Wisconsin's young delegates highlight Gen Z's power this election

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - At the Democratic National Convention, Gen Z is taking the lead, from social media influencers covering the event to 18-year-old Wisconsin delegates.

Young Wisconsin delegates said there’s a newfound excitement for the younger Democratic ticket, now that Vice President Kamala Harris is the presumptive Democratic nominee.

Landiran Kern Jr., an 18-year-old delegate from Fond du Lac, said beyond the convention, young voters are focused on winning.

“It’s not about being here with big time names or lawmakers or connecting with people,” Kern Jr. said. “It’s about doing the work to make sure everyone has a fair and equal life.”

In the 2020 presidential election, the overall voter turnout was nearly 67%, but for voters ages 18-24 years old, turnout was just around 50%, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

Henry Pahlow, an 18-year-old from Maribel who serves as the national vice-chair of the High School Democrats of America and a delegate for Wisconsin said that lower voter turnout can be attributed to an “information gap.”

“There’s really a lot of obstacles for young people to register to vote,” Pahlow said.

However, 19-year Henry Fries, a delegate from Madison said Wisconsin may be closing that gap.

“Wisconsin has kind of been an exception,” Fries said. “I would point to that 2022 election with Janet Protasiewicz, where she led by 10% and that came from college campuses.”

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, who spent breaks at the DNC chatting with some of the youngest delegates in the room, spoke highly of the youth involvement.

“It’s incredible,” Evers said. “This isn’t about a bunch of old people, this is about our future. They’re our future, they’re jazzed up, and they’re one of the reasons we’re going to win.

Between now and November, these younger delegates are encouraging their peers to be a part of history.

“Now is the time to get involved,” Fries said. “You cannot be too young to get involved. The youth is who will build the future.”

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