who was the first democratic candidate for president you supported even if u were too young to vote?

[msongs]

mine was Eugene McCarthy

[Midnight Writer]

1. JFK.

[Mister Ed]

74. Yep. I was only three years old when I watched the Kennedy/Nixon debate...

...but my big sister said she was voting for "Kenneny", so I decided I'd vote for Kenneny too. She was five, so I trusted her judgement.

[Sibelius Fan]

88. Moi aussi. I was 6. My first awareness of elections, candidates, etc.

[Jarqui]

109. +1 sort of

It was just after he was elected that I got hooked.

The school I was going to attend wanted me to improve my reading. I got a bunch of books from the library but read them quickly. Ran out.
We were at a cottage for the summer. No more books. No library.
My Dad had gone to a school Kennedy attended and had a bunch of books on him. So I tried to read those. I remember trying to read Profiles In Courage. It made almost no sense to me at that age.
I picked up enough that I came to adore him - some from my father helping to fill in the gaps.

After he got shot, I was very upset. They shot my hero. I thought I should do something. So I asked "Kennedy said 'ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country' so what I can I do?" They laughed "you're just a little kid!!" Going home on the bus I saw "volunteers wanted" at a local campaign office. So I volunteered. My candidate won. They didn't laugh at me after that. Been doing it ever since.

One story that I still chuckle over was about Bobby. Hopefully, it hasn't got too distorted over the years. He wanted to make a few extra bucks so he got a newspaper delivery route. It was going great. But at a certain time of day, the family chauffeur couldn't be found and that perplexed them. Turned out Bobby had ordered him to deliver his papers and that's where he was when they couldn't find him.

[berniesandersmittens]

2. Dukakis nt

[Irish_Dem]

3. JFK

[anciano]

4. LBJ

[ribrepin]

5. John F Kennedy - I was 10

[NewHendoLib]

6. Humphrey, McGovern (too young), Carter ( first vote)

[DemonGoddess]

77. Same for me :) n/t

[Lemonwurst]

105. Same here

Our 5th grade class (in MA) held a mock election and Humphrey won. At that time my parents were dyed-in-the-wool working class Democrats, but by the 90's both started watching Fox News and from that, their reluctant but latent racism was subsequently encouraged and rewarded.

I'm happy to say both, in their 80's, broke free of Fox and the Republican Party in general. For my dad it was global warming (science teacher), and for my mom, the end of Roe v Wade.

The a-holes in charge of that world have no idea what they've done to ensure their eventual demise. The only question is, how long will it have to take? That is more up our younger voters than myself and my still-living, still-voting senior parents.

[MineralMan]

7. JFK.

I was 15 years old. I volunteered with the local Democratic club, and got busy.

[BlueTsunami2018]

8. Bill Clinton

In 1996.

I’m sorry to say I voted for Poppy Bush with my first two Presidential votes.

I didn’t really become politically aware until after I started my career in the electricians’ union.

[pdxflyboy]

9. JFK.

[ananda]

10. John F Kennedy

I just turned 12 about a month before he was elected.

The whole campaign was supercharged.

A girl a few houses down even did a poll of the neighborhood
before the election, and surprisingly Kennedy won.

Surprising because most of our neighbors were southern
baptist. But it could well have been the LBJ effect because
Kennedy won Texas.

It was such a fun time. The day of the inauguration I took
a small tv to class so we could watch it.

It was just the best of times then.

[remo ymor]

11. Carter

I was 15 in 1976

[USAFRetired_Liberal]

12. Dukakis

And I was only 8. I didn't really know about Democrats or Republicans and what they stood for. All I knew is that when Bush spoke he seemed like a bad guy, and when Dukakis spoke he seemed liked the good guy. And kids know and pick up on that stuff.

Edit - I also remember being 4 years old and seeing my Dad shaking Reagan’s hand on tv. My Dad was in the army and Reagan was meeting the troops. Reagan didn't say anything but I remember looking at the tv in disgust and fear; to my 4 year mind Reagan seemed like a bad guy to me also.

