PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Harris-Walz campaign is focusing on the next generation of voters. Democratic U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost of Florida, the first Gen-Z member of Congress, made a stop in Philadelphia on Saturday to motivate young voters to vote.
Young people showed up to the main campus of the Community College of Philadelphia in packs, waiting to hear Frost speak. KC Miller was among them.
“I think it's really inspiring that a young person has taken that role and is crossing the country for Kamala. So I'm really interested to hear what he has to say.”
Mayor Cherelle Parker was on hand to introduce the congressman, and she shared her admiration for the young politician.
“For those of you who know me, you know, I'm a truth teller. And I have been fan-girling since he walked through the door,” she said.
After local Democrats, including City Council members Isaiah Thomas and Katherine Gilmore Richardson joined him on stage, Frost shared his message with young voters.
“I have a lot of hope because of young people in this country. You know, 70% of Gen Z voted for Democrats last cycle,” Frost said.
“Our job is to take that energy from online ... and make sure that it translates into votes, make sure that it translates into organizing.”
Frost has said he first became interested in politics after the Sandy Hook mass shooting in 2012, and he spoke about gun violence on Saturday.
“Can you believe that, up until last year, we never had a federal office focusing on ending gun violence? So the first bill I wrote was to create this office,” he said.
Makayla Myers, a Philadelphia youth commissioner, spoke about losing her boyfriend to gun violence when he was just 18.
“If we had common-sense gun safety measures on the books, he might still be here today.”
Frost shared memories of being homeless and spoke about Vice President Kamala Harris’ hopes for affordable housing.
Young voters seemed to be picking up Frost’s message. Rohan Kurup wants Gen Z to break the cycle of young voter apathy.
“We're not really represented as much as we should be, and that's kind of low-key our fault. We don't vote, and then we don't see the change we want, and then that makes us demotivated to vote. And then the cycle continues.”
Danielle Kanter said she is excited to vote for the first time.
“I've been volunteering for 10 years and so I'm super motivated this election and I think our top of the ticket is something we can be excited for and not just we're voting against something.”
Frost ended his speech by inviting audience members to line up and take a photo with him.
Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon, representing Philly’s western suburbs, said she is doing her part to energize young people in her area, too.
“We're organizing on the 19 college campuses that are in my district, and we just want everyone to make sure they know they should be and they have to be part of the solution.”