UWGB Political Presidential Thoughts

By: Daniel Bestul, Collin Bouressa, Olivia Kjorlien, and Samuel Drake

According to PBS, most U.S. adults overall (56 percent) would be “very” or “somewhat” dissatisfied with Biden as the Democratic presidential nominee in 2024, and a similar majority (58 percent) would be very or somewhat dissatisfied with Trump as the GOP’s pick. The Fourth Estate interviewed UWGB professors and students and anonymously polled students on whether or not they shared that sentiment.

The 2024 Presidential election will take place on Tuesday, November 5th, 2024. As of right now, there will be a 2020 presidential rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. Robert Kennedy Jr. is leading the Independent race. There has been talk that people are dissatisfied with the leading political candidates. Many voters feel that the current pool of candidates lacks the necessary leadership qualities and vision to lead the country in a time of uncertainty and change.

The ongoing political polarization in the United States has further worsened the dissatisfaction with the presidential candidates. The deepening divide between the two major political parties has made it challenging for voters to find a candidate who aligns with their values and priorities. This polarization has also contributed to a sense of disappointment with the political system, as many Americans feel that their voices are not being heard and that the candidates are not addressing their concerns.

The Fourth Estate conducted an anonymous survey of University of Wisconsin-Green Bay students. Out of 67 respondents, 53 said they were planning to, or probably planning to, vote in the 2024 spring election. In the survey, 35.8% of respondents selected ‘Democrat’ as the political party they most identify with. Those respondents were then asked how satisfied they were with President Joe Biden as the leading democratic candidate, from 0-10. The average response score was 4.59.

A senior at UWGB, who would like to stay anonymous, isn’t a fan of the 2024 presidential candidates. “Both candidates are too old to hold office and are far too divisive,” the student said. This student leans towards the democratic side but still isn’t satisfied with Joe Biden as the lead Democratic candidate. “Due to the incumbency advantage held by President Joe Biden, he has a better chance of winning re-election for the Democratic Party. However, I would rather choose a Democratic candidate who has a smaller likelihood of dying while in office.” The student would like to see a younger candidate who has an accomplished background for the democratic side. “For the Democratic Party, I would like to see a younger person like Dean Phillips in office. He’s an intelligent and accomplished CEO and third-time winner for the seat of the Minnesota State Senate,” the student said.

UWGB’s chair of Democracy and Justice Studies, Jon Shelton, spoke to the Fourth Estate about the state of the 2024 election and why voters may be feeling less than encouraged by the leading candidates. Shelton cited multiple reasons and focused on the federal government “not functioning in a way that solves working people’s problems.” He said that the idea centers around economic inequality, unaffordable housing, a long-term economic outlook, including student loans, scarce decent jobs, and the response to climate change, which he said has been an “utter failure” by the federal government.

In terms of President Joe Biden, specifically as the lead Democratic candidate, Shelton outlined why there might be a lack of excitement about him as a candidate. He mentioned that Biden has been in the political structure for 52 years, he was elected into the senate in 1972. Another reason is that Biden is a Centrist Democrat, which is not necessarily pushing more progressive democratic voters to the polls. That being said, Shelton mentioned that Biden is being pushed more toward the ‘progressive left’ side of the political aisle. Shelton also said Biden has done a lot in office that may be going under the radar, he mentioned cancellation of student loan debt, supporting the affordable care act, and the child tax credit.

When it comes to the future of the Democrat Party, Shelton hopes to have a candidate that excites voters, as Barack Obama and Bernie Sanders did for voters in the past. But, since Biden was the presumptive nominee for the Democratic Party, there were not any fellow party members who opposed the sitting President’s nomination. Shelton said this made it difficult for voters to get a comprehensive look at other Democratic nominees. So, an open primary in the 2028 election should serve as a boost to the party’s non-Biden candidates. Shelton mentioned Marianne Williamson as a democratic nominee who he thinks is “deeply rooted in materially improving the lives of working people.”

26.9% of survey respondents selected ‘Republican’ as the political party they most identify with. Those respondents were then asked how satisfied they were with Donald Trump as the leading republican candidate, from 0-10. The average response score was 6.61.

One student who aligns with the Republican party is UWGB senior William Soquet. He mentioned that Donald Trump would not be his first choice as a Republican presidential candidate. Soquet said Trump was his third choice of Republican candidates in the 2024 election. His top two choices were Vivek Ramaswamy and Ron DeSantis, respectively. Soquet thinks Trump did a fine job when he was in office from 2016-2020 and is likely going to vote for him again.

Soquet said current Republicans “don’t have a spine.” Soquet would like to see future Republicans preserve what is good. A few examples he listed were abortion, school choice, and cultural issues. He thinks Ramaswamy is a “breath of fresh air” in the Republican Party and is the best choice going forward because he is not a career politician; he is highly educated, he has great ideas, and he knows policy better than most current politicians. Another lesser-known candidate Soquet would support is Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, who Soquet said “has a backbone” and a “pronounced statement.” Which he believes is a necessity for future Republican candidates.

25.4% of survey respondents selected Independent, and 11.9% selected Other, combining 37.3% of respondents aligning with a third party as the party they most identify with. Independent respondents were asked how satisfied they were with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the leading candidate, from 0-10. The average response score was 3.33. As for respondents who selected “other” as their political party, they were asked how satisfied they were with the leading candidate of their respective third parties. The average response score was 4.43.

Aaron Weinschenk, Ben J. And Joyce Rosenberg, Professor of Political Science and Chair of Political Science at UW-Green Bay, hears many concerns that students bring up in his classes about the candidates.

“I think people in general are dissatisfied with both candidates, in part, because people identify real concerns with each of them. Biden is seen as being ‘too old’ by many potential voters. They also often express concerns about his mental and physical health. Trump, too, generates various concerns. He is facing numerous criminal and civil trials, which worries many people. He uses inflammatory rhetoric regularly. He often does things that are viewed as quite objectionable (e.g., mocking a reporter’s disability),” Weinschenk said.

One reason for the dispute between political leaders Biden and Trump is political apathy. Voter apathy is the lack of internet among voters in elections. According to The Encyclopedia of World Problems & Human Potential, “Political apathy or lack of participation in politics may lead to anarchy, fanaticism, and political, social or national disintegration. The underutilization of political rights undermines the practice and principles of democracy and may, in extreme cases, lead to dictatorship.” Political distrust has been the norm, rather than the exception, for the democratic process in the U.S. Political Distrust might lead to political apathy, which in turn can result in consequences such as anarchy, fanaticism, and the disintegration of political, social, or national unity.

The 2024 presidential election presents a pivotal moment for the United States as voters consider the future direction of the country. It is crucial for voters to stay informed, engage with the issues that matter most to them and participate actively in the democratic process. As the campaign season unfolds, it will be vital for candidates to address the concerns and desires of the voters, present compelling visions for the future, and work towards rebuilding trust in the political system. “Young people are frustrated with the high levels of gridlock that exist on many of the issues they care deeply about (environmental concerns, gun violence, costs of higher education, uncertain job market, etc.). When the issue(s) you think are important haven’t been addressed in a substantial way, I think it can be hard to feel optimistic that they will be handled by future presidents,” Weinschenk stated. Ultimately, the 2024 election will be a critical opportunity for Americans to shape the course of their nation and make their voices heard through the power of the ballot.