[skylucy]

13. John F. Kennedy. I was only 6, but I remember my parents being huge Kennedy fans. I remember the

Kennedy/Nixon debates on television.

[wcmagumba]

14. From JFK onward, Carter was my first vote...go Dems....

[likesmountains 52]

15. JFK

[Jack Valentino]

16. George McGovern. He won my fourth grade class by a landslide!

Of course, that was long before I knew anything about voter demographics. It was a city school. I was quite disappointed when the real results came around... but felt vindicated when Nixon ended up being chased out of office because he was a liar and a crook.

[Srkdqltr]

17. JFK i worked the polling place for that election. I was too young to vote.

People were lined up at closing time so they voted until 10 at night.

[sinkingfeeling]

18. Bobby Kennedy.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

19. Bobby Kennedy

I was 16 in 1968.

I voted for the 1st time in 1972.

[Oopsie Daisy]

35. Those were the days, eh?

[ITAL]

46. He's being reconsidered a lot lately by historians

But I still have Wilson at #10 on my own personal ranking of US presidents, warts and all. A fascinating complicated figure.

[senseandsensibility]

21. Jimmy Carter!

Hold on, Jimmy! Just a couple of months until Kamala wins. We need your good wishes! And we're sending you ours as well.

[Lochloosa]

31. Same for me. 17.at the time.

[notroot]

72. Same here! I was in elementary school.

What can I say? My parents have always been very political -- dyed in the wool Democrats, always. Dad was the union boss at the local sawmill when Jimmy was defeated by Reagan.

[musette_sf]

22. JFK

The day after my 7th birthday, he left downtown Waterbury for a motorcade through the Naugatuck Valley. My Dad brought me out to see him and wave from the sidewalk.

https://www.nytimes.com/2000/11/05/nyregion/view-waterbury-nov-6-1960-day-candidate-stormed-naugatuck-valley.html?unlocked_article_code=1.E04.gvu-.wOb82vaj3OPE&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

My birthday falls on Election Day this year.

Also: My earliest memory is of my Mom watching the 1956 Democratic Convention on TV.

[mcar]

23. Jimmy Carter

[FalloutShelter]

24. McGovern

Almost got me kicked out of the house.

[moonscape]

25. JFK

[PJMcK]

26. JFK (n/t)

[MaryMagdaline]

27. Bobby Kennedy

By November: Hubert Humphrey

[SocialDemocrat61]

28. Jed Bartlett

🤣

[Tree Lady]

29. Robert Kennedy

parents took me to a parade rally and I saw him drive by. That was month before he was killed. I was 12.

[Nikossitti]

30. Carter

I was in college and made calls at the field office.

[MustLoveBeagles]

32. Jimmy Carter in 1980

I was 8

[Stargleamer]

33. RFK

our family was really disturbed by his assassination

[Raftergirl]

34. Hubert Humphrey. 1968. I would have supported RFK but he was killed during the primaries. I actually was still watching

when it happened. I was only in 8th grade but stayed up late (on the east coast) to watch the California result.

[RickHworth]

36. James E. Carter

[ms liberty]

37. JFK. I was 4 when he died, and I was devastated

I was supposed to marry him when I grew up, well him or John-John. Like I said, I was 4.

[SilverDawg]

38. John F. Kennedy

[twogunsid]

39. George McGovern...

...12 yrs old but I had a "Nixon is through in '72" sticker on my bike.

[pat_k]

57. I was also twelve!

In 1972 my bit in the GOTV effort was babysitting kids (with my older sister) while their parents went to the polls.

[Fla Dem]

40. JFK. Was a few years too young, but he was my choice.

The family lived in the Boston area and Cape Cod in Massachusetts, so he was a hometown candidate.

I was only about 12, but there was so much excitement about JFK, Jackie and the whole Kennedy clan. He was a Super Star!

