In the hours after President Biden announced he would be stepping off the ticket and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, Gen Z voters sprang into action online.
From and to official endorsements of Harris from youth-focused political groups, there was a tone shift among left-leaning young voters, organizers and activists: some moving away from doubts and frustration with Biden as their nominee and others excited and relieved for Harris鈥檚 prospects instead.
In about 100 written responses to NPR, voters overwhelmingly praised Biden鈥檚 decision to exit the race, though some remained cautious and undecided over how Harris鈥� message and policy platform may veer from Biden鈥檚.
26-year-old Zach Berly of Angier, NC., used to be a Republican. He voted for former president Donald Trump in 2016 but flipped to Biden in 2020. As concern for the president grew over the past few weeks, he began watching Harris more closely and slowly became less hesitant about her as a potential replacement on the ticket. Berly鈥檚 support was cemented when he saw Harris speak in North Carolina last week.
鈥淪he was fantastic,鈥� he admitted. 鈥淚鈥檓 a real doomer, so the weeks since the debate had been really tough, but everything suddenly flipped.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a long time since I鈥檝e felt that excited,鈥� he added. 鈥淚 was dreading the next 106 days. Now I can鈥檛 wait to dig in.鈥�
19-year-old Penelope Jennings of Morris County, N.J., had planned to vote for Biden this fall but admitted she was unsure if he could pull out another victory.
鈥淭he prospect of Kamala [Harris] as the nominee and most of [the] party leadership falling behind her makes me feel a lot better,鈥� she explained, adding that while Harris still has to answer to some of the same policy concerns young voters had of Biden, she can run a stronger campaign against Trump.
鈥淚 truly believe the primary issue with young voters is that a lot of people weren鈥檛 going to vote at all, and I believe that Kamala [Harris] will reinvigorate people,鈥� she added. 鈥淪he is still miles better than Trump.鈥�
Nearby on Long Island in New York, 28-year-old Christian Stafford had a similar feeling.
鈥淚 feel so much more refreshed, energized and inspired,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he problem was that Biden didn鈥檛 feel like he was inspiring, whereas with Kamala [Harris] I don鈥檛 feel like I鈥檓 鈥渟ettling鈥� for her.鈥�
Biden has , 鈥淒on鈥檛 compare me to the almighty, compare me to the alternative,鈥� but over the past year, voters at between Biden and Trump.
Young voters overwhelmingly voted for Biden in 2020, and the administration acted on a number of political issues that have previously motivated young voters to get politically engaged, including taking , relieving and .
But Biden has still with in national polls. He also received loud criticism from prominent young organizers, who disagreed with some of his policy decisions, including his approval of an oil drilling project in Alaska last year and his commitment to send military aid to Israel in its war against Hamas.
Elise Joshi has been one of those critical young voices. The 22-year-old heads the youth-focused group Gen Z for Change, which advocates for progressive policies online and has nearly 2 million followers on TikTok. The organization had not endorsed Biden, but after he exited the race, they quickly supported Harris.
"Our endorsement of Vice President Harris is a broader representative endorsement of the Democratic party鈥檚 decision to listen to its constituents and unite around a candidate with newer and younger vision for this country" and the "necessary energy to defeat Donald Trump," she said in a statement to NPR.
But how Harris may address issues like the Israel-Hamas war is still a concern for some young voters. Harris has previously said that she stands with Biden鈥檚 foreign policy, but she did publicly voice support for a temporary ceasefire before Biden did. But for voters aligned with during , some remain in a tough place.
鈥淚t鈥檚 time to align our actions with our values," said Uncommitted National Movement leader Layla Elabed . "Vice President Harris can start the process to earn back trust by turning the page from Biden鈥檚 horrific policies in Gaza.鈥�
The issue is top of mind for Mason Pressler of Bay City, Mich.
鈥淚鈥檇 like to see substantive evidence that her position on Gaza will be better than Biden in a meaningful way,鈥� explained Pressler.
Pressler, who had just turned 18, argued this was the issue most weighing on his vote. He explained that if Harris could heed some of the calls progressives are making, like advocating for a permanent ceasefire, she鈥檇 earn his support.
He said his friends were 鈥渄emoralized鈥� about the election a week ago.
鈥淧eople were asking me which third party was best to vote for and what the point was in voting,鈥� he explained. 鈥淚鈥檓 not sure that has fundamentally changed, but I do think Kamala [Harris] has the ability to reach people that Biden never could. The question is; will she make an effort to?鈥�
Throughout Biden鈥檚 first term, Harris has also put an . Last fall, she traveled around the country, visiting different colleges and focusing discussions on issues like protecting abortion rights and curbing gun violence 鈥� two areas she championed during Biden鈥檚 first term.
But 26-year-old Raquel Crudete of Indianapolis, Ind., is more convinced that Harris can be moved to the left on policy in ways Biden could not, including on foreign policy.
鈥淚 was really looking at third parties if I had to vote and there had not been a change in the democratic nominee,鈥� Crudete said. 鈥淚 had even started just focusing on down-ballot races in the hopes that even if Biden lost, at least we鈥檇 have a chance with keeping the House and Senate.鈥�
In just over a day after Harris announced she would seek the nomination, her campaign reported raising $100 million. Crudete was struck by the general response Harris received.
鈥淭his has helped revitalize the democratic base,鈥� she added.
Others have been taken aback by the swift ticket change, like Alec Ferreira, 25, of San Carlos, Ariz.
鈥淚t really broke my heart seeing [Biden] step down but it had to be done,鈥� Ferreira, who leans more independent, said. 鈥淚n all honesty I really wish he let the delegates decide the nominee instead of backing Kamala [Harris] up from the get go.鈥�
Questions also remain on whether excitement for Harris will last, even as the internet content keeps coming.
鈥淒espite how funny all of the coconut memes and brat edits are, I hope VP Harris does not make the mistake of taking young voters for granted,鈥� said Cameron Driggers, 19, of Gainesville, Fla.
鈥淎t the end of the day, Gen-Z wants something to vote for, and memes aren鈥檛 gonna cut it.鈥�
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