The 2016 presidential race is wide, and young people are curious as to which candidate best represents this generation's values.
So what kind of issues do millennials care about? While there is no candidate or stance on an issue that perfectly represents the attitude of an entire generation, there are a few overarching ideas that stretch over party lines when it comes to young people.
Generally speaking, research has shown that the millennial generation cares more about personal liberty, social equality for all people, environmental consciousness, and a less aggressive foreign policy than what the United States has demonstrated over the course of the past few decades. As Bob Dylan once sang, "The times, they are a-changin'."
Taking these ideas into consideration, I've taken the liberty of choosing a candidate from each of the two opposing political parties who would be best fit to address these ideas and the umbrella of issues that fall under them.
At a time when politics seem to be more polarized than ever, it can be difficult to decipher what kind of base each candidate is reaching out for. And with the millennial vote up for grabs, we see more politicians trying to address issues related to our demographic.
The Republicans
Where to begin?
With Ohio governor, John Kasich officially announcing his entry this week, the race for the Good Ole Party's nomination has widened to 16 contenders. This early in the race, not all of the candidate's opinions on popular issues are well known. However, based on their political reputations, we can make educated inferences on where they stand.
The "No's"
Looking across the crowded field, there is quite a spectrum. You have the Washington elites such as Bush, Trump, Sen. Lindsey Graham, and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. These men are known either for their massive accumulation of wealth and influence in Washington, their outspoken voices on the national stage, or their alignment with what has been the party's traditional agenda over the past several presidential administrations. These men aren't likely to catch millennial votes.
The "Maybe's"
After the high-profile candidates, you have a few rogue governors, candidates such as Rick Perry and Scott Walker as well as underdogs like Mike Huckabee and Bobby Jindal. These men often have a loud, passionate base in their far-right home states, but lack national appeal because of it. Their lack of bi-partisanship and emphasis on traditional values doesn't well-represent the views of most millennials in an age when not all issues have a clear left or right stance. The exceptions in this category would be Marco Rubio and John Kasich, who are governors of swing states and are therefore more moderate.
The Top Contenders
Lastly, you have the ideologues. Men such as Sen. Ted Cruz, Sen. and Dr. Rand Paul, and Dr. Ben Carson. Sometimes portrayed as libertarians, or radicals of the Republican party, these individuals appear to be guided more by principle than by politics. It is within this grouping here where I see the most hope for the Republican party capturing the millennial demographic.
All three of these hopefuls bring something to the table, but if I had to pick one best suited toward millennials, I'd pick Rand Paul. At first glance, Paul may appear as an average conservative senator from Kentucky. However, he has the least aggressive foreign policy stance in the Republican field and has addressed issues millennials care about better than any other candidate. Other places where Paul has made an impact include getting bi-partisan support to expand voting rights to more citizens, addressing criminal justice reform for non-violent offenders, and defending the right to privacy (specifically, taking a stand to assist in ending the NSA's unlawful spying program on American citizens).
To sum up Paul's goals in three main points, he aims to lower taxes for all Americans, protect the rights of all Americans, and put an end to over-regulation in government bureaucracy. I can easily see millennials being drawn to these ideas and throwing their support behind Paul for his vision of an America that defends personal liberty, treats its citizens fairly, and doesn't involve itself in all the world's conflicts.
The Democrats
The Democratic party has for long been the young people's party. For generations, American youth have been able to rally behind the party's messages about social justice, environmental concerns, and taking care of the poor and working-class. Going back at least as far as our parents' generation, it's no secret that the youth vote has and continues to lean left. It is for this reason that more millennials will show loyalty to whoever is on the Democratic ticket. There is a lack of young Republicans willing to demonstrate the same loyalty to their party.
Not without their own uncertainty, the Democratic candidates have an uphill battle when it comes to choosing how much distance they're willing to put between themselves and an unpopular president. Not as noticeable in the primaries, this factor will become more evident in the general election. While the Republicans have the benefit of a fresh-start, nothing-to-lose mentality, Democrats are tasked with reaffirming the people's trust in their leadership. Hey, Obama was able to do it twice.
I do not have to break down the hopefuls for this party, because the two current front-runners best represent the two directions party members could take. These candidates are Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.
Hillary Clinton
Clinton seems to have everything: the money, the name, and the reputation that comes along with it. Many Republicans hate her, which is always a plus when trying to unite the party for the primaries. The fact is, all of those qualities are Hilary's most apparent blessings and curses. How will Hilary capture the rebellious spirit of the millennial generation with the last name of a moderate president who was in office 20 years ago? With all the growing mistrust resulting from scandals and cover-ups over the past two administrations, more Americans want a change from Washington-as-usual, and if the general race does yield a Bush vs. Clinton ticket, you can almost guarantee a lower youth percentage turnout than the last two elections.
Despite all of this, Hilary still holds the most hope for being the first female president. This in itself holds a huge draw to millennials in general and women in particular.
Bernie Sanders
Sanders, on the other hand, is a small name growing steadily bigger. Very popular in his Green-party state of Vermont, Sanders grabbed the attention of voters with passionate rhetoric about wealth distribution inequality, environmental issues, and the 40-year decline of America's working class. A self-proclaimed Socialist, Bernie strongly believes in the government's responsibility to ensure all Americans have access to a livable wage. One thing he shares with the Republican ideologues: He also wants to get big money out of politics. It's Bernie's independent spunk which leads me to dub him as the most appealing Democratic candidate to millennials.
Now You Choose!
Few can deny how exciting it would be to see Rand Paul face off against Bernie Sanders in the general election. Just the thought gives this political science major chills. The fact of the matter is that we are the future, and whichever candidate can sell us a better future will have the best shot at winning. The way millennials go will be the way America goes.
Everything I've said here is an opinion based on my own observations, and now I urge you to form one of your own. We're a free people, so act like it! Go to campaign rallies, research issues, maybe even volunteer your own time – but most importantly, get out there and vote! It's the best way to make your voice heard.
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