Two’s Company, Three’s a Crowd
Two’s Company, Three’s a Crowd
Liberal Voters are Considering a Third Party Vote (But Democrats Can Win Them Back)
November. It’s nine months away and yet it’s already the topic on everyone’s mind. The online discourse is a buzz with conversations about the upcoming presidential election - and while there is plenty of back and forth about Democrats vs Republicans - it might surprise you to know that conversations surrounding voting for a third party candidate have increased by a whopping 47% over the past twelve months.
The first, and perhaps most prevalent, touchpoint that’s generating talk of third party support is the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. Many outspoken voters perceive President Biden’s support for Israel as de facto support for alleged Palestinien genocide, and a deep dive for Tik-Tok search terms most closely associated with Biden overwhelmingly turns up #freepalestine, #palestine, and #gaza - especially in content posted by members of Gen Z.
That brings us to our second point: Gen Z is fed up with the liberal notion that Americans should “vote blue, no matter who,” and many are ready to decamp to a third party - or consider a write in vote - if Democrats don’t start listening, acknowledging, and actively addressing their concerns.
And while most of these voices agree that a Republican in the Oval Office would still be worse, democratic votes as the de facto alternative are no longer a guarantee. Instead, many members of Gen Z are looking to prove that they’re engaged by showing up at the voting booth, but want it to be known that their vote for Democrats isn’t to be taken for granted.
Black voters, too, long considered a bastion of democratic support, are also keenly fired up about being considered de rigeur blue votes. Many Black voters are voicing frustration that the Biden administration has failed to follow through on promises to combat climate change, cancel student loan debt, and close the racial wealth gap, all the while fighting to bypass Congressional approval to contribute funds to conflicts in the Middle East.
Just like members of Gen Z, Black voters are ready for Democrats to listen first, keep their promises, and stop taking their votes for granted.
Members of Gen Z and Black voters alike do still continue to care about issues that are more traditionally aligned with democratic policies: racial and economic inequality, common sense gun control, and especially climate change and abortion.
And while many people believe that Republicans have led the charge to erode both climate change progress and abortion access, they also believe that Democrats have done woefully little to protect both.
Even so, there is a general feeling that Democrats are more likely to instigate and enable progress in these areas, and there is some recognition that the Biden administration has done so, even if unevenly - but again, voters want to see hard proof that Democrats are transforming their positions into policy.
The bottom line is clear. If Democrats, and especially Joe Biden’s re-election campaign, want to continue a constructive relationship with past voters and make inroads with new ones - especially young ones - they need to spend less time talking and more time listening. Voters are eager to voice their concerns - peace in the Middle East, climate change policy, abortion access, gun control, and untenable costs of living - and they’re looking to support candidates that take active steps to address them. The days of taking certain demographic votes for granted are over. Between now and November, if Democrats want the votes, they’re going to have to earn them.
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