By Lila Darnault, age 14
KidScoop Correspondent
“Young people are the future of California.” Said Betty Yee at the California gubernatorial forum on April 18th hosted in Koreatown by more than 40 AANHPI organizations. This was the first time in history that gubernatorial candidates participated in an AANHPI forum. Participating candidates included Xavier Becerra, Tony Thurmond, Tom Steyer, Betty Yee, and Antonio Villaraigosa. Questions covered the following important topics for voters: Climate change, voting rights, small businesses, the economy, healthcare, and immigration, as well as leadership and representation.
If California were a country, it would be the fourth largest economy in the world. As the youngest person at the forum, representing Kid Scoop Media, I was intimidated, and it felt surreal to share a room with the people competing for such an impactful role. It is easy for Californians to forget that these are human beings who care about a greater cause when we are constantly exposed to TV ads, social media ads, billboards, and so on. Being in the room with the candidates brought them to life. They transformed from digital characters into passionate Californians fighting for an opportunity to make a difference.
An event organizer shared with me that the unscripted format of the forum was intentional. Not only were the specific questions not shared with the candidates, but the order of speakers was also unknown. This format created authentic and impactful responses and reactions from all participants. In a digital world, where the line between AI and real people is blurring, the things we see online can easily be viewed through a skeptical lens, but this forum with real human interaction and spontaneous questions reminded me of the importance of town halls, grassroots campaigning, and genuine human connection between our leaders and community. When I asked Tom Steyer about the importance of an in-person forum in a growing world of AI,
he stressed the importance of looking each other in the eye when sharing campaign views and candidate promises.
In the spirit of human connection, I asked each candidate about their favorite musical artists. Betty Yee lit up talking about Earth, Wind & Fire, and I laughed thinking of fond memories dancing to their music with family at weddings and parties. It seems Betty Yee and I had more musical taste in common than I anticipated.
I learned more about each gubernatorial candidate beyond what is presented in the media. While learning more about the candidates running to be the leader of the fourth largest economy in the world was valuable, there was information I was longing to hear more about. Each candidate agrees young people are the future of California, but I wish I had heard more about what measures they are taking to ensure young people can afford to study, work, create businesses, and purchase homes in California. Young people can and should execute the power they have to make a change in California and make their vote count on June 2nd.