Republicans delivered the worst midterm performance for a party out of power in over 20 years. Young voters, who turned out in force, were centrally responsible for this failure. If the
GOP
is to turn the tide, it must better appeal to young people, including and especially on the topic of
climate change
.
This election, exit polls confirmed an almost
2-1 advantage
for Democrats among young voters and record high turnout for the second midterm elections in a row. Without a course correction, this highly engaged voting bloc will continue to tip elections in favor of Democrats. The GOP risks losing a generation of voters. We must thus compete for hearts and minds by offering clear answers to the issues that young people prioritize most.
On this front, the data are clear.
Poll
after poll confirms that young voters place climate change among their foremost concerns. If Democrats are perceived as caring about the issue, while Republicans are not, then young voters will continue to flock to the Democratic Party in overwhelming numbers. While the GOP has taken some recent steps in the right direction, most of these efforts are still on the periphery. Republicans have a major opportunity to play offense on climate by offering better solutions than Democrats. While the Left is busy pushing their government-expanding Green New Deal, we conservatives should more firmly advance the idea that the best way to address the climate challenge is through private enterprise.
In fact, only market-based solutions, by harnessing the entrepreneurial powers of capitalism, can accelerate clean energy innovation and deploy new technologies at the scale and speed necessary. Standing tall on this approach would allow Republicans to make inroads with young voters and earn their votes. Leading on this issue is also pure political upside. In Congress,
not a single member
who joined the new GOP House caucus on climate got primaried out for doing so. All of them won their general election.
Moreover, in competitive general elections, climate-forward GOP leaders succeeded at the ballot box. Florida Republicans won across the board, often with landslide margins, while running on a strong record of environmental action. It is no accident that Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) defied national trends and performed very well with young voters, capturing support from
over half of voters age 18-29
. His forward-looking environmental approach is addressing a top priority for this constituency. As the GOP returns to the drawing board after the midterm elections and identifies ways to strengthen and expand our coalition, leading on the environment is a clear political winner. There are few, if any, other issues on which we have so much opportunity to gain voters without losing any. This is an open shot on goal, and we should take it.
One natural place to start is by championing policies that hold foreign polluters like China accountable. After all, nearly 90% of global emissions come from beyond our shores â a reality that Democrats conveniently overlook. A tool like a
polluter import fee
would affect far more emissions sources than domestic regulations ever could. Moreover, American manufacturers would enjoy an economic boost for their cleaner practices, curbing Chinaâs influence and returning jobs and opportunity to our country.
In the next Congress, Republicans should break the Leftâs monopoly over the climate issue. By playing offense, we can deliver better solutions, win new supporters, and tip the electoral scales in our favor.
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Grayson Massey is a national board member and the west regional vice chairman of the Young Republican National Federation.
