One of the biggest curveballs in modern-day politics happened last Sunday when President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee for president.
Young voters have been desperate for a younger candidate to replace Joe Biden, and the likely possibility of a 59-year-old woman of color becoming the new nominee has excited Gen Z voters online.
Can’t emphasize enough just how fired up, excited, and energized Gen Z is to elect Kamala Harris. Multiple friends, who said they wouldn’t vote in this election, have texted me saying they will vote for Kamala. Trump & Republicans are scared for a reason. We will win this.
— Victor Shi (@Victorshi2020) July 22, 2024
@Victorshi2020
So, we asked Gen Z'ers in the BuzzFeed Community to share their thoughts on Kamala Harris potentially becoming the Democratic nominee and whether or not they'd support her.
We received a wide range of responses, so here's what our audience had to say:
1."I think that she will do wonderful. After the debate, I was absolutely hopeless — I knew I would vote for Biden, but it was the lesser of two evils. Now, I am not voting for her merely because I despise Trump; I will vote for her because I WANT her as president."
"I am hopeful for our future as a country, and I am so excited to be able to cast my first ever vote for Kamala Harris, who I hope so much becomes the first female president of the United States!"
2."I am excited! There's nothing I am currently enjoying more than watching the self-assured Republicans who had decided they were going to defeat Biden in a landslide (a distinct possibility) suddenly go, 'Oh crap, we don't have this in the bag.'"
"The narrative of defeatism was getting very depressing, and I am so excited to have someone at the top of our ballot who is going to give the Republicans a run for their money. I would do anything to keep Trump out of office, and if it involves electing the first woman president, I am in 1 million percent!"
3."I think that we should consider a different candidate other than Kamala Harris. Joe Biden was under much scrutiny for many other things despite his age. Kamala still shares and embodies everything else we did not support in Biden. Many of my friends and peers agree and are losing hope in our two-party system."
"If the Democratic Party cannot provide us with a candidate more aligned with our ideals, then we may lose the majority. Kamala may be a Black woman, but she is still upholding the same ideals as every white cis male politician before her."
—Anonymous
4."Kamala is young, qualified, and many of her views align with what I want to see for this country. Plus, she’s such a good public speaker and communicator, which is what a president should be, and she’s got her funny moments. 'YOU THINK YOU JUST FELL OUT OF A COCONUT TREE 2024!'"
—Anonymous
5."I don't think Kamala should be the nominee. I'm thinking of left-leaning Republicans who are nervous about a second Trump presidency, and they would probably be more likely to swing their vote blue if it was someone who was taken more seriously and was more of a moderate candidate."
—Anonymous
6."I honestly feel better about it being Kamala. My wife and I have been making an escape plan for months because we had no faith in Biden, but I feel like I can let up a bit."
—Anonymous
7."Harris is the most realistic replacement candidate out of any other Democratic who would try to run. However, I also believe there's a high possibility that she will get destroyed during this election."
"With it being this late in the race and with Trump gaining more voters than he is losing, I think the combination of a new Democratic nominee, the timing of all of this, who she is, and who she's going against is going to deeply affect whatever happens in November."
—Anonymous
8."I’m not old enough to vote yet, but if I could, I would definitely vote for her. She gave me some hope for the first time in a while. Praying for the future of our country."
9."As a conservative woman who doesn't like Trump, I don't think she's actually that smart. When you watch any of her speeches, 80% of what she says doesn't make any sense."
"I think the Democrats would be better putting forward someone either like Andy Beshear, who's proven himself by being a Democrat governor in Kentucky, or Jared Polis, who's the first openly gay governor of Colorado."
—Anonymous
10."Kamala is going to own Trump in the debates. Biden couldn't form a coherent response to Trump's simple lies. Kamala will articulate and hit multiple points to make Trump seem foolish."
—Anonymous
11."Yay, a president under 60! I don't think she'll win because this country is full of systemic issues and conscious and unconscious biases that haven't been resolved, but getting her on the ticket is a step. Besides, she has the most momentum as a president-endorsed vice president."
"Nobody else has as good a shot as her, according to every single poll, and we want to present the candidate with the best shot. I am anxious to hear about her issues, though. She's been too quiet. Will she have the same stances as Biden, or will she have her own issues and initiatives outside the ideas she supported within the Biden administration?"
—Anonymous
12."I get the allure of her, but we need a fresh face with a stronger stance on key issues like our debt, medical costs, taking care of the people in this country before helping others."
—Anonymous
13."I think Kamala should replace Biden as the nominee. I like her well enough and agree with many of her priorities for the country, but I'm mostly terrified of what Trump plans to do if he wins office again."
"Kamala seems like the obvious choice, so now, as a party, we all need to throw our support behind her because this might be our only chance for a safe(ish) America. Vote blue no matter who!"
—Anonymous
14."I was riding for Biden and was ok with him, but Kamala is a fantastic replacement, a woman of color and such a wild card against Trump, he doesn't even know what to do."
"Look at MAGA crying right now; look at them pulling out the racist and misogynistic rhetoric because they have nothing else. She will protect our rights and make sure Project 2025 never succeeds."
—Anonymous
15."I think she should be the nominee. It's not even official, and there are edits of her blowing up all over TikTok. She can make young people excited to vote."
—Anonymous
16."I'm so disappointed that Biden bowed out. One bad debate doesn't make him unfit, and Kamala has never been great to me. I don't feel there is anything presidential about her at all."
—Anonymous
17."Kamala Harris is a fantastic option for the Democratic nominee. I finally feel hopeful for once. Joe Biden was a good president, but it's time to pass the torch to a new generational leader. Kamala Harris is intelligent and wants to preserve our democracy, not destroy it like the fascist dictator."
—Anonymous
18."I believe someone other than Kamala should be the Democratic nominee. She had one job to secure the border, and she didn't."
—AnonymousVice President Harris was assigned to lead the Biden administration's efforts in Mexico and other countries to stem the migration influxacross the US southern border.
19."We need a female president with strong ideals. Joe Biden was a good person and a good president, but frankly, he was getting too old to hold such an important position. Plus, Kamala has a much better shot at winning than Trump, and I really want him to lose."
—Anonymous
And finally...
20."I think it is overdue for the USA to have a female president, and her being a POC also means she is able to represent even more minority communities."
—Anonymous
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Responses have been edited for length/clarity.
