Biden struggles to win over young voters in 2024, a shift from 2020

WASHINGTON (TND) — President Joe Biden this week announced a major change in drug policy.

It would reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug, an effort many believe tries to appeal to a loyal group of voters, young people, around 60% of whom voted for him in 2020.

It’s not just new efforts; Biden has spent most of his Presidency pushing policies to combat climate change and has many times attempted to forgive billions of dollars in student loan debt, although he hasn't successfully made large stridesdue to legal challenges.

Still - kitchen table issues like the economy and inflation are also top of mind for young people, according to Patrick McSweeney,who’s completing his dissertation on the relationship between young people and the Democratic party.

“He keeps bragging about this economy, that’s on paper looking pretty good. But, for many young people, they're years away from being able to afford a house, so it doesn't seem as good for them, " said McSweeney, in an interview with The National Desk Thursday.

The changing fate was summed up in headlines this week. One in Newsweeksaid, "Joe Biden's Youth Vote Has Collapsed in Four Years, Polls Show," and one on CNN said, "Biden’s young voter problem keeps getting worse."

A new CNN/SSRS poll found in a Biden vs. Trump matchup,Trump is leading 51% to 40% among voters younger than 35.

Over the last few months, many young people have cited President Biden's support for Israel as a reason why they won’t support him. Their frustration now playing out at campus protests nationwide.

“I think the biggest concern is going to be young people staying at home, perhaps just skipping the Presidential line on the ballot. It doesn’t take a lot of voters in some of these swing states," McSweeney said.

Others warn it could result in policies they like even less, should Trump win in November.

During his Club Random Podcast, Bill Maher said, "I keep trying to tell the left this every week, like the more you do crazy s**t, the more you push the people in the middle to the right.”

There is one other factor on which many experts agree: Of all the voting blocs, young people are the least likely to be thinking ahead, which means we won’t likely have an accurate snapshot of their sentiments until just before the election.