Young Voters Look to Build ‘Purple’ Power

The election to choose the next President of the United States is less than three months away and Gen Z is making its voice loudly heard.

Roughly 41 million Gen Z are eligible to vote this election cycle. Of that number, 30% identify as Democrats; 28% as independents; and 24% as Republican.

During a power breakfast Tuesday at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, young political leaders from several organizations — TOGETHER!, Voters of Tomorrow, The Lincoln Project and Blue Futures — co-hosted the “Youth Power Breakfast” at a coffee shop to energize the youth voting bloc.

Santiago Mayer, the executive director for Voters of Tomorrow, said too much is at stake for Gen Z. 

Mayer said the former President Donald Trump has been “waging a war against Gen Z since he got in office. If we lose, we get deported,” said Mayer, among other issues that are paramount to Gen Z, including reproductive and LGBTQIA+ rights and gun violence reform.

Indianapolis City Councilor Nick Roberts, who is the youngest on the council, said his peers want to stay involved, “knock on doors” and keep other Gen Z motivated about this election and those thereafter.

“When Gen Z is united, we will not be defeated,” he said.

Roberts, 24, said “civic pride” was instilled in him and was motivated to start his political career at 16 after former President Donald Trump was elected.

Maryland Delegate Joe Vogel agreed with Mayer and Roberts, and stressed the stakes of this election are highest for young generations, and it’s up to Gen Z to lead the charge and keep its foot on the pedal.

“Every movement has been led by young people. Voting rights, land rights, gay rights, women’s rights … we cannot afford to lose,” said Vogel, adding, “Our generation has the most to lose and the most to gain.”

TOGETHER! co-founders said it’s time to “turn down the noise” from left and the right and for Gen Z to build purple power. 

“We want to build civic discourse and conversations. We want to build the skills of diplomacy and we also want to allow Gen Z to step into political activity, through the lens of the causes that they care about,” said Kwame Jackson, co-founder of TOGETHER!.

Jason Palmer, the other half of the TOGETHER! founding team, said Gen Z should start getting involved on the high school level.

“There’s The Civics Center, an organization that gets high schoolers across the country registered to vote. Their site has a downloadable kit that students can use at their schools. In some states, high school seniors who are turning 18 by November’s election date may be able to register while they’re 17. Also in some states, you can register at 16,” said Palmer.

When asked about the issues they hear are most important to Gen Z, Palmer quickly said economic and housing stability comes up first in every conversation.