Last five presidential elections did not involve seniors

[Plankton5165]

A presidential candidate is considered a senior if they are 60 years old or older.

The last time both candidates were under 60 was 2000, when Bush was 54 and Gore was 52.

But how would the next five elections go if they were like that?

2004 - George Bush (R) vs. John Edwards (D)
2008 - Mike Huckabee (R) vs. Barack Obama (D)
2012 - Rick Santorum (R) vs. Barack Obama (D)
2016 - Ted Cruz (R) vs. Martin O’Malley (D)
2020 - Ted Cruz (R) vs. Pete Buttigieg (D)

[Agonized-Statism]

2004

President George Bush (R-TX) / National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice (R-AL) ✓
Senator John Edwards (D-NC) / Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN)

A constitutional amendment is passed prohibiting candidates from holding office in the executive branch if over 60 at the time of their election, somehow. Wouldn't happen but whatever. Bush runs because he would be allowed to finish his term, but Cheney's out. In the Democrats' primaries, Edwards narrowly beats Clark, who would just barely make the cut for one term anyway.

2008

Fmr. Governor Mike Huckabee (R-AR) / Governor Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)
Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) / Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) ✓

2012

President Barack Obama (D-IL) / Vice President Tim Kaine (D-VA) ✓
Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) / Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI)

2016

HUD Secretary Julián Castro (D-TX) / Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) / Governor Scott Walker (R-WI) ✓

In a vacuum, "the next Obama" runs. IMO this is the point where we'd more realistically get some fairly unknown people as candidates because both parties- especially the Democrats- would be more conscious of keeping a stronger bench of young people.

2020

President Marco Rubio (R-FL) / Vice President Scott Walker (R-WI)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN) / Fmr. National Security Advisor Susan Rice (D-DC) ✓

Buttigieg picks Rice because unlike Harris, she would just barely make the cut to run with him again in 2024. The enthusiasm for Rubio runs out as anti-maskers turn on him.

[Plankton5165]

Rubio I remember wanting to win in 2016 anyway.

I also remember discussing the possibilities of capping the president’s age at 75. (35 is the minimum, 55 is the average, maybe 75 might be the maximum. We’ve already limited presidents to two terms after FDR won four and died in office.)

[bagelman]

O'Malley could've beat Cruz, but he loses in 2020 to whoever the GOP nominates.

Rubio would beat Castro and probably O'Malley, and honestly would fend off Buttigieg to be reelected.