Call it blowback from the Sagebrush Rebellion. The same region that took a turn for the hard right a generation ago is now trending blue. The secret in the story is said to be a lot of things – different, authentically Western Democrats, and maybe an influx of people from California – but it may be simpler than all that.
The descendants of the rebels themselves – today’s Western youth – are leading the charge for a more Democratic West. If the trends continue, the Republican Party may find itself in a world of hurt.
The Millenial Generation, generally characterized as Americans born between 1978 and 2000, is the largest in American history. And as Millenials grow up and enter the voting booth, they are reworking the political landscape of the Mountain West.
In Montana, Millenials are credited with Sen. Jon Tester’s margin of the victory. These voters made up 17 percent of the electorate and went for Tester over Republican incumbent Conrad Burns 56-44, according to exit polls.
In Arizona, Jim Pederson lost to Republican Jon Kyl, but young voters broke for Pederson by 15 percent.
In Wyoming, a state that hasn’t sent a Democrat to Congress since 1978, Gary Trauner nearly upset Barbara Cubin. If young voters had their way, Trauner would be Wyoming’s new congressman. They backed Trauner by 16 percent.
Here in Colorado, young voters went for John Kerry over George W. Bush, the only age bracket to do so.
Just seven years ago, Republicans had a near lock on the region, holding every governor’s office in the region. One by one, they’ve fallen to Democrats so that Democrats now hold the governorships of Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico – a solid trail of mountain states tracking from Canada to Mexico.
It should come as no shock that this Democratic ascendance would track closely with the coming-of-age of the region’s Millenials. The instincts of the Millenial Generation are at direct odds with the Sagebrush Rebellion mentality that has governed the West for the past 30 years.
A report released last week by the New Politics Institute summarizes the political views of our generation. The news is bad for any political party that denies government ability’s to solve problems, promotes unilateral war as a solution to international crises, and continues to face scrutiny for a history of intolerance to diversity.
None of this is to say that the Millenials are die-hard Democrats or unwilling to consider changing their voting habits. In fact, a lot of Millenials haven’t even started voting yet. But for candidates of either political party looking to reach this key demographic, here are some good things to know:
Conventional wisdom to the contrary, we do vote. Millenials are far more civically engaged than our Gen X predecessors. In fact, between 2000 and 2004, voter turnout increased 11 percent among voters under 24.
Diversity isn’t just a good thing; it’s also a way of life. The Millenial Generation is the most diverse and tolerant in history, with a smaller percentage of non-Hispanic whites than previous generations and a larger pool of female leaders. Plus, nearly 90 percent of us know openly gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender individuals. Discriminating against our friends is an easy way to lose our support.
The Earth is our home, and we want to stay here for a while. Environmentalism is an unspoken value, and we’re willing to sacrifice economically for it. We were raised on recycling and we’re still willing to take some small pains to keep the Earth greener. Denying global warming – or being too hesitant to take action – won’t make you any friends with this crowd.
The job market is broken, but it can be fixed. Despite huge tuition costs, outsourcing, and a widening gap between rich and poor, America’s youth are optimistic. But we’re not foolish, so don’t pretend there isn’t a problem. Do offer real solutions.
Unlike some previous generations, Millenials believe that government can and should solve real problems.
It could certainly be worse. As a great novelist once observed, “It is not a bad thing that children should occasionally, and politely, put parents in their place.” We’ll do our best to keep it polite.
Matt Singer is the CEO of Forward Montana. Steve Fenberg is executive director of New Era Colorado. Both organizations are dedicated to engaging young Americans in politics.
