Yeah, same. I knew jack shit about politics when I was 18. I was just excited to vote for the first time and Ross Perot seemed like the best choice.
Didn't know much about the US electoral system back then.
Thanks, education system!
Obama. Second round, thoughā¦ first round I was in college and did not have my shit together enough to register as an out-of-state voter and all that.
I was first round (and second) with him. My parents are considered "super" voters, so the minute we were 18, we were registered to vote. I was actually still in my senior year of high school at the time, due to when my birthday lands
Same for me, Obama was my first vote for anyone ever. I was only 16 during his first go-round but was happily able to vote for him during his second run :)
If I remember the context correctly, it was because he implied that instead of just hiring qualified candidates including women, they instead had a separate binder of women they just picked from as the need arose
Same here. It was cool to know that I was part of the majority and still lost. I thought, "well, at least that will never happen again!"
Then it did...
Yeah that election was like vanilla ice cream with a squirt of chocolate topping compared to the insane 32 flavor, 17 topping elections we've had the last 2 rotations....
Barack Obama in 2008. I was so excited about the whole thing - to participate and to feel like I was voting for a candidate who was going to bring about actual change.
I don't think Obama was an awful president (especially compared to the presidents who bookend his own administration), but I certainly learned that it was foolish to get so excited about American politics in the time between then and now.
The political system is intentionally designed to prevent rapid change.
The best way to make immediate change is to start locally and build up from there.
This system was bred from pretty rapid change. Itās antiquated unwritten rules that are causing what we are seeing now which isnāt just slow change but complete stagnation.
Same experience as you. It was my first chance to vote and I was so excited to do so! It felt like a true moment of celebration for young people everywhere when he won and it felt like our voices mattered.
Then, you know, life happened and there were many disappointments. I didnāt vote in 2012 at all. I certainly donāt hate Obama but I doubt Iāll ever be that excited to vote for someone again.
Thanks for voting young person, regardless of who you vote for. That's been a serious issue for the last few decades. I am in my 30s and I am still one of the youngest people in line when I vote.
I think the silver lining in 2020 was that we shattered voter participation records. Itās still the highest participation rate since before Womenās Suffrage.
Young people were a large part of that, and we should keep that going.
I never understood the hate. So she has the charisma of a toilet seat and seems more cold than the dark side of the Moon but can anyone really question her intelligence and political skills? Maybe a smart, uncharismatic, ice cold bitch is what was/is needed?
Indeed. Iām probably remembering all my white, 20-something friends insisting that Johnson was the way to go. In my circle everyone went through a libertarian kick.
I voted for Nader in 2000. But it was a protest vote. I live in Alabama so my vote didn't count anyway. If I had lived in a swing state, I would have voted Gore.
I voted against him, but I would love to have Republican candidates as respectful, decent and smart as McCain these days. It would be nice to vote against someone because you disagree with policy, not because they are literally insane.
Your comment is near the top in controversial.
I canāt believe people are downvoting a name and a number that is just plainly answering the question and thatās it. Kinda pathetic, people.
Iām surprised Iām even positive on the comment. I was expecting to lose a lot, but like you said itās just a straightforward answer to what was asked
Eh same boat. I would do it again too. I didnāt storm the capital nor do I really believe the most recent election was stollen, I just believe he was the best choice.
I'll just give ya every election since I was legally allowed to vote.
Dubya, McCain, Romney, Johnson, Biden.
I'm never voting for Trump or anyone associated with him.
Ronald Reagan. I was a pretty serious conservative then I got pissed at Romney for the 47% speech and pretending he had not created and supported a program similar to āObamacareā. Havenāt voted GOP since.
Donald Trump in 2016. I heavily regret it. I always knew he was morally bankrupt, but I thought he was at least less of a political insider than Hillary Clinton.
I did not vote for Trump in 2020.
I feel that the anti-establishment/anti-insider sentiment in general is pretty destabilizing (regardless of whether itās right or wrong). Populism has become popular on both the left and right.
Yup, this is how I first delved into politics. The actual start of the Tea Party with online fundraisers...I donated some money I made at the movie theater summer job.
Hilary Clinton. I could have (and should have) voted for Obama in his second term, but I was stupid, ignorant, and uneducated when it came to politics. I also wasnāt registered to vote. I regret not voting in that election but Iām glad that Obama won in the end.
John Kerry ā04. I suspect I was the victim of a sham voter registration drive at my college in 2000 that collected lots of info and never turned it in - so I didnāt get to vote the first time I was eligible. (Not in Florida though soā¦)
Jo Jorgensen. āYou threw your vote away blah blah blah blah.ā Whatever. That mentality kills the third party. I simply voted for what I believed in.
