Democratic Primaries

highplainsdem

(49,034 posts) Wed Mar 4, 2020, 07:26 AM Mar 2020

Many young voters sat out Super Tuesday, contributing to Bernie Sanders' losses

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/03/04/super-tuesday-bernie-sanders-youth-votes-fell-short-compared-2016/4947795002/

WASHINGTON – Young voters cheer Bernie Sanders' anti-establishment message. They turn out in throngs at his rallies. And they form the core of his grassroots efforts to win the Democratic presidential nomination.

But their fiery passion did not translate into the robust turnout he needed on Super Tuesday to win a number of key states, notably in the South where a strong showing by former vice president Joe Biden has made the nomination contest a two-man race.

Exit polls for five southern states that Biden won – Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia – found that young voters did not show up at the polls in the numbers they did in 2016.

In addition, the Vermont senator has been grabbing a smaller share of them in most cases.

-snip-

The article goes on to list states where young voters were not only a smaller share of the electorate than four years ago, but Sanders got a smaller share of those young voters.

Last night just shredded Sanders's argument that he alone could win the GE because he'll energize a YUUUUGE turnout by young voters.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

21 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Many young voters sat out Super Tuesday, contributing to Bernie Sanders' losses (Original Post) highplainsdem Mar 2020 OP

I somewhat understand. TexasTowelie Mar 2020 #1

Heh. tanyev Mar 2020 #20

I've said it before and I'll say it again: The single most unreliable voting block. wyldwolf Mar 2020 #2

Bernie gave large rallies in TX and MA. Two states that Biden won. nt Kahuna7 Mar 2020 #3

young voters do not vote and why polling can be so skewed, but hey the media was pushing beachbumbob Mar 2020 #4

This message was self-deleted by its author democratisphere Mar 2020 #5

They were a little bit busy to do revolution. betsuni Mar 2020 #6

I think to the extent younger voters get energized to show up, it is restricted to the GE and only hlthe2b Mar 2020 #7

They are energetic, but they are not the most dependable constituency. We need someone who has... Tarheel_Dem Mar 2020 #8

I think some new video game came out yesterday. n/t zackymilly Mar 2020 #9

They could be standing MFM008 Mar 2020 #10

Honestly... Mike Nelson Mar 2020 #11

It seems young Sanders voters love social media and rallies....but CousinIT Mar 2020 #12

Voting is just so Establishment and the corporate media, etc. Walleye Mar 2020 #13

Unfortunately for them, the only statement it makes is "don't bother thinking about us" gollygee Mar 2020 #14

Right. Politicians pander to voters. Period. nt Kahuna7 Mar 2020 #16

I remember being so excited to cast my first vote Codeine Mar 2020 #15

I campaigned for him on campus! gollygee Mar 2020 #17

My first presidential vote was for McGovern. SharonClark Mar 2020 #18

Where is sanders' magical voter revolution? Gothmog Mar 2020 #19

Analysis: Young voters are turning out in lower numbers than Bernie Sanders expected Gothmog Mar 2020 #21

TexasTowelie

(112,411 posts)

1. I somewhat understand.

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Wed Mar 4, 2020, 07:29 AM

Mar 2020

They were too exhausted from attending all of the music concerts.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

tanyev

(42,610 posts)

20. Heh.

Reply to TexasTowelie (Reply #1)

Wed Mar 4, 2020, 09:58 AM

Mar 2020

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

wyldwolf

(43,869 posts)

2. I've said it before and I'll say it again: The single most unreliable voting block.

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Wed Mar 4, 2020, 07:31 AM

Mar 2020

Why should any candidate court them?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

Kahuna7

(2,531 posts)

3. Bernie gave large rallies in TX and MA. Two states that Biden won. nt

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Wed Mar 4, 2020, 07:32 AM

Mar 2020

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

beachbumbob

(9,263 posts)

4. young voters do not vote and why polling can be so skewed, but hey the media was pushing

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Wed Mar 4, 2020, 07:33 AM

Mar 2020

the sanders narrative agin just like in 2016

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

Response to highplainsdem (Original post)

democratisphere This message was self-deleted by its author.

betsuni

(25,610 posts)

6. They were a little bit busy to do revolution.

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Wed Mar 4, 2020, 07:40 AM

Mar 2020

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

hlthe2b

(102,357 posts)

7. I think to the extent younger voters get energized to show up, it is restricted to the GE and only

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Wed Mar 4, 2020, 07:42 AM

Mar 2020

during a Presidential election year. I don't get it. I guess if they had a draft to send them to war as Boomers did (and which some Gen-Xers learned from as well), maybe they'd prioritize. Something about seeing body bags return nightly on network news that was very focusing as to the importance of elections.

