06/30/2024

Democrats Still Stumble on How to ‘Pass the Torch’ to Younger Leaders

When it comes to candidates, they keep ignoring youthful up-and-comers

Rep. Eric Swalwell (Calif.) struck the biggest moment of his bid for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination on June 27, 2019. He did it by quoting from a Joe Biden speech in 1987 about passing "the torch" to a younger generation.

"Joe Biden was right when he said it was time to pass the torch to a new generation of Americans 32 years ago," Swalwell, then 38, said in a nationally televised debate during the Democratic primary race. "He's still right."

Biden, then the 76-year-old former vice president, smiled at the young Turk. "I'm still holding on to that torch," the future 46^th president retorted onstage.

Please select this link to read the complete article from The Washington Post.