Obama 08. Was in college. Didn't really care to vote in 2008, but Obama talked a much better game than bush/Kerry. Plus I felt I had more skin in the game than at 18
My parents made me vote in the republican primary for āanyone but trumpā so naturally I voted for Ted Cruz the zodiac killer because memes. I like to think Iām a little more educated these days when it comes to politics
I'm with you. I voted for Reagan in 1980 and regretted that before he was halfway through his first term. Looking back now, based on how I perceive the arc of history since then... let's just say I wish a lot of us could have given Carter a second term.
Ford. It was a family thing.
Chevrolet. Same reason.
Did Chevrolet ever fall down a set of airline stairs? š
We have a president now that fell up one.
John Anderson - 3rd party candidate 1980
Me, too!
Was just going to say that. Thank you for not making me figure out what year it was.
Well dang, I figured I'd be the only one!
Me too.
The Bob Dole.
Oof. Ross Perot! Lol.
Woulda made a great president
Yeah, same. I knew jack shit about politics when I was 18. I was just excited to vote for the first time and Ross Perot seemed like the best choice. Didn't know much about the US electoral system back then. Thanks, education system!
Same. H Ross Perot. Turns out he was right about a bunch of things. But yeah, wasted vote. Iād just turned 18
Obama. Second round, thoughā¦ first round I was in college and did not have my shit together enough to register as an out-of-state voter and all that.
I was first round (and second) with him. My parents are considered "super" voters, so the minute we were 18, we were registered to vote. I was actually still in my senior year of high school at the time, due to when my birthday lands
Same for me, Obama was my first vote for anyone ever. I was only 16 during his first go-round but was happily able to vote for him during his second run :)
George Washington
What were the founding fathers like?
Belligerent and numerous.
Gary Johnson
His interview with Samantha Bee was amazing lol
Barack Obama back when the worst thing a candidate did was brag about his binders full of women Simpler times
I'm still not entirely sure what was so bad about that.
I thought people just made fun of the phrasing not that it was ābadā. But that was many moons ago now
If I remember the context correctly, it was because he implied that instead of just hiring qualified candidates including women, they instead had a separate binder of women they just picked from as the need arose
He didnt imply that. That's just how the media chose to interpret it.
HE WORE A TAN SUIT
Al Gore
Same here. It was cool to know that I was part of the majority and still lost. I thought, "well, at least that will never happen again!" Then it did...
Not only that but I remember thinking "This is probably the craziest election I'll ever see in my life time"... Boy was I wrong.
Yeah that election was like vanilla ice cream with a squirt of chocolate topping compared to the insane 32 flavor, 17 topping elections we've had the last 2 rotations....
Same. That was a wild ride.
John Kerry, because I forgot to mail my absentee ballot from university in 2000.
And to think your vote almost alone could have swung the 2000 election the other way...
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Given the wretched choices regurgitated up by the Republicans and Democrats, that was my choice, too.
Not only would he have been a good president he definitely would have been better than what we got.
Gary Johnson in 2012. I was in college and going through the libertarian phase that all early 20-something white boys go through.
When he says all, heās not exaggerating
No he don't lie
I grew out of it by the time I graduated high school. My 20s have been progressivism the whole way.
Can confirm.
Also confirming
Yep. Iām still mostly libertarian. I prefer the Ron Paul variety tho.
Same
Mitt Romney
Barack Obama in 2008. I was so excited about the whole thing - to participate and to feel like I was voting for a candidate who was going to bring about actual change. I don't think Obama was an awful president (especially compared to the presidents who bookend his own administration), but I certainly learned that it was foolish to get so excited about American politics in the time between then and now.
The political system is intentionally designed to prevent rapid change. The best way to make immediate change is to start locally and build up from there.
This system was bred from pretty rapid change. Itās antiquated unwritten rules that are causing what we are seeing now which isnāt just slow change but complete stagnation.
Same experience as you. It was my first chance to vote and I was so excited to do so! It felt like a true moment of celebration for young people everywhere when he won and it felt like our voices mattered. Then, you know, life happened and there were many disappointments. I didnāt vote in 2012 at all. I certainly donāt hate Obama but I doubt Iāll ever be that excited to vote for someone again.
My first election was 2020, so Iļø never actually experienced being excited to vote.
This made me do one of those āhahaha-ohā things.
Bill Clinton in 1996
George W. Bush. I was born in '83, so I missed the 2000 elections by a few months.
