Beyond Buzzwords: Primary Election Results Prove Young Voters Demand Real Change and Real Advocates

Christina Soliz

The June 25 primary election was a big one for the New Era Colorado Action Fund team: we endorsed candidates for the first time in 12 years (take us back to the Obama era, please) and executed our first successful campaign from Young People for All People, an independent expenditure committee recently filed and funded by New Era Colorado Action Fund.

It can be hard to turn out voters, let alone young voters, to a primary election—especially when there’s a contentious presidential election looming—but the importance wasn’t lost on those we could connect with. While young people across Colorado turned out at eight percent, 25 percent of the young people New Era Colorado reached out to voted, over three times the statewide average.

The biggest challenge this election cycle? Apathy—and anger. A theme throughout our conversations with young voters (and made clear through statewide turnout results) is that they feel like mainstream politicians only pretend to care about our issues during an election cycle, the system is rigged for those with the biggest budgets, and their vote doesn’t matter. But our votes and our work do make a difference. Take a look at House District 52, where Yara Zokaie, a young progressive, was elected into office. Think about all of the protections we’ve passed at the state level to protect reproductive rights and all the work with Initiative 89 to permanently cement the right to an abortion in the state constitution. Young people’s votes don’t just matter; our political priorities do, too.

Young people’s votes don’t just matter; our political priorities do, too

In fact, there was a lot of talk about young people’s political priorities this election cycle, from affordable housing to transparency and accountability in our government entities. Candidates across the ideological spectrum touted their track record on renters’ rights and accessible reproductive care. There was also a lot of money thrown around this election, including a last-minute influx of over $1 million from corporate-backed, dark money entities. Alongside the grotesque influx of cash from faceless corporations and politicized billionaires, we saw white, establishment-backed campaigns use their resources to slander young Black and brown candidates while co-opting progressive language and issues. We know that money talks—but we also know that young people are tired of listening.

At New Era Colorado Action Fund and Young People for All People independent expenditure, we are not here to do someone else’s dirty work. We want to drive progress for our communities and with leaders who understand our issues, not just add message-tested buzzwords to mailers. While we’re disappointed by some of the race results, specifically losing Youth Agenda Champion Tim Hernández in House District 4, and Senate District 19, a historically Black-held seat, missed the opportunity to elect Obi Ezeadi. We refuse to remain disheartened. New Era Colorado’s turnout results prove that when young people are informed and empowered, we can and do create political change. We will continue to fight for young voices to be heard throughout the political process to get us closer to the world young people—not old, out-of-touch oligarchs—want to create.

Christina Soliz is the Deputy Director New Era Colorado Action Fund New Era Colorado Action Fund.