My Summer Campaigning as a Gen Z Republican
Over the past year, many people have asked me an obvious question: Why would I, a 17-year-old kid, care so much about politics when I can’t even vote?
The answer is simple: the actions that are taken today will define my future. I represent the youth of this country, and we are disillusioned with the establishment political class.
There are two paths forward for America, and I know the history of socialism and authoritarian societies. I decided that it was time to really get out and fight against the lies that infiltrated my school’s curriculum, locked down my community during COVID, and the never-ending wars abroad. If I couldn’t vote, I was going to work towards its downfall in an even bigger way, and working for Congressman Tom Tiffany’s campaign provided the perfect opportunity.
I hit the streets, knocking on doors, with the goal of targeting low-propensity voters. These are voters who are eligible to vote but don’t always participate in elections, and Tom’s campaign made it a priority to target these potential voters. I won’t lie; knocking on doors was awkward at first, but it was worth it. Although many doors never opened, the ones that did gave me a chance to realize my goals finally.
When people answered the door, I would casually ask them about their political beliefs and try to convince them why it was important to vote, even if they felt disillusioned with the political process. Most had strong opinions, but our natural “Midwest nice” attitude helped to keep conversations civil, even when there was disagreement. While we always would like to change the minds of those who were set in their ways, our primary goal was to inform and convince those who were undecided.
The number of undecided voters that I met surprised me. Although many were fed up with the economy and the direction that America was heading under the Biden Administration, they had lost a lot of faith in both parties.
For example, one day, a mother who answered the door really caught my attention. She had strong feelings that things needed to change in our government, and she was tired of nothing ever getting done. According to her, both sides supported foreign wars, and both sides sold out to whatever would increase their pocketbook while ignoring the struggles that people faced back home. I understood her worries and her apathy towards both parties, but I knew that there was a political realignment forming. This realignment was focused on improving the lives of all Americans, not selling out to other countries, and Tom Tiffany was right in the middle of it.
I told her that Tom is not some lifelong politician, who is only focused on securing the next donation from a billionaire or a political promotion, he is an honest American who truly wants his country and Americans to succeed.
I explained that Tom has consistently stood with the American people against the funding of the endless foreign conflicts and the war against girls in our schools. He understands that the only people who benefit from these policies are the Democratic donors and special interest groups who don’t represent the American people.