A Coming Young-Voter Storm for the GOPhttps://www.realclearpolitics.com/a...ing_young-voter_storm_for_the_gop_139216.html
COMMENTARY
. By John Brabender
Over the past several decades, I’ve consulted for hundreds of Republican candidates – House member, senators, governors, would-be-presidents. I’ve always thought of myself as someone who, despite the constant unpredictability of a typical political campaign, stays calm and never panics, even when provoked by having the officials in Iowa, for example, erroneously fail to declare my client the winner on caucus night.
For the first time, however, I am starting to panic. For months I’ve been analyzing the voting and political patterns of younger voters, and I think there is a storm, maybe even the perfect storm, headed Republicans’ way. And we seem oblivious.
It’s clear we are seeing an increased engagement and participation of younger voters and soon to be voters – so called millennials and Generation Z. In the past, Republicans could afford to ignore this voting segment because they were generally apathetic and participated in small numbers. We assumed we would gain their support once they began to pay taxes. This time it’s different.
John Brabender is chief strategic and creative officer at BrabenderCox, a Republican media consulting firm. His past clients include Vice President Mike Pence, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and a significant number of senators, governors, and House members.