For Gen Z, 2016 was the first presidential election that many of us were able to participate in. Over the last decade, my generation has been voting under the specter of Donald Trump. We’ve seen it all: his attempts to ban Muslims from entering the United States, his impeachments, the bungling of a public health emergency that killed over 1 million Americans and ultimately his attempt to lead a seditious insurrection against Congress.
Gen Z is the most progressive generation of Americans — ever. My generation falls to the left of the rest of the population on virtually every issue. Reproductive rights, gun violence, LGBTQ+ rights, the climate crisis and human rights are among the most serious issues that Gen Z fervently cares about. As Vice President Kamala Harris has mentioned repeatedly on the trail, my generation is impatient for change.
With that impatience comes immense frustration. The fall of Roe v. Wade was a gut punch — how could my generation now have less rights than many of our parents were born with? In Gaza, we are seeing crimes against humanity occurring before our eyes all over social media — how can our government stand by and not force the killing to stop? Student debt will bankrupt our generation — yet the courts continue to strike down any sort of aid.
This frustration is leading to justifiable disinterest and skepticism. The last decade in Trump’s shadow has eroded democratic norms and eliminated any sort of discernible progress that non-politically aware members of my generation can see. Several of my closest friends have expressed doubts about not just voting for Kamala Harris, but about participating in the election at all.
We’ve heard time and time again since 2016, that “this is the most important election of our lifetimes.” It’s hard to believe the weight of that statement when we seemingly hear it every four years. But this time, it is truly different. Everything is on the line, and I mean everything. This election is far too close for us to sit out: Gen Z must decisively reject Donald Trump and his racist, xenophobic and abhorrent policies.
The stakes of this election for reproductive rights could not be higher. With the fall of Roe v. Wade, many states have enacted draconian laws that severely restrict access to abortion — or have banned it completely. Maternal mortality rates in southern states are reaching unacceptable levels. Women who have been denied life-saving care are dying in parking lots. The vast plurality of our generation, and Americans as a whole, believe that bodily autonomy is non-negotiable. At this moment, we must support leaders who have pledged to protect and expand these rights — in this cycle, that candidate is Kamala Harris. In stark contrast, Trump’s administration actively sought to undermine reproductive rights — his decision to pack the Supreme Court with anti-abortion justices was not an accident. He has laid the groundwork for a national abortion ban, and if given the chance, he will ensure it becomes the law of the land.
Trump has repeatedly said that he is the ultimate “protector of women” — which is quite an absurd statement considering the fact that he was held liable by a court in New York for rape. He is also linked to the late Jeffrey Epstein, who is arguably one of the most prolific pedophiles and sex traffickers of the modern era. Conversely, Harris spent much of her prosecutorial career in California targeting sexual predators — she has often said that the sexual abuse of her close childhood friend was a motivating factor for her to enter public service.
Climate change is another existential issue for our generation. We are inheriting a planet on the brink of catastrophe, and Trump’s denial of climate science and intent to roll back environmental protections put our future at risk. Trump is hellbent on enacting policies that equate to climate arson. Kamala Harris has consistently supported progressive environmental policies, aiming for bold action to combat climate change and promote renewable energy. She was the tie-breaking vote in the Senate for the Inflation Reduction Act, which included the largest investment in clean energy and represented the boldest climate package in US history.
Additionally, the future of the Supreme Court hangs in the balance. Trump’s appointments have tilted the court toward a right-wing, partisan agenda, jeopardizing key rulings on everything from voting rights to healthcare access. Trump’s radical, racist, and anti-American policies are so unpopular that he will turn to the courts to ram them through, knowing all too well they’d never make it through Congress. We must recognize that our ability to influence policy and protect our rights in the future also depends on having a balanced judiciary. The next president may have the ability to appoint upwards of three justices — there is no discernible circumstance in which we can permit Trump to have that power.
The most contentious issue facing our generation is undeniably the war in Gaza. Over the past year, we have borne witness to the harrowing mass slaughter of innocent lives, unfolding in real-time on social media, stirring a visceral sense of urgency and deep helplessness. The unfathomable suffering of the Palestinian people demands immediate action, and there is no question the Biden administration has a moral obligation to do much more to alleviate this crisis. The cold perception of a lack of urgency in resolving this conflict has left many wondering if casting a vote for Harris could genuinely create any meaningful change, even with the looming threat of Trump’s return to power.
On Palestine, Trump’s policies and perspectives represent a terrifying regression. Trump has said that he would let Israel “finish the job” in Gaza, which, based on his worldview, could equate to cataclysmic human suffering. Trump has even gone as far to say that Gaza would “make for excellent beachfront property.” Trump and Netanyahu share an incredibly close friendship, and the latter frequently visits Mar-a-Lago. The possibility that Trump would hold Netanyahu accountable for his actions towards Palestinians is virtually nonexistent. Much of Netanyahu’s calculus at this moment is betting on Trump returning to power — they both see each other as right-wing allies.
Alternatively, Harris has repeatedly been clear that she doesn’t trust Netanyahu or his government. She was among the first members of Biden’s administration to call for a ceasefire — a position she has yet to waver from. While more must be done, this differentiation could not be more obvious.
To make matters even more dire, The Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 (a blueprint for Trump’s second term authored by those closest to him) represents a catastrophic threat to democracy in our country, laying the groundwork for a regime that could systematically dismantle democratic institutions and target progressive voices with ruthless aggression. Under Trump, we would face an authoritarian nightmare, where dissent could be met with severe reprisals, including imprisonment of political opponents and activists. The Supreme Court even ruled that presidents virtually have complete and total immunity — we cannot allow him to have this power.
Trump is already claiming the election is going to be stolen from him, and he will exploit any close races in the courts. He has amassed a team of thousands of lawyers who are raring to toss the votes of millions of Americans. Trump’s plan to overturn the election results in 2020 was only stopped by brave individuals like former Vice President Mike Pence who refused to go along — they’re now long gone.
Trump has surrounded himself with a cabal of anti-American thugs who are ready to execute his orders. When Trump says that he’ll be a dictator on day one, believe him. When Trump says that on January 20 he’ll violently deport millions of Americans — including women and children, believe him. When Trump says he’ll shoot dissidents in the face, believe him.
Finally, there is no third-party option this cycle that deserves your vote. Jill Stein is a perennial grifter who has dined with Vladimir Putin — she stands for nothing. Her running mate is transphobic and supports a national abortion ban. In fact, Green Party chapters across the world have called for her to withdraw. Claudia de la Cruz, the Socialist candidate, has been disqualified from the ballot in many states and stands zero chance of garnering even a fraction of the vote total. As Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) said just a few days ago, any vote for a third party or non-vote is a vote closer to a Trump presidency.
Organizing for a progressive future under Kamala Harris would provide a crucial lifeline. While she may not embody the perfect candidate for leftists, electoral politics rarely deliver such idealism. We must confront the grim truth: If we allow Trump to return to power, we risk plunging off the cliff into a dark era where our rights and freedoms are almost certain to be stripped away.
Voting for Harris is not just a strategic choice; it is a necessity to preserve the space for advocacy, activism, and genuine change. In this election, we face a choice between a future that fosters progressive values and one that descends into authoritarianism, and we cannot afford to sit on the sidelines.
Two weeks ago, I walked into the Chicago Board of Elections and proudly voted to save our democracy from fascism, casting my ballot for Kamala Harris. It is with the utmost urgency that I implore all of my friends on the sideline to do the same. Donald Trump, JD Vance and all those who stand ready to destroy this country must be decisively defeated on Tuesday.