voted in 2006 and 24 percent of Gen Xers who voted in 1990, when each generation first made up the whole of that age group. This should be setting off alarm bells in every Republican office around the country given that these voters, in addition to being more politically active, also appear more liberal than prior generations. However, there are also indications that young voters are open to persua- sion in their political development. According to a report from the Walton Family Foundation, just 30 percent of Gen Zers say they align with Demo- crats, compared to 24 percent who align with Republicans and 28 percent who identify as independent. Some polls now also suggest that President Trump has closed the 20-point gap from 2020 and now leads Biden among voters under 30 — a stunning turnaround that would amount to a political disaster for Biden if proven to be true. Although it has historically been the case that many young people initially vote liberal and then become more conservative with age, this shift should not be taken for granted. The conservative movement — and in particular older conservative candi- dates — must put in the work to appeal to these voters and address their concerns, chief among them
the rising cost of living and housing unaffordability. In order to make that happen, conser- vatives of every age must work together toward a common goal. Oftentimes, it can be easy to sink into a generational blame game where older and younger conservatives attack one another instead of their common enemies. We’ve all heard the stereotypes that boomers are out of touch, while Gen Zers are entitled and naïve. But if we’re going to save Amer- ica from the socialist agenda of the Left, we must recognize that every generation has unique and indis- pensable contributions to bring to the movement. Older Americans have the wisdom of experience, grounded in the tradi- tions that make our country strong. They know our nation’s history because they have lived it and can contextualize the chaos of our pres- ent moment within the broader scope of the challenges our country has overcome in their lifetime. Younger Americans have ample energy, ambition, and optimism. Ultimately, our movement is about building a future that they and their children will inherit, and no one should be more invested in that mission than those who are just coming of age.
It is in service of creating cross-gener- ational engagement that AMAC and Turning Point are working in tandem to bring Americans of all ages and backgrounds together at the People’s Convention in Detroit this June 14–16. This event, which is hosted by Turn- ing Point Action and sponsored by AMAC, will serve as the focal point of the conservative movement ahead of the Republican Convention and will equip Americans of every age with the tools, knowledge, and cross-gen- erational collaboration to achieve a historic victory in November. There are some voices in our political discourse today — even on the right — who would suggest that our country’s shifting generational composition has already doomed the conserva- tive movement. But we believe that with the right outreach and relent- less effort, American conservatism could be poised for a new golden age. We’re committed to achieving this ambitious goal, and we invite other conservative grassroots organiza- tions to join our efforts in the critical months ahead. This editorial originally appeared in the Daily Caller.
Rebecca Weber and Charlie Kirk
Charlie Kirk is the Founder and Executive Director of Turning Point USA. Rebecca Weber is the CEO of the Association of Mature American Citizens.
16 • AMAC Magazine
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