The new matchup between Trump and Harris is helping Democrats close the enthusiasm gap, in part by capturing the attention and interest of young voters who historically vote at lower rates than older generations. But the historic nature of Harris’ candidacy as the party’s first Black woman and South Asian presidential nominee, coupled with the rapid shift in the campaign’s tone, has young voters of all political stripes taking a hard look — some for the first time — at the role they could play in November.

If motivated, Gen Z voters could have a major impact on elections. Texas’ population has the second youngest median age of any state, other than Utah. And in 2020, there were about 1.3 million Texans ages 18 to 24 who were registered to vote. Those voters have historically turned out to vote at rates lower than any other age range, with voter participation rates increasing steadily as age ranges increase.

About 43% of young Texans aged 18-29 voted in 2020 — an eleven point increase from 2016. 66% of all eligible voters and 76% of eligible voters age 64 and older voted that same year.

  • HEXN3T
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    3 months ago

    Texas is a well-known blue state.

    EDIT: This comment intended to predict Texas will actually be a blue state in the election.

    • blackbelt352@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      It’s a lot more purple than you’d believe, but the state is gerrymandered to hell and uses every voter suppression tactic in the book to make sure the final winner takes all vote goes red.

      • HEXN3T
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        3 months ago

        Many such cases. Their most popular candidate in both 2016 and 2020 was not voting at all.

      • AA5B@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        Looking at the 2020 results, there’s a pretty big gap: 52% : 46% of the total vote, is a lot to make up