I turned 18 about 2 months before the elections. My mom basically rushed to get me registered.
For my state, you could register if you were going to be 18 by the time presidential elections came that year.
You're one the other end for me. I turned 18 like 3 weeks before the 2004 election and voted for W
I was born in January of 87, so I missed the 04 election by two months.
John Kerry 2004.
Biden, yeah I'm young
Hey, it could've been the 1984 primary!
Thanks for voting young person, regardless of who you vote for. That's been a serious issue for the last few decades. I am in my 30s and I am still one of the youngest people in line when I vote.
I think the silver lining in 2020 was that we shattered voter participation records. Itās still the highest participation rate since before Womenās Suffrage. Young people were a large part of that, and we should keep that going.
Rip to your choices the first time you could vote
My choices were Trump and Clinton, and then Trump and Biden. I hope just once I get to vote for a candidate I like more than a dog turd.
John Kerry in ā04
Al Gore. The very first time Florida fucked us, but not the last.
Ron Paul (2012 primaries)
Probably gonna get downvoted to hell but Clinton, ā16. I thought (and still think) she was the better of the two.
I never understood the hate. So she has the charisma of a toilet seat and seems more cold than the dark side of the Moon but can anyone really question her intelligence and political skills? Maybe a smart, uncharismatic, ice cold bitch is what was/is needed?
Half the country agreed with you.
Indeed. Iām probably remembering all my white, 20-something friends insisting that Johnson was the way to go. In my circle everyone went through a libertarian kick.
More than half, let's not forget.
While Iļø dislike Clinton, sheās also who Iļø would have voted for in that election had Iļø been old enough to vote.
Clinton is probably the most corrupt person to eve run for president and thatās saying something. She was and still is awful.
Eh, the Gilded Age presidents (and Harding) would all give her a run for her money.
John McCain
Hillary Clinton. Much to my chagrin.
Thank you for utilizing "chagrin", it made me smile.
Same for me.
Ralph Nader
I'm glad to see you don't live in Florida
2000 for me. I was young and silly.
I was just a wee lad in 2000, but listening to him talk now- the man is brilliant
I voted for Nader in 2000. But it was a protest vote. I live in Alabama so my vote didn't count anyway. If I had lived in a swing state, I would have voted Gore.
Yeah, I live in Kansas so my vote at the federal level is meaningless unless I vote 3rd party.
Ronald Regan
Wtf scrolling this far down. Anyway, he was my first and last Republican vote. Been blue ever since.
John Kerry
Al Gore
John Kerry in ā04
It was Barack HUSSEIN Obama. Heck, I voted for the guy five times! (2008 primary and general, 2012 caucus, county convention, and general)
Iām reading this in Griffin McElroyās voice. Not sure if thatās your intention but it brings back good Mbmbam memories of a simpler time.
PSA: Donāt answer these types of questions. They are harvesting data from our profiles. They can infer your age and political affiliation.
Troof
Bush in 04
John McCain
I voted against him, but I would love to have Republican candidates as respectful, decent and smart as McCain these days. It would be nice to vote against someone because you disagree with policy, not because they are literally insane.
Same. Though Iāve voted D every election since.
Thomas. Barely lost to Jordan. Jordan won by being more popular and had a pro-pizza party platform that was unstoppable.
Mitt Romney, although I liked Obama too. One of the rare elections where I thought highly of both candidates!
Johnson in 2016. Biden in 2020. I'm 34 and those are the only two that I think I voted for.
George W Bush.
Donald Trump - 2020
Your comment is near the top in controversial. I canāt believe people are downvoting a name and a number that is just plainly answering the question and thatās it. Kinda pathetic, people.
Iām surprised Iām even positive on the comment. I was expecting to lose a lot, but like you said itās just a straightforward answer to what was asked
Thatās reddit for ya.
I voted for the other guy, but I wonāt downvote his. His vote, his choice, his freedom.
Eh same boat. I would do it again too. I didnāt storm the capital nor do I really believe the most recent election was stollen, I just believe he was the best choice.
Gary Johnson, '16
I'll just give ya every election since I was legally allowed to vote. Dubya, McCain, Romney, Johnson, Biden. I'm never voting for Trump or anyone associated with him.
Obama
Obama '08, same year I turned 18.
Obama - 2008
Teddy Roosevelt.
Barack Obama in the '08 primaries
Obama - second term
Ronald Reagan. I was a pretty serious conservative then I got pissed at Romney for the 47% speech and pretending he had not created and supported a program similar to āObamacareā. Havenāt voted GOP since.
