As the ballots were counted for the last time in December of 2013, it became clear Republicans would hold no statewide office in Virginia for the first time in nearly 45 years. There are many reasons why this happened, but an important one was the behavior of younger voters, who formed a significant share of the electorate (nearly 40%) and were distinctly unimpressed with the idea of voting Republican. Over 60% of voters aged 18-44 did not pick a single GOP candidate on their ballots.
Even the slightest closing of this gap would have made Mark Obenshain the next Attorney General of Virginia, but younger voters have found it difficult to relate to the GOP. My own experiences, whether at the county level or the 2013 convention, bear this out. So does an extensive 2012 report by the College Republican National Committee, which calls the situation “dismal.” Our basic philosophy of limited government has no age requirement, so why do younger voters reject the party? We cannot wait around for people to get more conservative as they age, as this would take decades if it even happens at all.
To help solve this problem, a group of Virginia Republicans will launch NextGen GOP at an event on Monday evening in Arlington featuring Senate candidate Ed Gillespie. Can a new group help improve GOP prospects moving forward? I talked with spokesman Kishore Thota and communications director Allison Schneider about its origins, beliefs, and goals.
According to Schneider, NextGen GOP is designed to fill a gap in the party which has slowly reinforced the disparity in youth voting: “Historically the GOP hasn’t done outreach to these groups. The idea is to find millennials where they are and plug them in to local GOP committees.”
The organization lists five “core beliefs” culled from conversations the founding members of the group had with friends and colleagues both inside the party and outside of politics. The beliefs are noticeable for valuing “diversity of thought” and “cultural and social diversity of Virginia” under the unifying belief that government “must live within its means fiscally and constitutionally.” Cutting poverty is also a core belief. “40% of unemployed Americans are millennials,” said Schneider, and “[we] believe fiscally responsible policies will help create jobs and reduce poverty.” That kind of empathetic note is not one sounded often by our party these days, and trying to show that you can care about people while limiting government will be a major factor in both the success of a group like this and the party as a whole in the future.
So how will NextGen GOP coordinate with existing groups such as the Young Republicans who deal with a similar demographic? “We’ve been working actively with Young Republican units in existence,” said Thota. “We’re complementary, and a lot of people are excited that we’re bringing young people in.” I’ll be a bit more blunt: having too many GOP groups reaching out to young voters may be an issue one day, but it is not the problem right now. And the two groups seem to be meshing just fine so far, as several YR chapters have signed up to be event hosts for the Monday launch, and the YRFV displayed the flier on its Facebook page and encouraged YRs to attend.
What about “current” generation GOP voters – how should they view an organization like this? “They should see it as working for a common cause,” said Schneider. “We are all trying to get Republicans elected.”
“We are focused on a limited, efficient government – not what people disagree on,” added Thota. “Didn’t Reagan say that my 80% friend is not my 20% enemy? Everyone can relate to this philosophy [of limited government]. By helping get young people involved, we will ensure we are winning elections well into the future.”
It will be interesting to see exactly what new strategies NextGen GOP will bring to the table – at one point Thota said his goal was to see the group become the “Uber for GOP politics” in terms of allowing young people who believe in limited government to quickly and easily find both like-minded friends and simple ways to participate in the political process. Can this approach break down the barriers separating young voters from the Republican party in Virginia? Will the loss of every statewide office be enough to prompt meaningful change? What will Ed Gillespie have to say about all this on Monday night? It’s a complex issue, but anyone willing to take it on is an asset to the party.
Those interested in attending the launch party can find more information here.
