Young People to Washington: Get Out of Our Way

by David Pasch, Generation Opportunity: Republicans made historic Congressional gains last night – regaining a majority in the U.S. Senate, winning gubernatorial contests in several states, and adding to their majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. Pundits and pollsters will spend the next few days and weeks sifting through election returns and exit polling data, but one thing is abundantly clear: young voters sent a loud and clear message to Washington that we’re not going to be ignored any longer.

According to current exit polling data from CNN and The New York Times, 18-29 year olds were more likely to show up at the polls and more likely to cast their ballots for Republicans than they were in 2010.

The youth vote was decisive in closely-watched races including:

• North Carolina’s U.S. Senate contest, where Senator Kay Hagan saw young voters swing 33 points away from her compared to her last election
• Arkansas’s U.S. Senate contest, where Rep. Tom Cotton won the youth vote outright, edging his opponent by 4 points among 18-29 year olds
• Florida’s gubernatorial contest, where Governor Rick Scott saw 18-29 year olds swing 10 points in his favor compared to his last election
• Ohio’s gubernatorial contest, where Governor John Kasich won an incredible 57% of 18-29 year olds, swinging the youth vote 26 points in his favor compared to his last election

Generation Opportunity President Evan Feinberg issued the following statement:

“Young people made a statement yesterday and this time Washington can’t afford not to listen.

“Young voters chose less government and more freedom up and down the ballot, and it’s not hard to see why. We are suffering a 15% unemployment rate and are being forced to delay major life decisions and defer our dreams because of the big government policies that have stifled our economy.

“In races across the country young people made the difference and, in the process, taught Washington a lesson about our generation: we will fight for a better future for ourselves and we won't wait for anyone else to do it for us.”
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Generation Opportunity is a national, non-partisan organization advocating for economic opportunity for young people through less government and more freedom.

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