DEMOCRATS: The millennials matter more than ever!

Check it out:

Millennials are now the largest generation in the American electorate, and are becoming increasingly motivated, according to new national poll of 18- to 29-year-olds by the Institute of Politics (IOP) at Harvard Kennedy School.

And the news gets better: likely young voters cited a preference for Democratic control of Congress, 65 to 33 percent!

The study reveals a profound potential for Democratic Party across the board, including here in Florida.  However — and this is crucial for us to understand – the millennials will remain only a potential force for political change until and unless our party addresses their greatest concerns through clearly defined policies.

And, may I add, we must give the Young Democrats of Florida a greater voice in our decisions. They deserve more than just occasional interaction with party as a whole. We must give them a seat at the “big table.”

Survey results:

The study found that:

–       Likely young voters cited a preference for Democratic control of Congress, 65 to 33 percent. Wow! But what now?  How do make these numbers a reality at the ballot box?

–       Two-thirds of young Americans are more fearful than hopeful about the nation’s future. We Democrats must give them hope through action, not words.

–       These potential voters flat-out dislike President Trump by wide margins. They want stricter gun control. Better race relations. We need to show that we care about them, because right now 34 percent of the study’s respondents don’t think we do.

And these numbers may present our biggest challenge – and opportunity: Only 34 percent of respondents said they would definitely be voting in the 2018 Congressional elections.  Another 18 percent said probably, 23 percent said it’s 50/50. And vast numbers want another alternative altogether: a third party.

Democrats of Indian River Must Take Action:

So Democrats, we have work to do to encourage this generation to vote Democratic next year. Let’s show that we care and, in return, perhaps capture the political fountain of youth!

The study summary can be found at: http://iop.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/content/docs/171128_Harvard%20IOP_Fall%202017%20Topline.pdf

Richard Leonard, Communications Committee