It’s a question some Democrats are pondering as the 2020 presidential election inches closer: Can their party represent change when three of its top candidates are not only familiar faces, but people in their retirement years?
Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Joint Chiefs chairman says he regrets participating in Trump photo-op | GOP senators back Joint Chiefs chairman who voiced regret over Trump photo-op | Senate panel approves 0B defense policy bill Trump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names MORE (Mass.) will enter her 70s in June. Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Milley apologizes for church photo-op Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness MORE (I-Vt.) is 77. Former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Trump finalizing executive order calling on police to use ‘force with compassion’ The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden campaign goes on offensive against Facebook MORE will turn 76 later this month.
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Though the primaries are still a ways off, all three have emerged in early polls as favorites to be the 2020 Democratic nominee.
Some strategists say that might be a problem.
“Democrats would be better off with a young candidate,” said Democratic strategist Brad Bannon, who argued that an electorate that seems to want change might prefer someone from a younger generation.
He put it as a generational battle, this time between baby boomers and millennials.
“The desire for change is a function of a battle between an ascending generation, the millennials who want political power, and a descending generation, the baby boomers, who have the power but don’t want to give it up,” he said.
There are certainly a number of candidates ready to step up if Democratic voters are looking for a younger nominee.
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Sen. Kamala HarrisKamala Devi HarrisRand Paul introduces bill to end no-knock warrants The Hill’s Campaign Report: Biden campaign goes on offensive against Facebook McEnany says Juneteenth is a very ‘meaningful’ day to Trump MORE (Calif.), a freshman in the Senate, is 54. Sen. Cory BookerCory Anthony BookerRand Paul introduces bill to end no-knock warrants Black lawmakers unveil bill to remove Confederate statues from Capitol Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk MORE of New Jersey is 49, while Sen. Kirsten GillibrandKirsten GillibrandWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Warren, Pressley introduce bill to make it a crime for police officers to deny medical care to people in custody Senate Dems press DOJ over coronavirus safety precautions in juvenile detention centers MORE is 51.
Rep. Beto O’Rourke, who has sparkled as a challenger to GOP Sen. Ted CruzRafael (Ted) Edward CruzSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote The Hill’s Morning Report – Trump’s public standing sags after Floyd protests GOP senators introduce resolution opposing calls to defund the police MORE and become a liberal fundraising force, is 46.
None of those candidates would qualify as millennials, but they are from a different generation than the trio at the top of the Democratic polls.
Earlier this year, Biden — who allies suggest may consider running for one term only — acknowledged that age is a “legitimate” issue for presidential candidates.
“I think it’s totally appropriate for people to look at me and say if I were to run for office again, ‘Well, God darn you’re old.’ Well, chronologically, I am old,” Biden said during a question and answer session at the Economic Club of Southwestern Michigan’s Speakers Series last month, according to CNN.
“Every voter is entitled to know exactly what kind of shape you’re in. You owe it to them. It’s a legitimate question and so I think age is relevant.”
But some Democrats say the 2020 election won’t be so much about age at all, particularly when Democrats will be competing to take on the 72-year-old President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE.
“To me, it’s less about years of age and more about the age of your ideas and whether your ideas reflect what voters want to hear,” said Chris Kofinis, a Democratic strategist.
Still, he said that could be a problem for some candidates.
“The challenge with candidates like Sanders and Biden is that they’ve been around so long. Anytime a party is out of office it is attracted to a newer, bolder message.”
Democratic strategist Maria Cardona said she doesn’t think the age of some would-be candidates is problematic for the party.
Cardona pointed to 2016, when Sanders was “able to attract a massive following of young people,” and nearly beat Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonWhite House accuses Biden of pushing ‘conspiracy theories’ with Trump election claim Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton qualifies to run for county commissioner in Florida MORE in the Democratic primary.
Sanders was able to tap into a sentiment that Clinton represented the tired Washington establishment, and he positively electrified swaths of young voters.
During that race, the Vermont senator lured millennials to the race by talking about issues such as free public college, single-payer health care and campaign finance reform.
A survey conducted in early 2016 by pollster Frank Luntz showed that young voters selected Sanders when asked which politician they respected the most. Sanders even beat former President Obama, who at 57 is 20 years his junior, 31 percent to 18 percent, according to the poll.
“I think what’s important more than age is for the candidates to authentically speak to and make a connection with voters in every state and in every community and offer a platform of new ideas and real solutions for the problems the country is facing,” Cardona said.
Kofinis said that whoever wins will need to run a nimble, 21st century campaign that doesn’t rely on a playbook from previous years.
“It’s not going to be the age of the candidate but the age of their ideas and the age of their actual campaign,” he said.
One Democratic strategist said Warren’s recent release of her DNA test results fell into that category, “because it wasn’t anything a modern campaign would do. It was so incredibly reactive and pissed off so many Democrats.”
“If you didn’t understand how bad of an idea that was, you’ll probably be on a losing campaign,” the strategist said.
Much of what happens in the 2020 race is dependent on what happens in Tuesday’s midterms, strategists said.
If Democrats take over the House, strategists predict the party will look a lot younger and more diverse and age will be nothing but a number.
“If and when we take over the House on Tuesday, there will be a whole new generation of Democrats in Congress as well as across state legislatures around the country,” Cardona said. “They will be more female, young, diverse, and beautifully reflective of the country we live in today.”