The 2024 presidential election is expected to be highly polarizing, and President Joe Biden’s strong support of Israel is causing angst among some of his key supporters – younger voters. This divide among young Democratic voters could pose a threat to the party’s support base and impact the upcoming election.
One key factor contributing to this divide is the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where Israel has been bombing the region. Young voters, like 22-year-old Abdul Osmanu, are concerned about the repression of Palestinians and find it difficult to support a president who aids and abets such actions. Osmanu’s dilemma reflects the larger sentiment among many young voters who are grappling with whether to vote for a third-party candidate or leave their presidential ballot blank in 2024.
The issue of Israel and the conflict in Gaza has led to a growing sense of political discord among young voters. Recent polling research suggests that registered voters aged 18-29 are more likely to support the Palestinian cause over Israel, while older generations have more favorable views of Israel’s actions. A New York Times/Siena poll found that 72% of voters aged 18-29 disapprove of President Biden’s handling of the conflict, compared to 57% disapproval among all registered voters.
One possible reason for this divide is that young Democrats, particularly progressives, see a connection between the Palestinian statehood issue and social justice fights happening in the US. Many organizations supporting social justice causes have made strong connections to the Palestinian struggle, influencing young voters to prioritize the Palestinian cause.
It is important to note that not all young voters criticize President Biden’s position towards Israel. Some, like 20-year-old Jessica Schwab, believe that he is handling the conflict well by providing support to Israel while also calling for humanitarian pauses to reduce casualties in Gaza. However, it is evident that the divide is significant and could impact the support base that propelled Democrats to victory in the 2020 presidential election.
The Democratic Party typically invests millions of dollars in youth outreach and engagement to secure the support of young voters. Their reliance on young voter turnout to win elections makes this divide concerning for Democrats. While it is argued that young voters would ultimately choose President Biden over former President Donald Trump in the 2024 election, the growing divide suggests that the party cannot take their support for granted.
Ultimately, the impact of this divide among young Democratic voters over Biden’s support for Israel will depend on how the party addresses their concerns. To maintain their support base, Democrats need to find a way to bridge the gap and address the growing discontent among young voters. Failure to do so could lead to a significant shift in support and impact the outcome of the 2024 election.
Growing Divide Among Young Democratic Voters over Biden’s Support for Israel
