Tuesday night, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris faced off for the first and likely last presidential debate. With less than two months remaining in this election cycle, the stakes are high. Currently, polls show the two candidates locked in a dead heat. Because of the closeness of this race, young voters will be an especially important demographic this November. This means that it is important for young voters to educate themselves about the candidates. Tuesday’s debate covered a wide variety of topics, many of which are important to young Americans.
One issue that is always a major factor in election cycles, but has reached a new level of significance this year, is abortion. Two years ago, the United States Supreme Court voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, returning the decision to each state. Three of the six total votes to overturn were from Trump-appointed justices. Early in the debate, Trump boasted he helped to end Roe v. Wade. He said he believed the issue should be left up to states to decide for themselves. Trump later attacked Harris and the Democratic party and said its policy on abortion is radical, and even went so far as to say that Democrats support “abortion” after birth. However, the former President did say that if given the option, he would not support a total abortion ban. Recently, Trump told the media he believed the proposed ban after six weeks is not enough time.
In the spin room, Republican Governor Kristi Noem told the Herald that Trump’s position has not changed and that he has always viewed abortion as a state rights issue.
“President Trump was clear the whole time when Roe v. Wade was overturned, that he wanted the people to decide,” Noem said.
In her response during the debate, Harris claimed that Trump had flip-flopped on abortion, and urged women that Trump cannot be trusted to preserve reproductive rights for women. Harris also said that as President, if a bill codifying Roe v. Wade made it to her desk, she would sign it. Such a bill would restore the nationwide abortion access once provided.
Another topic young people find important is the regulation of firearms. Unfortunately, mass shootings have become a seemingly inescapable part of life in the United States. Our generation has seen gun violence on display throughout our lives. For this reason, many young voters have decided they will support laws regulating firearms.
During the debate, Trump said that if Harris was elected, she would take Americans’ guns away. However, Harris pushed back on this claim by saying that she is a gun owner herself, and that such an action would not take place. During her 2020 Presidential campaign, Harris said that she supported the implementation of a mandatory buyback program for “assault weapons.” It is unclear whether her policies have shifted on the issue.
Lastly, the issue that is possibly the most important to young voters is the economy. For Americans who are not yet fiscally established, a strong economy could make life much easier. Trump said that, if elected, he would implement tariffs on countries such as China and Russia in an attempt to increase domestic production. Harris rebutted and said that such tariffs would only make products more expensive for Americans. She later said that having Trump in office would impart a “sales tax” on Americans, making their goods more expensive. Trump then criticized the Biden-Harris administration for the high rates of inflation lately present in the economy.
Overall, there is a lot for young voters to take from this debate. This election will be one of the most consequential in history and there’s a lot at stake for all voters, but especially young Americans.
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Commentary writer Caleb Neitzel can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on X at @caleb_neitzel.
