Letting Go of Our “Ideal Candidate”: Voting out of Rebellion, Not Inspiration in 2020

 In an unprecedented period of chaos and divisiveness our country is facing, opinions about who should sit in the oval office continue to be debated despite each party having selected their nominee. Activism across America today mimics the Civil Rights movement of the 60’s, but with an added twist of a poorly handled global pandemic.  US citizens are risking jail time  protesting racial injustice and police brutality alongside risking their  lives threatened by COVID-19. A movement devoted to change, during a period of relentless crisis, and during a presidential election has created a Hollywood-like plot climax  for an inspiring leader to take charge. Unfortunately, the democratic nominee Joe Biden, was not a favorite among liberals to cast for the role of political revolutionary. 

 A lack of enthusiasm for a politician is a death sentence to any political campaign.  This is especially true for the Presidential election. Biden’s resume, while qualified, is that of every other white hetero-sexual Commander in Cheif before him. Although Biden is running on the most progessive platform in history with a woman of color alongside him as VP, his nomination has not been  particularly exciting for the generation that is eager to challenge the status quo. It’s understandable that frustration by the election process with a predictable result has many democrats discouraged to continue to participate in a system that continues to disappoint.

With a wide range of diversity that makes up the United States, acquiring a candidate that perfectly aligns with the views and needs of the majority of the population is unrealistic. Largely varying geographies, ethnicities, incomes, religion, age, and sexual and gender identities that make up the United States create uniquely specific priorities for each individual voter.  Often the voter’s party's nominee is not their top choice and motivation to vote on election day declines. The contagious energy that the BLM movement has achieved can be mirrored by switching the narrative to voting against Trump and the alt-right rather than in support for the nominee.  Just as Americans are standing up to systematic racism within our country, we need to vote against the administration that stands for it. 

A vote does not have to be seen as a stamp of approval for a candidate but can be utilized as an attack against politics a voter does not agree with. With this in mind, voting against a candidate that shares the fewest of  the same political beliefs by voting for their opposing candidate is the best way to ensure voter satisfaction.  Although not ideal, choosing the lesser of two evils is what many Americans face every four years. The time to be politically active is now. We are voting to save lives and our country as a whole.  Citizens who are unhappy with our current administration need to vote anti- Trump, and let go of the idea that that means pro-Biden. The consequences of not participating in the past election out of disdain for Democratic nominee Hilary Clinton are evident in our daily lives. Biden-reluctant democrats can mourn the loss of their favorite candidate but prioritize a blue win. 

Americans need to bring the same energy to the polls that they have to every march in his term from BLM to the Women’s March. If you aren’t excited about a Biden presidency, it’s time to get excited about ending a Trump tyranny.