Mary Louise Kelly, host of Consider This, sought to understand the key concerns of young voters in Georgia ahead of the upcoming presidential election. Her journey led her to a Mexican restaurant in Atlanta, where an event for the Atlanta Young Republicans was taking place.
The attendees, gathering to enjoy food and write postcards, aimed to get 1,000 postcards written in support of local Republican candidates. The group members expressed varied opinions on Donald Trump. Winslow Jones, the group’s president, noted that while opinions on Trump differ, common concerns include the economy, border security, and local crime and safety.
Jacquelyn Harn, the president of the statewide Georgia Young Republicans, expressed that there is excitement for change among her peers. Harn emphasized that the return to the policies from Trump’s presidency, which they believe are essential for achieving the American dream again, is highly anticipated. Housing costs, she added, remain a significant priority for young voters.
Kelly’s next stop was the Harris/Walz headquarters, where a text banking event was in progress. Members of the Young Democrats of Georgia and Men for Choice had gathered to send out 50,000 texts targeting men of color aged 27 to 50. Davante Jennings, the president of the Young Democrats, highlighted the critical nature of the black vote to the Democratic Party and noted the increased activities and support following Vice President Harris’s bid for the presidency.
Political science professor Kerwin Swint of Kennesaw State University remarked on the increased youth voter turnout, referencing the high participation rates during the 2020 election due to more accessible voting options. A visit to Kennesaw’s campus on National Voter Registration Day found the nonpartisan group Poder Latinx actively registering new voters and addressing key issues like immigration, education, the economy, and housing.
First-time voter Yahir Rodriguez, a first-year student at Kennesaw State, expressed concerns over rising housing costs, a sentiment echoed by many young voters. Though Rodriguez supports Harris, not all his peers share his enthusiasm. Lambianze Jackson, another student, criticized both presidential candidates’ policies but indicated that the overriding of Roe v Wade influenced her decision to vote for Harris. Jackson also called for better communication of policies from Harris to win over more young voters.
This episode of Consider This was produced by Erika Ryan, Kira Wakeam, and Alejandra Marquez Janse, with editing by Courtney Dorning. The executive producer is Sami Yenigun.