With as important as the youth vote was in the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections, the Republican Party is getting serious about capturing the interest and support of Millennials — and that effort starts with listening.
On Thursday afternoon, in the brightly lit and brightly colored — think Google hues — office of the House Republican Conference, a group of roughly 40 young leaders and innovators sat down at a long table to discuss how the GOP can better reach their demographic. Partway through their conversation, they were joined by Reps. Sean Duffy (R-Wisc.) and Jason Smith (R-Mo.), who arrived late due to voting on the floor.
But once the Congressmen arrived — bringing along House Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) for a brief introduction — they jumped right in, asking questions and dialoguing about the most important issues for young people.
“Tone matters, showing up matters, policy solutions matter and leadership matters,” McMorris Rodgers said to kick off the second half of the event.
“What’s your view on our tone and how well we do communicating our message?” Duffy followed up as he took his seat at the table.
During the two-hour long discussion, the young attendees criticized the GOP for continuing to project the ‘old white guy’ image and not reaching out to youth, especially on college campuses.
“It’s important to make sure we have an operation where we show up,” Chris Malagisi, president of the Young Conservatives Coalition, said.
He stressed the need for youth outreach coordinators on every Congressional campaign and suggested that the GOP spend money on advertising on platforms that reach young people, such as YouTube. Several of the young attendees added that social media and popular TV shows are also great ways to reach Millennials. Later in the event, Duffy criticized Congressional Republicans for only going on shows like Fox News, which only reaches people who are already Republican.
“Democrats do a great job of going on The Daily Show, of going on every outlet from morning television to evening news, where everyone who doesn’t follow politics — it’s what they watch,” the Wisconsin Congressman said.
Malagisi also said that youth outreach needs to be a year-round effort, instead of something the GOP focuses on during election time. Elliott Echols, national youth director for the Republican National Committee, argued that the RNC has been doing a better job of maintaining that yearlong effort.
The Millennials also felt Republicans needed to connect with young people on a personal level, instead of just as a demographic. Evan Feinberg, president of Generation Opportunity, said youth want to care that politicians care about them. Alison Howard, communications director at Concerned Women for America, said the Left has historically been better at that effort.
“We might be missing out on some conservative youth by not getting to know them, and asking those questions,” Howard said. “‘Why? Who are you? What’s your story?’ Some of those very key, relational things that the other side has done really well.”
And when it came to showing up and showing young people they care, Smith, who at 33 years old is one of the youngest members of Congress, admitted that Republicans are just scratching the surface.
“The whole Conference should be here,” the Missouri Republican said.
But for what it was, both the Millennial leaders and the members of Congress seemed to think Thursday’s meetup was a productive start.
Inspired youth are one of our country’s best resources. #millenialmeetup #NextGenGOP pic.twitter.com/nCnAs9XwHC
— Sean Duffy (@RepSeanDuffy) March 13, 2014
Just wrapped a discussion w/ @HouseGOP and members of the Millennial Generation (ages 18-34). pic.twitter.com/CYE9BpOpuh
— Rep. Jason Smith (@RepJasonSmith) March 13, 2014