[kimbutgar]

41. Bobby Kennedy and I got to shake his hand a few days before he was assassinated

I remember bragging the next day at school and the day after he was killed I was depressed and this girl who was always mean to me said it was a good thing he was killed. 50 years later she came to our grade school reunion and was still a bitch and wouldn’t even talk to me! I ignored her and talked to everyone else!

[Ping Tung]

42. JFK. I was 16 when he ran in 60.

[Sogo]

43. JFK

[Tom_Foolery]

44. Carter 1976

And then my first presidential vote was for him in 1980.

[electric_blue68]

45. Bobby, Humphrey (15 yr old), McG (2nd vote, 1st Presidential).....

Voluteered for Humphrey. I wasn't thrilled
bc of losing Bobby; but after listening to Nixon I was "Blargh!", gotta volunteer!

I do remember at 7 yrs old when we had our extended family over to our house I went and asked the adults, "are you voting for Nixon, or Kennedy?".
Only one set said "Nixon", everyone else ?4 other sets (aunts & uncle) said, "Kennedy".

[oasis]

47. HHH

The Happy Warrior

[The Blue Flower]

48. LBJ

The first election I remember is Stevenson v. Eisenhower.

[whathehell]

49. JFK.

I was 10 years old.

[yardwork]

50. Hubert Humphrey.

[TlalocW]

51. Carter when I was 7

I knew Mom and Dad liked him. I even came up with slogans about how you'd have to be nuts not to vote for him.

[DBoon]

52. McGovern

Too young to vote, but I remember my McGovern sticker got torn off my high school locker,.

In college, I initially supported Fred Harris. Don't specifically remember, but I'm sure I voted for Carter.

[wanderer54]

53. Adlai Stevenson

[LoisB]

54. Adlai Stevenson

[BigMin28]

55. President Jimmy Carter

Then I had the privilege of casting my first Presidential vote for him in 1980.

[gopiscrap]

56. Hubert Humphrey

I was in a Catholic school and strong armed all the others to vote for Humphrey. I cried the day after when I found out he lost by such a small amount. I was supporting RFK n the primaries.

[Squeaky41]

58. Adlai Stevenson

[dmr]

59. John F. Kennedy, 3rd grade

[unc70]

60. Stevenson and JFK

[Gaytano70]

61. Walter Mondale

1984 and I was 14, but knew I was a raging liberal even then!

[msongs]

62. great thanks for all the responses

[Patterson]

63. JFK

[Alliepoo]

64. Jimmy Carter!!

[MarineCombatEngineer]

65. I turned 21 in '68 and would have voted for Hubert Humphrey,

but at the time I was neck deep in Vietnam and more worried about coming home alive than the Presidential elections, but in '72, I voted for Sen. George McGovern, who, tragically, lost to Nixon.

[The Third Doctor]

66. Bill Clinton. I turned 18 the September of 92.

Great times

[Cadfael]

67. I still have my McGovern poster somewhere

[crazylikafox]

68. Adlai Stevenson

[kacekwl]

69. HHH

[angrychair]

70. First sense of political awareness

Was Jimmy Carter.

[edisdead]

71. Dukakis

But really Clinton!

[synni]

73. McGovern

I was 7 years old.

[ProfessorGAC]

75. I'd Guess Humphrey

My parents were not overtly political, but I know my dad voted for Ike in '52, but Stevebson in '56.
They both voted JFK & Johnson, so I leaned dem by osmosis.
In 7th grade we had a mock election & I know I was not a Nixon guy. Een as a kid, something seemed odd about him. I didn't know then he was a crook, just gave me a bad vibe.
My first actual vote for president was Carter.

[Hassler]

76. McGovern

[MoonlightHillFarm]

78. JFK

I was 12. Every day after school I rode my bike to the local Democratic Headquarters to stuff envelopes and make calls. I loathed Nixon.

[flakey_foont]

79. Gene McCarthy

[arkielib]

80. George McGovern

[Woodwizard]

81. Carter

I did get to vote for Mondale.

[old guy]

82. Adlai Stevenson

[LudwigPastorius]

83. McGovern

I was 9 or 10 years old, and I had seen many of my classmates with KIA/MIA bracelets on from their dads and brothers in Vietnam.

