Lee Warns on Young Voter Enthusiasm over Biden’s Israel Policies

Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA) expressed concerns regarding young voters’ enthusiasm for President Joe Biden ahead of the 2024 general election due to his policies towards Israel, during an appearance on CBS News’ Face the Nation. During a recent visit to the University of Pittsburgh in her district, Lee joined student protests calling for the university to divest from Israel following the conflict between Israel and Hamas. When asked about young voters’ enthusiasm for Biden, she stated that while it isn’t always discussed, listening to their demands is essential as they prioritize a ceasefire in Gaza above all else. Young people want acknowledgement from federal leaders regarding the growing death toll in Gaza, according to Lee, and seek an alternative direction towards US policies concerning Israel-Hamas warfare. As her district encompasses Pittsburgh and Allegheny County – home to a significant Jewish population including Squirrel Hill where a 2018 antisemitic mass shooting occurred at the Tree of Life synagogue – Lee’s statements during the election may pose interesting prospects as to how Democratic Party figures supporting an alternative approach towards Israeli policies fare in elections. As Lee is part of “The Squad” and recently won her primary by a significant margin, this was seen as the first test regarding their stance on Israel-Hamas warfare ahead of 2024’s general election. She asserted that taking pro-peace stances towards Israeli policies remains popular among voters while highlighting there is still time for government leaders to respond and listen to public opinions in this regard.