care about? If these 70-year olds will be around for a few more decades, do they truly value the future of the planet?

The difference in values between the old frontrunning candidates and the voters is at an all-time high as young people across their country have voiced their concerns because there is more and more pressure for young people to register to vote and participate in the democracy. If older candidates such as Biden and Warren do not find better ways  to connect with younger voters, they risk handing the presidential election of 2020 over to the Republicans, whose base is significantly older compared to the Democrats.