Who accounted for the high Florida primary turnout? This group may be part of the answer

[RandySF]

It’s too soon to know for sure with precision which demographics went to the polls Tuesday, accounting for a turnout never before seen in Florida’s midterm primaries. But one demographic with historically low turnout may have helped push participation: youths.


According to NextGen America, a political action committee created by billionaire hedge fund manager Tom Steyer, a fierce critic of President Donald Trump, voter turnout in college-area precincts jumped on Tuesday, based on preliminary turnout numbers. Turnout was nearly 10 percent higher in Alachua County, where the University of Florida is located, and youth-heavy precincts in Tallahassee saw five times more votes cast than in the 2014 primary, according to the organization, no doubt fueled in part by the candidacy of Tallahassee-based Andrew Gillum.

Precincts near Florida Memorial University also saw increased turnout.

The progressive group backed Gillum, surprise winner of the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, and registered more than 19,000 youth voters between the ages of 18 and 35 to vote ahead of the primary, said Ben Wessel, the youth vote director for NextGen. He cited higher youth turnout as helping push Gillum over the top. When young people show up, progressive policies turn out, ” Wessel said.



https://www.mcclatchydc.com/latest-news/article217544430.html#storylink=cpy

[msongs]

1. whose turnout was highest, dems or repubs? nt

[KPN]

2. From what I saw the night of the primaries

on MSNBC, the Dems. It struck me when I saw it. Can’t recall whether numbers were final or preliminary at the time.

[whopis01]

8. Republicans had a higher turnout. n/t

[DrDan]

9. by about 100K - not insignificant

[Awsi Dooger]

3. Steyer is the best addition we've had in memory

College campus and youth registration drives needed to be the absolute priority ever since Trump took office and his approval rating plunged in early 2017. Instead we've wasted far too much time looking backward.

Steyer got a bit carried away with his impeachment ad campaign but once that stalled and he jumpshifted to college registration drives almost immediately, I knew he was a significant cut above. The typical clod would have merely found another vehicle to rant against Trump.

Best of all, Steyer was sharp enough to include community colleges in his push.

Now other groups should drop what they are doing and join the same cause. Traditional GOTV is extremely limited and short term focused as opposed to getting young voters registered and enthused, during this rare period when we've got an opposing president with such low favorability numbers and therefore the net gain is substantial among every 100 you register.

Steyer's commitment to this cause impacts now and dozens of years from now, while people merely setting up bus driving campaigns etc. for current registers are doing a swell necessary service but it will come to a flat footed halt on election day.

[SunSeeker]

4. Wow, did not know Steyer was doing that. Excellent!

Getting young people registered is the best use of Dem GOTV resources I can think of.

[lamp_shade]

5. Kick for visibility.

[Cha]

6. KICK4kGOTV!

Tom Steyer & African American Voters!

[Awsi Dooger]

7. Original article describing Steyer's plans for Florida registration

I remembered bookmarking this one, the early tip:

https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/03/07/liberal-billionaire-tom-steyer-targets-florida-millennials-with-3-5-million-voter-outreach/

And a more recent version, detailing Steyer's goal to register 100,000 millennials in 11 states in a back to college "Welcome Week" push:

https://www.axios.com/2018-midterm-elections-tom-steyer-college-voter-registration-595d6f94-fc51-487d-9ed0-4fa94f779e0a.html

* They've already registered 80,000 millennials, and now they want to register 100,000 more through mid-September.

* By the numbers: NextGen will deploy 765 organizers to 420 campuses — including 135 community colleges and 14 historically black colleges and universities — to engage with students during "Welcome Week" as they're headed back to school.

***

Naturally I'm biased in favor of this guy because my focus is always long term and big picture, and immediately after the election the only thing I could think of that would have maximum impact along those lines was relentless registration drive emphasis on college campuses. I've voiced it here countless times. But then nothing was happening throughout 2017. We were whining every night about Trump and Russia. Swell...meanwhile you know damn well the Republicans are already scheming and suppressing toward 2018, 2020 and beyond while we waste time in the past.

This is the first guy who really gets it. I hope he has similarly sharp cohorts who are younger and recruited to lead the cause.

[Scurrilous]

10. K&R

[BlueWI]

11. We have a chapter in our town!

Time for a consultation to see how turnout here can be maximized!!!