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Youth turnout surged in key Congressional districts in Orange County following NextGen’s GOTV efforts, will continue engage young voters with $3.5 million dollar program
San Francisco, CA — On Tuesday, in a preview of what is to come in November, Democratic enthusiasm and a youth vote surge propelled Democratic candidates onto the ballot up and down the state, including in all 7 districts essential for Democratic prospects of taking back the House in November. Youth turnout more than doubled compared to the 2014 elections in several districts where NextGen led get out the vote efforts ahead of the primary. NextGen America has been on the ground in California for months, registering and organizing voters, and is ramping up its work to ahead of November, with a specific Get Out the Vote push that focused on CA-10, CA-39, CA-48, and CA-39 in the final days leading up to the election.
“The path to taking back the House runs through California, and Tuesday’s results prove that the bigoted, divisive agenda of Donald Trump and the Republican Party has energized Democrats and young people to fight back,” said NextGen America President Tom Steyer. “Californians are demanding a country based on racial justice, shared prosperity, and dignity for every human being living in the United States. From now until November, we will be unrelenting as young Californians lead the charge to take back the House and establish a progressive vision for this country.”
In some of California’s most youth-dense precincts in districts targeted by NextGen’s GOTV efforts, turnout increased an average of 8 to 10 percentage points. With tens of thousands of ballots still left to be counted, turnout in Orange County is tracking about 50 percent higher than 2014, but turnout in the youth-dense precincts NextGen America tracked increased 100 percent. Turnout also doubled at four precincts near UC San Diego, and in one precinct by the campus of Cal State Fullerton, more than 10 times as many votes were cast this year than in 2014. All of this points to a trend of increasingly passionate young voters seeking to translate their passion for the issues they care about into electoral influence, and in November this influence will help pave the way for a Democratic House.
In the days leading up to the primaries, NextGen America’s $350,000 GOTV program in the 10th, 39th, 48th, and 49th Congressional districts knocked on 18,000 doors and made over 81,000 phone calls, helping to spur Democratic turnout in these essential districts and secure spots on the ballot, paving the way for a Democratic House in 2018. This effort was part of NextGen’s $3.5 million youth organizing program in California, focused on flipping Congressional Districts 10, 21, 25, 39, 45, 48, and 49 and taking back the House.
Separately, NextGen worked with the California Labor Federation and local progressive organizations on a seven-figure effort to engage voters in 7 key districts ahead of November. Through this effort, organizers have had conversations with well over 100,000 voters, and in the month leading up to the primary, knocked on nearly 75,000 doors and made almost 75,000 calls to get out the vote.
“What we saw in Virginia last year was the beginning of a trend — the youth vote is ready to take its place as an essential voting bloc in American politics. What we saw in Californiaon Tuesday was further proof of that, and young people showed up in a big way to ensure progressive candidates are on the ballot across the state,” said NextGen America Youth Vote Director Ben Wessel. “When we engage young voters on the issues that matter to them, young voters don’t just show up and play a role, they are the driving force behind progressive change happening in this country.”
Ahead of November, NextGen will hire over 80 organizers and engage young Californians on at least 30 campuses, including 12 community colleges across the state. NextGen California will contact over 300,000 young voters through peer-to-peer conversations, a targeted digital and mail program, and grassroots organizing off campus in cities like Fullerton, Palmdale, Bakersfield, Fresno and Modesto.
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NextGen America
Founded originally as NextGen Climate by businessperson and philanthropist Tom Steyer in 2013, NextGen America acts politically to prevent climate disaster, promote prosperity, and protect the fundamental rights of every American.
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