Millennials Are Closing Race Gaps on Progressive Issues

A new report from the Center for American Progress notes that on a number of core progressive issues, the gap between people of color and whites is radically shrinking - if not erased - among young Americans:

• Over the past 20 years, an average of 86 percent of blacks aged 18 to 29 agreed that labor unions are necessary to protect workers, while 72 percent of young whites agreed—a 14 percentage-point progressive gap. Today the gap is just 2 percentage points.

• Forty-six percent of young Hispanics over the past two decades believed it is the government’s responsibility to ensure a good job and standard of living for all, while just 35 percent of young whites did—a gap of 11 percentage points. Today, the gap is less than 6 percentage points.

• An average of 55 percent of young blacks and 54 percent of young Hispanics over the past 20 years have supported universal health care provided by the government, while 45 percent of young whites held this view. Today, young whites are slightly more supportive of universal government-provided health care than young Hispanics and nearly as supportive as young blacks.

• Over the last two decades, an average of 88 percent of young blacks and 83 percent of young Hispanics thought federal spending for education should be increased, compared
to 78 percent of young whites. Today, Millennial generation whites have nearly cut in half the gap between themselves and young blacks and have overtaken Hispanics.

• An average of 85 percent of blacks, 72 percent of Hispanics, and 51 percent of whites aged 18 to 29 over the past two decades have supported increased federal spending for the poor—a gap of 34 percentage points between young blacks and young whites and 21 percentage points between young Hispanics and young whites. In the most recent survey, whites had reduced the gap with blacks by almost 10 percentage points and had cut it in half with Hispanics.

So what is causing this shift and consolidation in political philosophy among Millennials? The report looks at the economy as a potential catalyst for this shift among young white voters:

Young adults today have more similar views perhaps because they face a common economic struggle. Millennials are confronting far more significant economic challenges than other recent generations—such as lower rates of health care coverage, worse job prospects, and higher levels of student loan debt—and are likely reacting to the conservative policies that have created much of their financial difficulties. It also appears that the gap is closing in part because young minorities tend to keep the progressive views of their elders, while young whites are increasingly rejecting the more conservative views of elder whites.

This is generally in keeping with what we've seen in partisan politics. Millennials are self-identifying as Democrats in greater numbers than ever before, and even at levels of 50 - 29% over Republicans. Young voters are showing their support for Obama at a rate of 2 - 1 over John McCain.

What this new CAP reports adds to the discussion is evidence that this isn't about a cult of personality. It's about issues and core philosophies about the roles and responsibilities of government. As no other generation in recent times, Millennials are forging a generational policy consensus around economic issues and the role of government. It's still nothing more than potential energy that needs to be activated and mobilized towards a legislative agenda, but this is a good sign and something that the November 5th Coalition, Gen Vote, HCAN, and We Can Solve It can build off of post-election.