Vice President Kamala Harris could reenergize young climate activists if she replaces President Joe Biden at the top of the Democratic presidential ticket — and not only because of her views on global warming.
Harris quickly racked up endorsements from Democrats on Sunday, after Biden ended his reelection bid and threw his support behind his vice president. As the party’s most likely presidential candidate, Harris now has the opportunity to drop some of the administration’s heaviest baggage with young voters.
That includes not only Biden’s pro-oil moves — like approving Chevron’s mammoth Willow project in Alaska — but also his support for Israel’s war in Gaza and his denunciation of college protests calling for a cease-fire. Such moves alienated the youth-heavy green groups that in 2020 helped power Biden’s campaign to victory.
“The Venn diagram of young people who want climate action and young people who want a cease-fire is basically a circle,” said Elise Joshi, executive director of Gen Z for Change.
