Can the Youth Ensure a Win for Sanders?
Eight months ago in Burlington, Vermont, Senator Bernie Sanders launched his presidential bid promising a “political revolution to transform the country — economically, politically, and environmentally.” Few believed he would put up a fight for the Democratic nomination, partially because his stigmatized title of democratic socialist, partially because his competition is former secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, but Sanders has drawn attention from an important demographic, that Hillary just can’t get a hold of: young people.
Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg, director of the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University, recently spoke with Renee Montagne (NPR’s Morning Edition) about voter turnout in Iowa, “The youth turnout was second-highest in the last 20 years at 11.2 percent. And it really demonstrated the potential of youth shaping the election results as well as how young people respond to strong outreach.”
84% of caucus-goers under the age of thirty voted for Sanders, and only 14% under the age of thirty voted for Clinton.
Despite Sanders’ landslide victory among young voters, he did not ultimately win in the caucus, being defeated by a measly 0.3%, but in Sanders’ eyes this was a victory.
After being so far behind Clinton at the start of his campaign, only to be separated by less than one percent, Sanders’ feels confident about the New Hampshire Primary.
The fact that a huge percentage of people under thirty turned out for Sanders suggests that he is a candidate that can get a person who would otherwise not come out to vote, out to vote.
Can young people help Sanders win the nomination? Only time will tell.
