Young Wisconsin Voters Back Sanders, But Will It Be Enough To Win?

This year’s Democratic presidential primary campaign hasn’t turned out the way Bernie Sanders had hoped, but he’s still done exceedingly well with young voters in Wisconsin and nationwide. That includes Jenise Swartley and Ella Syverson of Ashland.

Swartley, who is 23, said she has supported the Vermont U.S. senator from the beginning and will vote for him in Wisconsin’s April 7 primary.

For Syverson, 18, the April primary will be her first election. She’s voting for Sanders, too.

Swartley said living next to Lake Superior’s Chequamegon Bay has transformed the way she views the world because of the community’s connection to the land and water. Those relationships make her excited to talk with neighbors about why she feels Sanders is the best candidate to become the nation’s next leader.

“I’ve seen him de-center himself time and time again and say, ‘This isn’t about me. It’s about political revolution,’” she said. “This is about getting people together to talk about the issues that matter to us and demand the change that we need right now.”

Syverson, the first-time voter, said she’s voting for Sanders because of the grassroots support he’s built for progressive policies.

“It’s that movement that I’m voting for,” Syverson said. “I’m voting for health care, I’m voting for taxing the wealthy, I’m voting for a cleaner environment.”

Swartley and Syverson aren’t alone. Even as former Vice President Joe Biden has captured a string of Democratic primary wins in recent weeks, young people continue to support Sanders. Exit polling shows he’s captured their vote in most states that have held primary races so far.

Wisconsin polling suggests he could do the same here.