The 2024 Democratic National Convention had no shortage of viral moments that kept young voters tuning in: among them, a Lil Jon performance of “Turn Down for What” during state roll call, a surprise appearance from Oprah, and a shockingly believable Beyoncé rumor. Still, at times the attempts to reach the youth via pop culture felt a little out of place. The internet collectively cringed at references that felt straight out of the 2016 election, like comparing Nancy Pelosi to Daenerys Targaryen from Game of Thrones , or playing “Fight Song” to usher Hillary Clinton offstage.
Younger voters have long criticized the Democratic Party establishment for being out of touch, whether the “when they go low, we go high” ethos, or their stuffy approach to social media. But now, it seems the tide is finally turning. Throughout the convention, Democrats have referred to President Joe Biden’s decision to bow out of the race and Vice President Kamala Harris’s subsequent nomination as “passing the torch” to the next generation.
With that transition comes a new emphasis on engaging with the zeitgeist—and a steep learning curve for the older generation, who are taking it in their stride. Following Biden’s exit from the race, British musician Charli xcx tweeted “kamala IS brat,” in reference to her album of the same name, which lionizes a messy, party girl persona. While Harris may not truly embody the “ brat summer ” spirit (you’re unlikely to find the Vice.