I've been thrilled with the energy of the Parkland student survivors, of Greta Thunberg and her colleagues, but their activism isn't as widespread as one might wish. It seems to be a separate phenomenon to the Sanders-supporting youth. I surely hope that changes by November and the youth strongly show up to cast off Trump and his ilk. It is THEIR future, after all.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

Tarheel_Dem

(31,239 posts)

8. They are energetic, but they are not the most dependable constituency. We need someone who has...

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Wed Mar 4, 2020, 07:43 AM

Mar 2020

across the board appeal, and that's why I support Joe Biden.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

zackymilly

(2,375 posts)

9. I think some new video game came out yesterday. n/t

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Wed Mar 4, 2020, 07:43 AM

Mar 2020

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

MFM008

(19,818 posts)

10. They could be standing

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Wed Mar 4, 2020, 07:49 AM

Mar 2020

In front of him and they would still watch it on
Their phones.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

Mike Nelson

(9,966 posts)

11. Honestly...

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Wed Mar 4, 2020, 07:49 AM

Mar 2020

... the Trump rallies look like the most fun, maybe Bernie rallies second. However, big and rambunctious rallies don't always mean everyone in the country wants to vote for a candidate. i wouldn't even assume the people there are all for the candidate... Crooked Donald probably pays attendees.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

CousinIT

(9,257 posts)

12. It seems young Sanders voters love social media and rallies....but

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Wed Mar 4, 2020, 07:51 AM

Mar 2020

they don't like or care about voting so much. This has been a problem all along. Same as 2016. Sanders wasn't the nominee. Partially because they didn't turn out in YUGE numbers to vote in primaries. Then, after he didn't get the nomination, they seemingly didn't turn out too much at all because their guy didn't get the nom. That's not great thinking on their part but they are young and have 'other' priorities. I always voted right from age 18. Every election. But that was me.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

Walleye

(31,045 posts)

13. Voting is just so Establishment and the corporate media, etc.

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Wed Mar 4, 2020, 07:56 AM

Mar 2020

I think they tell themselves that not voting is making a statement. I don’t get it. I stood in line an hour to vote for Dukakis

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

gollygee

(22,336 posts)

14. Unfortunately for them, the only statement it makes is "don't bother thinking about us"

Reply to Walleye (Reply #13)

Wed Mar 4, 2020, 08:09 AM

Mar 2020

If young people DID vote, a lot of things would change. But they don't.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

Kahuna7

(2,531 posts)

16. Right. Politicians pander to voters. Period. nt

Reply to gollygee (Reply #14)

Wed Mar 4, 2020, 08:47 AM

Mar 2020

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

Codeine

(25,586 posts)

15. I remember being so excited to cast my first vote

Reply to Walleye (Reply #13)

Wed Mar 4, 2020, 08:09 AM

Mar 2020

for Dukakis!! I mean, it ended poorly, but it was great to do!

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

gollygee

(22,336 posts)

17. I campaigned for him on campus!

Reply to Codeine (Reply #15)

Wed Mar 4, 2020, 08:53 AM

Mar 2020

Didn't go too well but it was a good experience.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

SharonClark

(10,014 posts)

18. My first presidential vote was for McGovern.

Reply to Codeine (Reply #15)

Wed Mar 4, 2020, 09:09 AM

Mar 2020

I hung up a Mc poster and my bizarre roommate hung up a Nixon poster. Not a match made in heaven.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

Gothmog

(145,553 posts)

19. Where is sanders' magical voter revolution?

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Wed Mar 4, 2020, 09:16 AM

Mar 2020

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

Gothmog

(145,553 posts)

21. Analysis: Young voters are turning out in lower numbers than Bernie Sanders expected

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Thu Mar 5, 2020, 11:08 AM

Mar 2020

Link to tweet

But the exit polling from this year's contests so far shows a more challenging picture for Sanders. Youth turnout compared to 2016 is either flat or down in a majority of states that have voted, according to these polls, meaning young voters both form a smaller share of the overall Democratic primary vote and turned out in smaller net numbers. Sanders could end up seeing better data for him from the final results in Colorado and California, however.

The lack of enthusiasm among younger voters was especially pronounced with turnout up 33 percent from 2016 among every group across Super Tuesday states.

“For example, in North Carolina, overall turnout was up 17 percent — youth turnout was down 9 percent,” John Della Volpe, director of polling at the Harvard Institute of politics told Power Up. “There's not evidence to suggest that Sanders has expanded the electorate among young people in important ways.” ....

Della Volpe said data doesn't necessarily support the idea that all young voters want the kind of sweeping policy changes candidates like Sanders are calling for.

Problematic for Sanders?: “When looking at young Democratic primary voters, bold structural change is preferred, but not by as much as you might think,” Della Volpe told us at the time after an IOP study released in November

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

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