Will America’s Gen Z save the world?
New StatesmanNov 10, 2022
The Facts
On Wednesday, Pres. Biden suggested that he intends to "run again" for the presidency in 2024 in his first speech since polls closed for the midterm elections. However, he clarified that he's not in "any hurry" to officially decide and that further conversations are needed.
Reflecting on what he described as a "good day for democracy" and "a good day for America" in the wake of better-than-expected midterm results for the Democrats, Biden — who turns 80 this month — claimed that it would ultimately be a family decision likely made in early 2023.
The Spin
Democratic narrative
A dreaded "red wave" was thwarted in the US midterms, in large part due to the extraordinary voting power of "Gen Z." Whether Biden chooses to run or not in 2024, the deeper issue for the Democratic party is how to select leadership that will speak to the issues relevant to this emerging voter bloc. This election proved that the future is now.
Republican narrative
Biden is already the oldest sitting president in US history and has poor approval ratings. Things don't look good for the president for a 2024 run. Despite some setbacks in the 2022 midterms, the GOP is looking solid for the next election — especially if Biden insists on trying to carry the mantle.
Nerd narrative
There's a 48% chance that Trump will win the 2024 US Presidential Election if it is Biden v. Trump, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
