The attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump sent shockwaves from sea to shining sea last weekend. In Washington, D.C., the search for answers began immediately. Republicans and Democrats alike were outraged when they realized things had gone too far.
While some of Trump’s opposition voiced concerns over political violence, many of his supporters felt a renewed sense of urgency in the upcoming election.
According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, just in time for the 2024 presidential election, an estimated 8 million Americans will become eligible to vote for the first time, giving Gen Z (1997 – 2012) around 41 million votes.
For 21-year-old Hannah Adams, the November election will be the first time she votes in a presidential election. The political science and public relations major at the University of Alabama said she knew the moment she heard about the shooting, she would never forget where she was and what she was doing.
She was at a friend’s barbecue, and as an intern on Capitol Hill, she has personal connections to some of the people at the rally.
“It was a really scary thing to see all of what occurred on Saturday at President Trump's rally,” Adams said. “I actually worked for a member of Congress last summer who was from that area and so it really hit home to me. I had friends who were at the rally and I was with Hill-staffers the moment that I found out. So, of course, we were all in a panic, not just for President Trump and his family, but also the other elected officials who were there.”
Everyone at the barbecue started making calls and looking for answers. Most importantly, they wanted to know that everyone was unharmed. Unfortunately, that was not the case. While Trump and two others were injured, one man lost his life. Corey Comperatore, a volunteer firefighter, died a hero while trying to protect his family.
“Nothing like this had ever happened, at least in my lifetime,” Adams said. “And so I think it made everyone really unite, especially the Republican party. It made everyone come together.”
In the following days, more information was released about the shooting. Still, there are no answers as to how the shooter was able to get onto a roof with a firearm and pull the trigger. Adams believes the incident will change things.
“We've seen an attack on democracy, and it's going to forever impact how people campaign and the security measures that we take at these rallies,” she said. “So, I think it's something that's always going to be on people's minds.”
Adams has learned how to speak to people about politics. She knows there will often be differences of opinion. However, she said the attempted assassination is something everyone should agree on.
“To me, to incite any sort of political violence, especially on someone who has so selflessly served our country, I think regardless if you're a Republican or a Democrat, you should be outraged,” Adams explained. “And if anything, the response of President Trump and his team and the support that I've seen from so many different people across the country is just encouraging to see. It’s important for people to take a stand against this and say, ‘This should not have happened.”
As for who people will vote for, Adams believes a small number of people may change their vote due to the shooting, but she said the real change came after Biden’s remarks during the June 27 debate.
Ella Caldwell, 18, of White Plains, will cast her ballot for the first time in November. While she says she supported Trump before the shooting, watching the news and seeing what happened to him on July 13 made her realize this election is more important than she ever imagined.
“I just love Trump, and I think he’s a great guy and a great leader,” said Caldwell. “At first, I thought it was a joke, but it wasn’t, and it was devastating. I love Trump, and I didn’t think I would ever see someone try to assassinate a president in 2024.”
Young voters are noticing how politics can impact their lives, and they say that’s how they know every vote counts.
Jenna Amberson, 18, of Alexandria, will also cast her first ballot in November. She said she hasn’t always been a Trump supporter, but after living during a Trump administration and a Biden administration, she is letting their records decide her vote.
“Just based on the options and what I’ve seen, Trump is better than Biden at this point,” Amberson said. “Comparing Biden’s presidency with Trump’s there is no question Trump was definitely better.”
Amberson said her fear is the threat of more political violence.
“It’s scary,” she said. “I honestly think something bad could happen with Republicans versus Democrats. It could be really bad. Just the fact that we're putting other people's lives at risk over politics is scary. I don’t think people use common sense anymore.”
Adams, a childhood cancer survivor, said she quickly learned as a child that being an advocate for others can make a difference. Since she began raising awareness of childhood cancer around the age of eight, Adams has learned how to reach young people. She hopes to see more people in her generation getting involved so they, too, can make a difference.
“I think that young people need to see the impact that policies are having on everyday life,” Adams added. “And I think that they are with how our economy is going, the rising cost of housing and that sort of thing, but also taking a deeper look into how we're electing people and what are the results that we're getting from that, too.”
“Candidates and elected officials have to have strong social media platforms,” she continued. “That is crucial. Not just on Twitter, but now we're seeing it on Instagram and Facebook. But also, being willing to bring in younger people to their staff or having volunteers come out on the campaign is another key aspect of it because young people, want to feel like they're a part of something bigger than themselves.”
Adams said politics are more than an “R” or a “D.” While elected officials must represent the values they were elected to represent, she said it’s also important for them to engage with everyone.
“I'm a part of the Blackburn Institute at Alabama, and one of the big components of the institute is diversity of opinion,” she said. “It's a skill that I really try to hone in on and I know that other students have too, and it's something that's widely encouraged throughout our campus.”
According to data from the Census Current Population Survey Voting and Registration Supplement, Gen Z has a major impact on civic and political movements. In the 2022 midterm elections, 28.4% of youth ages 18 to 24 voted. That's a higher rate than previous generations, including Baby Boomers, at the same age.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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