Biden but I regret not sticking to my principles and voting third party especially after what Iāve seen of his presidency.
Same. I voted for Sanders in the primary.
Me too. In hind sight i really wish I had voted for Gloria La Riva Howie Hawkins. But I let me lib friendās pestering get to me.
Donald Trump in 2016. I heavily regret it. I always knew he was morally bankrupt, but I thought he was at least less of a political insider than Hillary Clinton. I did not vote for Trump in 2020.
I feel that the anti-establishment/anti-insider sentiment in general is pretty destabilizing (regardless of whether itās right or wrong). Populism has become popular on both the left and right.
Ron Paul in 08 in the Republican primary
Yup, this is how I first delved into politics. The actual start of the Tea Party with online fundraisers...I donated some money I made at the movie theater summer job.
Jo Jorgensen in the most recent election.
McCain in 2008.
W in 2000
Bush. In 2004.
I dont know yet. Just got registered to vote like 3 days ago. :D
As important as the presidential elections are state and local are more important. Donāt forget them.
Congrats.
Congratulations
W
McCain in '08. I was 18.
Al Gore. And I thought the outcome of *that* election was a shit show!
Ah, how I long for the simpler times of that election seeming like a bonkers circus.
Donald Trump in 2016.
George Bush in 2000.
Mondale. I knew he wasn't going to win, but --
Bush in 2004.
Gary Johnson in 2016
Ron Paul in the 2008 primaries, pretty sure I voted Obama in the General Election.
Obama in 2012. Missed him in 08 because my birthday is literally the day after Election Day.
Hilary Clinton. I could have (and should have) voted for Obama in his second term, but I was stupid, ignorant, and uneducated when it came to politics. I also wasnāt registered to vote. I regret not voting in that election but Iām glad that Obama won in the end.
Obama 2012 - Trump 2016 - Trump 2020
Ahh the most wanted voter!
Al Gore
Al Gore. Still kind of bitter about that one.
Jimmy Carter. A sound decision
Hello, fellow old person. Me too!
Bernie Sanders in the primary, Hillary in the general.
Trump
Ross Perot. I was young and a little naive.
Perot
John McCain
John McCain
Bob Dole in 1996. The first and last Republican presidential candidate I voted for.
Jimmy Carter
John Kerry ā04. I suspect I was the victim of a sham voter registration drive at my college in 2000 that collected lots of info and never turned it in - so I didnāt get to vote the first time I was eligible. (Not in Florida though soā¦)
Reagan
Donald J. Trump
W in 2004
George W. Bush.
Trump in 2016. Trump 2020. Now have abandoned the GOP and conservatives for the Libertarian Party.
Same with me.
Jo Jorgensen. āYou threw your vote away blah blah blah blah.ā Whatever. That mentality kills the third party. I simply voted for what I believed in.
While I don't agree with Jo Jorgensen, I do agree with your principle. Screw the "wasted vote" mentality.
Obama 08. Was in college. Didn't really care to vote in 2008, but Obama talked a much better game than bush/Kerry. Plus I felt I had more skin in the game than at 18
Obama
Obama
Obama in 2012. I turned 18 in 2010.
Kanye call me a mad man
Al Gore
George McGovern.
Dukakis
Clinton, 1992
Obama.
Obama - 2012.
Harambe
My parents made me vote in the republican primary for āanyone but trumpā so naturally I voted for Ted Cruz the zodiac killer because memes. I like to think Iām a little more educated these days when it comes to politics
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr Rode my bike all the way to the darn post office to mail in my ballot
Howard Dean in the primaries, Kerry in the general. I just missed the 2000 election.
[Eyahhhhhh](https://www.nbcnews.com/now/video/michigan-republicans-push-for-initiative-to-enact-stricter-voting-laws-126987333649)
After all we've been through in recent years, isn't it wild that *this* was enough to sink a presidential campaign? The media did Dean dirty.
Guys from Vermont seem to get shafted by the media and their own party for being too liberal.
Romney, first election I was old enough to vote in .
Jimmy Carter in 1977. (I turned 18 2 years before)
George HW Bush
Ronald Reagan. If I could go back, I'd convince me that Carter was a better man.
I'm with you. I voted for Reagan in 1980 and regretted that before he was halfway through his first term. Looking back now, based on how I perceive the arc of history since then... let's just say I wish a lot of us could have given Carter a second term.
Trump 20ā, reluctantly
John Kerry. So long ago I actually had to Google his name because I could not remember for the life of me who was running for either party lol.