National

Meet The Obama-Era Kids Who Are About To Be First-Time Voters

By Asma Khalid

Published October 6, 2015 at 2:03 AM PDT

This story was published more than 9 years ago.

Young people loved President Obama in 2008 — they turned out to support him more than any other recent Democratic presidential nominee.

Older millennials, ages 25-29, many of whom were first-time voters in 2008, seem to lean more left than younger millennials, who will cast their first vote in 2016. <em>(Percentages are rounded and may add up to more than 100.)</em> — Older millennials, ages 25-29, many of whom were first-time voters in 2008, seem to lean more left than younger millennials, who will cast their first vote in 2016. *(Percentages are rounded and may add up to more than 100.)*

But now, there's a new crop of young voters — the kids who came of age during the Obama presidency. They're are all grown up, and getting their first chance to vote for president.

They grew up in a different era — after Sept. 11 attacks and in the middle of the recession.

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There's some indication that younger millennial voters are not as left-leaning as their big brothers and sisters. However, more still identify as Democrat than Republican, and a lot can change before they cast their first vote for president in 2016.

We asked first-time voters to share their earliest political memories, and we heard about praying for George W. Bush, family members losing jobs, fears of terrorism and the Daily Show. Here's what they had to say:

1 of 6

Miller wouldn't say whether he's a Republican or a Democrat, but said he identifies with whoever he thinks "Jesus would vote for if he were still walking the earth, and that's something I kind of see in [Ben] Carson."

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2 of 6

Anna Del Castillo (from left), Shannon Pierce and Phillip David Ellison. Pierce identifies as independent and is deeply concerned about mass incarceration. She doesn't love any of the candidates, but, at this point, she said she would probably go with Hillary Clinton.

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3 of 6

Miller is a Republican who says the economy is one of his major concerns because he wants to graduate into a "thriving, booming economy, so I can easily get a job and get my foot in the door."

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Pokraka grew up in a Republican family and identifies with the GOP, but said she's intrigued by Hillary Clinton because "she dealt with her husband's presidency and everything that happened with that and she still held her head high."

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Del Castillo supports the Black Lives Matter movement and said immigration reform is an important issue to her. She said she likes Hillary Clinton but is a "big supporter" of Bernie Sanders because of his "inclusive policies."

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Vilagi identifies as a Republican because of the economy. In 2008, she said, she skipped school to watch President Obama's inauguration because "I was so excited about him being elected." But after eight years, she said, she's shifted to the right because she's "disenchanted" with some of the Democratic policies and the "lack of change that's been made."

Asma Khalid