NextGen Iowa Commits to Turning out the Youth Vote for Ross Wilburn in the Upcoming Special Election for House District 46

Iowa Youth Vote Director Brit Bender issued the following statement in response to the upcoming special election for HD46 and Governor Reynold’s clear attempt at young voter suppression in a district home to Iowa State University:

“NextGen Iowa is fully committed to harnessing the power of the youth vote to elect Ross Wilburn in HD46. We plan to counter Governor Reynold’s clear attempt to suppress young voters by knocking on doors, organizing online and offline, and launching an absentee ballot chase program targeting students who won’t make it back to campus in time for the election. Electing Ross Wilburn is our first opportunity to show Iowa leaders with abysmal voting records on climate, gun safety, and healthcare that young voters are more invested in creating change at the ballot box than ever before. Senator Ernst and Rep King should pay close attention to this election because young Iowans will be taking their seats away from them in 2020.

BACKGROUND:

In 2018, NextGen Iowa registered 14,243 young voters, collected 21,668 pledges to vote, and knocked on 63,270 doors. Young Iowans flexed their progressive power by electing three Democrats to the US House of Representatives, including Iowa’s first female Representatives in the House. This year, NextGen Iowa remains committed to organizing young people on college campuses and in communities around elections, fighting to expand access to the ballot box, and advocating for progressive change.