1. Northern California Grantmakers Anne Johnson, Managing Principal
11/30/2016
Anne Johnson, Managing Principal
Grassroots Solutions

2. The Youth Vote – 2016 Election
Millennials 101
What happened? A quick looks at results
Three key developments in the sector
What we learned
Where we go from here

3. Millennials 101 Millennials: 1980-2000
95 million by 2020, largest generation in history
40% of the Voting Age Population in 2020
A third of VAP in 2016
Three age groups: 18-24, 25-30, 31-36
Most diverse generation in history
Progressive values
Volunteer at highest rates of any generation
Innovative, entrepreneurial
Extremely skeptical of institutions
What issues are front and center?

4. Election Results* Only generation to support Hillary Clinton (55%-37%)
23.7 million young voters in 2016, 50% of eligible young voters
In 2012, 45% of eligible young voters cast a ballot, which was down from a high of 51% in 2008 (we will know final numbers for 2016 in early spring of 2017)
More young people voted in 2016 than in any other election (23.7 million votes cast compared to 20.5 million in 2012)
Young voters made up 19% of the total electorate
*Exit polling data – via CIRCLE

5. Election Results* Candidate Support:
According to exit poll data, voters under the age of 30 supported Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump by 55% to 37%, a margin of 18 points. While this is a drop from the 60% support President Obama received in 2012, it is by far the highest level of support from any age group.
*Exit polling data – via CIRCLE

6. Election Results*
*Exit polling data – via CIRCLE

7. Election Results* Candidate Support:
There was significant difference between young voters of color and white voters in terms of candidate support. While Clinton won the overall youth vote, she lost young white voters by 5%. Latino and Black support were at 70% and 83% respectively.
*Exit polling data – via CIRCLE

8. Election Results*
*Exit polling data – via CIRCLE

9. Three Key Development in the Sector
Investment from “Non-Youth” groups in young voters
Ex: Emily’s List/Priorities, NextGen Climate, and For Our Future
Better coordination between Independent Expenditure groups
Table organized through the Youth Engagement Action Fund coordinated opinion research, cultural organizing, real time best practices
More resources for youth led groups
Sector is developing around issues and local organizations that matter to young people

10. What We Learned Real challenges with institutional skepticism
Issues have to lead
Candidates (and campaigns) matter – have to win the argument within campaigns
Millennials are not monolithic
Age, race, education, geographic diversity
Politics needs to be seen as a tool for social change
The future of our democracy is at stake

11. Where We Go From Here
Rapid response – young people are disproportionally impacted by Trump policy positions
Youth Engagement Fund – 2016 Election Report and Sector Recommendation
Build youth-led capacity for issue based organizing
Help the broader progressive movement understand young people