CINCINNATI -- Can barbecue meatballs, Saratoga chips and a debate watch party at the Montgomery Inn Boathouse help make local Republicans cool again with young voters?
Hamilton County Commissioner Greg Hartmann certainly hopes so.
He’s expecting 40 College Republicans and young GOPers on Wednesday night for free appetizers and party camaraderie around television screens for the second Republican presidential debate.
It's part of a new strategy to engage millennial voters as the hugely important 2016 election looms just over a year away.
“Young voters are a critical component to any potential success of the Republican party,” Hartmann said. “We can’t be the Republican party of our parents. That’s not adequate to win.”
Because millennial voters in Ohio and Hamilton County will be the ultimate power voting bloc in the 2016 presidential election, WCPO is writing a series of stories in the coming weeks about their politics, voting habits and public service. Next up: One-issue voters and other millennial voting groups.
The subtle changes in the Hamilton County Republican party began a few years ago, with new scholarships to high schoolers and internships to college GOPers. More young staffers are joining the ranks of local GOP elected officials. And the county’s Republican Party just hired a 21-year-old political and communications director with a specialty in social media.
“Understanding the millennial generation is critical,” said Alex Triantafilou, chairman of Hamilton County Republican Party.
And Republicans have a reason to worry. A 2014 Pew survey said "the GOP’s Millennial problem runs deep,” with only 34 percent of Millennials identified as Republicans, compared to 50 percent as Democrats.
That’s why Hartmann got the idea for the debate watch party. He is a frequent speaker at College Republican chapters at the University of Cincinnati and Xavier University, but wants to bring a large group of party up-and-comers together to hear what they think about the presidential candidates, and what issues are important to them.
“The brand needs work,” Hartmann admitted. “The Republican party kind of fell into being the party of the older white guy.”
Just ask Cody Rizzuto, 22, political director of Greater Cincinnati Young Republicans and director of political operations at Fountain Square Group. He’s excited that party elders want to talk to his generation, but also thinks that it’s about time.
Cody Rizzuto, political director of Greater Cincinnati Young Republicans.
“We are going to be the face of the party someday,” he said. “If we don’t capture the 18 to 25 year olds today, we’re not going to have a base in 30 years."
Millennials Don’t Like Political Bickering
Courting millennials isn’t easy.
They don’t trust politicians and think like Independents. They like positive messages instead of political attacks. They are socially liberal but fiscally conservative, experts said.
“Millennials are considerably more liberal than other generations,” according to the Pew study, which cited a generational divide within the GOP on issues such as immigration, gay rights, and the environment.
This is something Brad Johnson, 20, who is chair of UC College Republicans, knows all too well. When he talks politics with friends, most are concerned about the economy, jobs and student debt. They are drawn to the GOP’s economic policies but turned off by the party’s stance on social issues.
“Really when you get down to their core beliefs they (friends) should be Republican or conservative,” he said. “But there’s always one or two issues that keep Republicans in a bad view for them. One big example is gay marriage.”
David Niven, a UC political science professor, agrees, and believes this social divide could hurt Republicans long-term.
“I would be hard pressed to find a college student who doesn’t believe in marriage equality,” Niven said. “You can’t start with an apology, and then try and win somebody’s vote.”
Johnson would like the GOP to at least acknowledge what young Republicans want.
“They need to figure out what is important to millennials… they care about marijuana, they care about gay marriage, they care about abortion,” he said. “Tailor at least part of their message to young people.”
Some college students are drawn to the Libertarian Party because it supports a free market and individual rights, yet is opposed to government regulation. Republican presidential candidate Rand Paul, who has Libertarian leanings, polls well with young voters, Niven said.
“It’s kind of Republicanism without the social stigma,” Niven said. “It’s the potential path for Republicans to remake their party with young voters.”
If Republicans don’t embrace young conservatives, they risk losing them to the Libertarian party, Johnson said.
College Libertarians started a chapter at UC last year and already has 50 members and an email list of 400. Each time the group sets up a table, at least 100 new students sign up for group emails and text messages, said Michael Esch, who leads the group.
“If you talk to young people and take away the Republican label, and just talk about the issues, a huge majority of them are conservative,” Rizzuto said. “But once you throw that Republican label on, they’re like ‘No way.’’’
Millennials as Powerhouse Voters, and Campaigners
Millennials in Ohio are arguably the most influential voting bloc in the nation. Political experts believe they could be the swing that ultimately chooses the next president of the United States.
And since a Republican is unlikely to get to the White House without winning Ohio, the millennial vote and young campaign volunteers are crucial, experts said.
“In 2012, one-tenth of every voter contact in Ohio was made by a College Republican,” said Rizzuto, who is the former president of UC College Republicans and former vice president of Ohio College Republicans. He described it as “the best grassroots organization in the state.”
“You just have to motivate them correctly. Usually that’s pizza,” he said, chuckling.
In 2013, UC College Republicans made thousands of phone calls supporting Republican Amy Murray’s campaign for Cincinnati City Council. She won her seat by less than 900 votes.
In the coming months, UC College Republicans will make phone calls and knock on doors for Sen. Rob Portman’s reelection campaign, Johnson said.
“College Republicans are engaged in every election. They work for municipal court judges and they work for president,” Rizzuto said.
So part of Hartmann’s motivation for hosting the debate party is to seek young help for many elections next year, including his own.
“I’m running for re-election as well,” Hartmann said. “I tell young people if they want to get involved in the process there’s plenty of opportunity. It can make a difference, especially in local elections.”
But millennials want something back from candidates. They want to be heard, Niven said.
“This focus on younger people and college students is critical to the shape of the Republican party in the decades to come,” Niven said. “It’s important that you not only say to these folks that they matter. But that they actually do matter to you.”
