Ilhan Adan
Hanna Askarpour
Annie Geng
Ava Johnson
Jillian Kinder
Julissa Lagunes
Kanyinsola Oye
Denisce Palacios
Ilhan Adan
She/hers
Age: 18
School: Burnsville Senior High School
Hometown: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Political POV: “Leftist/Democrat. … I understand the reality of the injustices that Black and Muslim people face in America.”
Looking to 2020: “What I’m most looking forward to in the next election is being able to vote for the first time.”
Hanna Askarpour
She/hers
Age: 16
School: Agnes Irwin School
Hometown: Media, Pennsylvania
Political POV: “Economically left, socially libertarian … I tend to have pretty far left views, and although I am a Democrat I do not usually align myself with establishment Democrats or the DNC.”
Looking to 2020: “The number thing that I’m both really excited for and really nervous about is just to see what the Democratic candidates can bring to the table during this election cycle.”
Annie Geng
She/hers
Age: 21
School: University of Chicago
Hometown: New York, NY
Political POV: “Very liberal… I’ve moved around a lot, am Chinese-American, am the child of immigrants, and have Trump supporter parents. ”
Looking to 2020: “One thing I’m excited about for 2020 is watching people of color build a powerful voice.”
Ava Johnson
She/hers
Age: 17
School: Pembroke Pines Charter High School
Hometown: Miami, Florida
Political POV: “A leftist and a Democratic Socialist. I am pre-registered with the Democratic Party. … I am not afraid to advocate for extreme policies if that means saving our planet from environmental destruction.”
Looking to 2020: “I am most dreading the blackout and horserace coverage of leftist politics, especially those of Bernie Sanders, by major media organizations. Additionally, as an Iranian-American, I’m very fearful of the way that warmongering propaganda will impact both the United States presidential election and my family in Iran. And I’m worried for the globally disenfranchised as a result.”
Jillian Kinder
She/hers
Age: 22
School: West Virginia University
Hometown: Charleston, West Virginia
Political POV: “I’m steeped in the young conservative movement. … I’m someone who supports the president but isn’t thrilled with everything he does.”
Looking to 2020: “In 2020, I’m looking forward to electing more Republicans in West Virginia, and also working to elect more Republican women across the United States.”
Julissa Lagunes
She/hers
Age: 21
School: University of California, Riverside
Hometown: Orange, CA
Political POV: “My political beliefs are to have empathy and provide for everyone. … I don’t want to put myself in a label whether that is to the left or to the right; I want to help the folks in need and help all folks grow.”
Looking to 2020: “The youth are the generation of the future and if the youth go out to vote, we can make a huge difference and speak on issues we are concerned about.”
Kanyinsola Oye
She/hers
Age: 19
School: Howard University
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Political POV: “I would describe myself as a leftist, leaning towards socialism specifically. But in our current political climate where only a two-party system is centered, I would say I fall under the Democratic side.”
Looking to 2020: “One thing I am not looking forward to for the 2020 election is seeing candidates depend on Black voters without actually talking about Black issues. So I’m really interested to see how that’s going to play out and who is actually going to display care and love for the Black community this time.”
Denisce Palacios
She/hers
Age: 22
School: University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley
Hometown: La Feria, Texas
Political POV: “Ardently progressive out of necessity… [I’m the] Latinx daughter of immigrants, living on the border amidst the immigration controversies and misrepresentation throughout media.”
Looking to 2020: “The thing that I dread most about the 2020 campaign is the reelection of Donald Trump because of the possibility of him harming communities like mine through deportation and ugly immigration policies.”
Ophelia Kai Pfeifer
Ruth Samuel
Kiden-Aloyse Smith
Syd Stephenson
Ophelia Kai Pfeifer
They/them
Age: 19
School: Southern New Hampshire University
Hometown: Derry, New Hampshire
Political POV: “My political beliefs can best be described as ‘I want my friends and I to be safe.’ I’m bisexual and nonbinary and most of my friends are also in the LGBT community, and many of them are POC. So I really just want a LGBT, POC positive government.”
Looking to 2020: “What I’m looking forward to most in 2020 is voting Donald Trump out of office. Hopefully it happens!”
Ruth Samuel
She/hers
Age: 20
School: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Hometown: Macon, Georgia
Political POV: “When asked about my political affiliation at the DMV, I looked at the word ‘Democrat’, then looked at the Black woman behind the desk and said, ‘I mean, girl, I guess.’
Looking to 2020: “I was a senior in high school when I saw Hillary Clinton take on Donald Trump, and I was 17 years old so I couldn’t vote. So the one thing I’m looking forward to about this 2020 campaign is finally being able to cast my vote for president.”
Kiden-Aloyse Smith
She/hers
Age: 18
School: Kirkwood High School
Hometown: Kirkwood, Missouri
Political POV: “[The] majority of my political ideals and beliefs stem from my faith. I’m a Christian and that’s the reason why I’m a liberal.”
Looking to 2020: “Something that I’m looking forward to and kind of dreading about the campaign and the election is it’ll be the first time I’m able to vote, so that’s exciting. But I’m not quite sure who I want to vote for. I know in 2016, I was very passionate about Bernie Sanders but as time passed, I’m not really sure how I feel about him right now.”
Syd Stephenson
They/them
Age: 22
School: University of Oklahoma
Current location: Norman, Oklahoma
Political POV: “I am a disabled, transgender leftist living in one of the most anti-LGBTQ+ and pro-Trump states in the country.”
Looking to 2020: “What I am dreading the most about this upcoming election as a transgender and non-binary person is Trump getting re-elected. He’s done a lot of horrible things to the transgender community while he’s been in office and I really don’t want him to be president again.”
