Lessons Learned from Past Elections
By: Team Tom
Tags: Tom Steyer, 2016 Election, Joe Biden, 2020 Election, Volunteer

How does this election feel different?

Julia: I think people are finally getting the urgency. I worked on the Hillary for America campaign as an organizer in Virginia, and while I did have some very committed and wonderful volunteers, I would often call people and they wouldn’t want to help get out the vote. This year, I think people are trying to ignore the polls, just vote, talk to voters, and take nothing for granted. I’ve seen people become more involved in politics like never before, and honestly, it makes me really proud.

I also think there’s more of an understanding that our norms as a country will go away if we don’t fight for them. We have to fight publicly every day to ensure that elections will happen as fairly as possible and that everyone’s vote is counted.

Casey: In 2016, I was in my third year of college taking a course called “Electoral Politics: Elections, Media, and Strategy.” We treated Donald Trump as an anomalous case study, and not a truly viable candidate. I remember the day after Trump’s victory, the whole class was in a stupor as we silently took our seats, looking at each other with a mixture of shock and dread. Since then, I pivoted my ambition to work in international relations to do as much as I can to fight for marginalized communities at home. In 2018, I started an internship at NextGen America, helping register young voters across the country. The historic youth turnout and progressive victories that year gave a resounding message — when we put in the work, we can win, and win decisively.

2020 has given us plenty of reasons to feel like we’re on the precipice of doom, which certainly differentiates it from the other elections I’ve lived through before. But I’ve also noticed the same beams of hope I saw from 2018, with people working hard to innovate new ways of exchanging information, organizing, and engaging with each other through the digital space. It’s on every one of us to join these efforts and shine that light even brighter.

What are you most excited about?

Julia: I think I’m most excited about how comprehensive Biden’s platform is — particularly his comprehensive plan to fight the climate crisis! His environmental justice plan was written by collaboration between a number of environmental champions and shows how much we can count on Biden to listen to scientists, and how much we can accomplish as a country if we elect him in November.

Casey: What’s excited me the most so far from the political side is to see different groups coming together to support Vice President Biden. In particular, I’ve been inspired by the creation and policy proposals by the Biden-Sanders Unity Task Forces, the maelstrom of constituency phonebanking and textbanking events (shoutout to AAPIs for Biden!), and the coalition of labor, environmental justice, and climate leaders helming Vice President Biden’s Climate Engagement Advisory Council.

What are you most concerned about?

Casey: I’m most concerned by people who only singularly commit to either voting or to direct action (e.g. protesting, calling elected officials), as if only one of them matters! These two modes of participation are jointly crucial in our system, and if you have the access and ability, I think you should definitely invest time into both — especially on behalf of those who are not afforded the same privileges and opportunity.

Julia: As someone that actively tries to ignore polls, I’m most concerned about the voters who say they’re undecided or voting Biden, when they’re actually voting for Trump or third party and are just ashamed of it. Don’t take anything or anyone for granted. We must keep organizing in our communities, talking to our families, show up to vote and not take the polls verbatim!

If you could tell a young voter one thing about voting this election, what would that be?

Casey: Even though it may always not seem like it and many won’t admit it, young people are and have always been the drivers of moral leadership. Despite the world seeming like it was teetering on an apocalyptic state, in only the past seven months, young people took to the streets for Black Lives Matter protests and climate strikes, went on TikTok and Instagram to educate their followers, dismantled hashtags on Twitter used by white supremacists by sharing K-pop videos, and even held virtual rallies in video games. Your voice is powerful — make it heard not only in this upcoming election, but also for the years to come.

Julia: Y’all are so cool, please think I’m cool too. No, I’m joking (sorta).

What I would actually say is: Adults love to underestimate and denigrate y’all. Like Casey said, young people are more politically engaged and progressive than ever before in history, and are the largest and most diverse voting block. I know every organization on the planet is yelling at you to vote, but just want you to keep speaking truth to power, and challenging the status quo.

What has been your favorite moment from this election cycle?

Julia: I was put in charge of Tom’s official Facebook a few months ago, and I have been really enjoying it and have grown a lot professionally. Not only do I get to develop my social media writing skills, I have really gotten to push the issues that I care about deeply and have loved seeing all the support from the public on the page in response.

Casey: Has there been a phrase that captures more perfectly today’s zeitgeist than, “Will you shut up, man?”