Your Sneak Peek Inside the Future – Unleashing the Power of Young Voters of Color #BeThe1st #Freedom

After seeing Vice President Harris’ pragmatic pick for Vice President, I received calls asking how this would affect the enthusiasm for the ticket. His selection does a few things: it gives anti-freedom voters permission to vote for Harris, helps her explain her evolution since being a Senator from California, and energizes young voters who are like kinetic energy, ready to accelerate.

As campaign manager for an African American Woman U.S. Senate candidate, we trained young political organizers in micro-targeting voters of color (VOC). These trainings laid the groundwork for capturing and energizing voters aged 18-29 for the 2024 Presidential race. Research shows how crucial young VOC will be in upcoming elections:

• A recent Gallup poll shows Vice President Kamala Harris leading her Republican opponent among voters under 30.
• Harris has increased her lead by 6 points with young voters of color.
• Harris’s job approval among Latinos has risen 4 points in three weeks.
• Harris has closed the gap in battleground states.
• Among African Americans, Harris holds a significant lead over her opponent.

I discussed these trends with a young friend in Missouri. She affirmed the surveys, noting that young voters are frustrated with politicians who ignore college affordability. This mirrors the 2006 midterm elections when young people were 15% of Missouri’s electorate, and the Senate race was won by just 45,000 votes.

Are young Americans looking for someone to stand up to extreme politicians? Will it take a coalition of progressive Whites, Latinos, African Americans, Asians, Native Americans, Unions, and Young Voters to get Washington back on track?

A clear majority of 18-29-year-olds feel “elected officials don’t have the same priorities I have” and believe politics have become too partisan. Many also feel elected officials are motivated by selfish reasons.

In 2008, youth voter turnout surged, driven by Latino and African American youth. For instance, 42% of young Latino women and 39% of young Latino men voted. Over 52% of African American youth aged 18-24 voted, the highest turnout rate among any youth group by race and ethnicity. Young voters comprised 21% of Missouri’s electorate, with the President losing by just 39,000 votes. This is significant, considering that VOC increased their 13% vote share to 19% in 2010.

Young African Americans and Latinos represent 15% and 18% of the total youth population, respectively. By 2024, young people of color could make up over 37% of the 18-24 age population. Kansas City, Missouri, for example, grew by 4.1% to 459,787 and is now nearly 40% POC, with many voters under 29. These voters understand the link between political engagement and democracy.

As these voters re-engage, political organizations will reinvest in them. Their clearer interests will shape their preferences. As we learned in 2008, the power of the youth vote extends beyond their interests, influencing policy for every American. That’s the essence of real political power.

St. Louis Census and Voting Age Population Data

• St. Louis City Population: Approximately 301,578 (2020 U.S. Census).
• Voting Age Population: Around 240,000 (18 years and older).
• Racial Composition: 46% African American, 43% White, and 11% other races including Latino, Asian, and Native American communities.
• Young Voter Demographics: 22% of the voting age population is between 18 and 29.

These demographics underscore the critical need for targeted voter outreach strategies to engage and mobilize young voters of color in St. Louis and urban areas across the nation. This isn’t just a fleeting burst of enthusiasm; young voters are like kinetic energy, poised and ready to spring into action. Their momentum, once unleashed, can sustain for months, providing a vital boost to the campaign.

The Vice President’s evolution since her time as a Senator from California is key here. Serving as Vice President for three years, she now brings a broader perspective to the table. Her legislative priorities reflect the diverse and evolving needs of the entire nation. This strategic timing is precisely what this race needed, illustrating how leadership adapts and grows to meet the challenges of the moment. Timing, indeed, is everything. #BeThe1st #Freedom

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Kirk Clay leads Capitol View Advisors with a vision rooted deeply in our shared values, channeling our collective creativity and strategic insight to bridge communities with the essential information and resources they need to elevate and achieve their dreams.