It is well documented that the Republican brand has had a difficult time connecting with millennial voters. In part, the sophistication of the Obama campaign in both 2008 and 2012 enabled the Left’s message to resonate within the ether of social media, a medium dominated by America’s youth ever since its inception. Seen as aging and uncool, the Republican image can trace some of its ineffectiveness in the last few elections to their inability to connect with younger voters, particularly in urban and campus environments. Pew Research polls indicate that millennials (roughly defined as those aged 18-34) are the most liberal of any voting block, and approximately half of those in the category identify with the Democratic Party, while only a third label themselves Republicans.
This could soon change, however.
Not because the Republicans have ascertained the best method for connecting with millennials, but rather because there is an issue upon which conservatives and millennials are increasingly in sync: privacy. The voting block is increasingly becoming more concerned about the government’s intrusion into their daily lives, both with respect to increased drone surveillance and cyber-spying. This is especially true when millennials become parents themselves, something occurring with greater frequency over the next several years as millennials age into parenthood. Research by FutureCast, an organization with expertise in marketing to millennials, notes that, once they have children, the group is three times more likely to have significant concerns over internet privacy when compared to millennials without children. And as their privacy concerns increase, so does their likelihood to identify with conservatives.
Democrats have long been seen as continuing to increase the government’s reach in the average American’s daily life, and this is equally true over basic privacy matters. California, historically a good barometer of national trends in politics, recently saw its governor veto legislation that would have curtailed the use of unmanned drones by law enforcement personnel for aerial surveillance. The bill, sponsored by Republican Assemblyman Jeff Gorrell, would have required agencies to obtain warrants prior to utilizing the technology. The thought of unmanned drones spying upon Americans going about their daily activities is something that troubles privacy advocates and millennials alike. Combined with the permanence of digital footprints allowing the government to track an individual’s daily habits, the increasingly advanced “Big Brother” nature of government is starting to become a reality. As such, millennials tend to look more favorably on the conservative message of caution with respect to big government.
Republicans, inherently skeptical of the effectiveness of expanded government, have an opportunity to connect with millennials over the issue. As the government’s power to police the skies expands, freedom and liberty for average Americans is infringed. The issue matters to the next generation of America’s leaders, and conservatives and millennials can increasingly find common ground upon it.
Ben Everard is an attorney and producer based in Los Angeles.
