A new Pew Research Center analysis of Census Bureau data finds that the “post-Millennial” generation, which are those born after 1996, “is already the most racially and ethnically diverse generation, as a bare majority of 6-to 21-year-olds (52%) are non-Hispanic whites.”
The only population of youth that has grown substantially since the age of the Baby Boomers in 1968 is Latinx. They were born in the U.S. and go to college before entering the workforce.
In the 2018 midterm elections, millions more Latinx voted than in 2014.
According to Pew, “Latinos made up an estimated 11 percent of all voters nationwide on Election Day, nearly matching their share of the U.S. eligible voter population.”
Exit polls for the midterms this year said 67% of youth overall voted for a House Democratic candidate and just 32% for a House Republican candidate, according to The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement.
Thirty-eight women of color — Black, Latinx, Native American — won seats of real power—including the youngest Congresswoman, Alexandria Oscario-Cortez, 29, a Latina.
However, Democrats lost Texas and Florida because they didn’t pay attention to voter decline among Latinx (36.5 percent) across the country.
Pews’ analysis on changing demographics correlates with author Steve Phillips’ discussion in “Brown Is the New White,” which explains that people of color and white progressive voters are America’s new majority.
Democratic candidates of color and women (Stacey Abrams, Andrew Gillum, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama) have outperformed previous candidates in statewide elections in Florida and Georgia over the last 20 years, Phillips wrote in a recent New York Times column. Abrams garnered more votes than any other Democrat in Georgia’s history.
Phillips says Obama’s playbook is what wins: mobilization over persuasion, along with inspiring people of all races to vote, and being strong in their positions on racism, Medicaid expansion, criminal justice reform and gun control.
“Yes, the strategy of mobilizing voters of color and progressive whites is limited by the demographic composition of particular states. But what Mr. Obama showed twice is that it works in enough places to win the White House. And that is exactly the next electoral challenge.”
Phillips said, “These campaigns laid the groundwork for future Democratic success, because the thousands of volunteers, operatives and new voters will pay dividends for the 2020 Democratic nominee.”
Reader Question: Do you think the 2020 candidates will tailor their approach to meet the demands of a diverse generation