McGovern wanted to end the war. That was good enough for me.

[evolves]

84. Carter.

I was 10 years old, and my favorite teacher's brother was part of Carter's team (and subsequently in his Administration).

[CanonRay]

85. JFK

[Luciferous]

86. Bill Clinton. We had our own little

vote count in my elementary class 🙂

[mommymarine2003]

87. President Kennedy. I was a little girl, but I remember a tiny bit of the election.

My main memory was seeing a bumper sticker that said "Nixon needs Fixin."'

[Imalittleteapot]

89. JFK

[Imalittleteapot]

90. JFK

[kimimer]

91. JFK

[arlyellowdog]

92. I have photos of me and my sister canvassing for Stevenson

I remember my Mom yelling at my Father when he came home from work, “Your goddamn Ike had a meaningless press conference just when the Mickey Mouse club was coming on. My one time when the 8 of them are quiet all day.” My beloved Irish Catholic Democratic Mom

[Mz Pip]

93. Eugene McCarthy

It was a long time ago.

[StarryNite]

94. JFK

[Stinky The Clown]

95. JFK

[livetohike]

96. JFK. I was 8 years old in 1960. My Dad was a

Committeeman for the local Democratic club. He taught me how to read a street list and sent me out on my own to put campaign literature inside the doors of every Democratic house in the ward. He paid me a quarter 😄. My parents let me stay up on election night to watch the results. I’ll never forget it.

[Greybnk48]

97. JFK. He was so smart and handsome!

I was crazy for him in 7th, 8th, and 9th grade.

[bamagal62]

98. Jimmy Carter!

[lobointexas]

99. Jimmy Carter 1976

I was 10 years old in the 5th grade. My brother attended his inauguration as a member of the 82nd Airborne Division.

[pansypoo53219]

100. carter. my grade school voted for carter. never liked raygun. tinkle down sounded stupid.

[TBF]

101. Teddy Kennedy -

in 1980 he eventually withdrew from the race, but I was a young teen watching and that's when my fascination with politics started.

[Funtatlaguy]

102. Carter

[broiles]

103. Harry Truman, 1948. I was 8 yrs old. Most likely because my parents were such strong supporters of him.

[debm55]

104. Voted for Jimmy Carter both times.

[RANDYWILDMAN]

106. Jimmie Carter

you can't go wrong with a rocket scientist vs. a union busting scab !

[jalan48]

107. JFK

[JPPaverage]

108. George McGovern

Because my mom and dad supported him. And i was at the age where i was thinking girls were all right and the parents sometimes took me along to events where there were a lot of college aged girls. I sometimes paid attention to the speakers too.

[ificandream]

110. JFK

I lived in Massachusetts at the time. We lucked out. His inauguration day was also a snow day. So we stayed home and watched the inauguration speech on TV. Display

[BrianTheEVGuy]

111. Bill Clinton.

Too young to vote in his first election; barely under the wire in 1996. First vote I ever cast.

[AwakeAtLast]

112. Carter!

I was 6 and I loved him!

[Rhiannon12866]

113. Jimmy Carter! I didn't know a whole lot back then, but I really, really liked him

And now that I have his autobiography, "A Full Life: Reflections at 90," I find that I agree with him on just about everything.

[mucholderthandirt]

114. Shirley Chisholm.

Yes, I'm really old. I was just starting high school back then. I remember RFK and that summer of sorrow, but I don't remember him as a candidate, just how much my mother cried. Her family were very much Democrats, Grandpa loved JFK almost as much as he loved FDR, but he was gone by then.

Funny thing, I remember saying once that she should be president and Daddy nodded and said, yeah, she probably should, but that no one would let her. He wasn't really political, but turns out he was right. And now look where we are!

[RobinA]

115. HH

Hubert Humphrey. First actual vote was for Gerald Ford, who turned out to be the only Repug I ever voted for. The first, but certainly not the last, loser I ever voted for.