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President Biden's recent move to cancel some student loan debt could seem to be an overture to younger people in advance of upcoming midterm elections. Yet I believe, as Elena Schneider noted earlier this year in an article for Politico, the Democratic Party is "on shaky ground with young people."
I'm one of those young people. In fact, I won't even be able to vote until I turn 18 in a year and a half. But that didn't stop me from getting involved with Yuh-Line Niou's campaign in New York's 10th Congressional District.
I came in with no political experience and ended up as a core volunteer captain for Tribeca, the Financial District and Battery Park City, where I live. The story of what drew me to this campaign, what I learned and what it motivated me to do next, may reveal some lessons relevant to engaging young people in the future of American politics.
Why I used to avoid politics
I was born and raised in New York City. My parents are immigrants from China. They have never been what I would call "politically active." Like plenty of other Americans, they mostly just vote in presidential elections. As a family, I would describe us as socially progressive and fiscally conservative. We believe in merit-based hard work and living within our means.
Until this year, I avoided politics. It seemed messy, deceitful, and not something I wanted to get mixed up in. Many students at my school, and their families, are highly vocal about their progressive beliefs—but most of them are not "involved" in politics in any hands-on way, either.
However, a school friend convinced me to attend one of her public advocacy club's after-school events: a visit from Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou. At the time, she was running for the state Senate.
Supporting "Gen Z" policies
One of the main things that got my attention about Niou was that, unlike many Democratic politicians, she acknowledged and talked about the issue of the Democratic party being unproductive and ineffective. This is a key problem that has alienated many young voters.
Before working on Niou's campaign, I often felt resigned to the idea that no politician would ever actually be able to get anything done, so the best I might hope for would be better representation for people who needed it, even if that was mainly symbolic.
Niou definitely checked that box. Like me, she is Asian American. Like my parents, she is an immigrant, having come to the United States from Taiwan as an infant, with all of her family's possessions stuffed into just six suitcases. She is also queer, autistic and public about it. However, I also found her compelling in other ways.
She was one of the first New York politicians to stand up to Governor Cuomo when he threatened to cut Medicaid during the pandemic. She went on a 15-day hunger strike in solidarity with New York taxi workers to win debt relief. She co-founded an Asian American and Pacific Islander task force and got $30 million earmarked to address the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes.
Niou has a vocal stance on "Gen Z" issues. She is such a leader on climate justice that people in Albany refer to her initiatives as the "Green Niou Deal." She has fought for and delivered over $1 billion in additional funding for New York City schools, and helped to pass bills reinforcing transparency in policing.
Joining the campaign
I emailed Niou and her team a few days after I saw her talk. By May, my volunteering experience officially began.
The budget was tight, but enthusiasm was high. The campaign employed an unusually large number of engaged and energized high school- and college-age volunteers. This was likely because of Niou's stance on issues like climate change. I hadn't even started my junior year in high school, but soon I was able to help run phone banks and canvass.
All of the volunteers I met were very dedicated. Their enthusiasm might have surprised me more if I didn't also feel it myself. Niou is the first politician who has really inspired my respect and active support. She is a fighter who inspires me to stand up for myself, for my community and for what I believe in, and to include everyone in the conversation. Going forward, she is the standard against which I will measure other candidates for political office.
Of course, she lost. She was narrowly defeated in the primary by Dan Goldman, a centrist candidate. Even though we lost, this experience will impact my own future political choices.
What young voters want from politicians
To thrive, political parties don't just need votes. They need people who are consistently involved and committed. I am ready not just to vote, but to work and campaign—for the right candidate.
Most of the classmates that I surround myself with want to see a politician who is unafraid to voice concern about issues that they care about. They want a politician who doesn't feel like they need to be "politically correct" all the time, and someone who will actually stand up for the issues that they care about. Most of the time, these are national issues like climate change, immigration, abortion rights, Black Lives Matter, etc.
I think that our generation has almost shied away from putting confidence in politicians, who we don't think will accomplish much. Instead, we tend to spend our energy supporting community organizations and causes that we care about. There are over 15 activism clubs in my school.
I don't know if my peers will always vote; many will, and will for the rest of their lives. I have friends who I know will cast their vote every year in municipal, state and federal elections, but mostly because they'll be issue-motivated. The community organizations that they are passionate about might endorse political candidates, whom they may then vote for.
Either way, we're not apathetic. We haven't given up. We just need to know somebody is actually listening before we raise our voices and vote.
Renee Cai, 17, is a high school student who lives in New York.
All views expressed in this article are the author's own.
