The Republican Party, Trump, and Millennial Voters

Another one bites the dust… On Tuesday, the Chief spokesman for the Republican Party of Florida Wadi Gaitan announced his departure from his post. This is not the first Republican Millennial operative to jump ship and free themselves from working with the GOP to elect Donald Trump. While, Gaitan’s exit is another name on a growing list of operatives who have become disenfranchised with the party’s dedication to backing a candidate who has shown himself to be possibly be the Kim Jung Un of America rather than “a great unifier“.

Trump’s campaign from the onset has left little to the imagination and offended more voting blocs than any other campaign in recent history. Sadly, Millennials have been one of the biggest voting blocs Republicans have alienated due to nominating Trump. A year ago, Millennials showed promise to be able to single-handedly decide who would move into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, but now, the 18-35 crowd has begun putting some distance between themselves and the election of 2016.

Young staffers from the RNC who have resigned as a result of a Trump nominee point to a wobbly future for the Republican party. The key Republican Millennials who have called Trump’s nomination a deal breaker may cause the GOP to finding itself in post-election limbo. The GOP has worked diligently since 2008 to become the big tent party and accept anyone and everyone as a way to eliminate the stigma of being “the party of no“.

However, as the election season drags on and the number of days dwindle until November 8th, questions about what’s next for the GOP begin to surface. Will Millennials who have bowed out early from the Republican party come back next cycle? Has Trump tarnished the GOP indefinitely? Is the Republican nomination of Trump an outlier or has it become the standard of what it means to be a Republican? All of these questions and more will no doubt weigh heavily on those who have chosen to stand by their party and watch in horror as Trump continues to make more outlandish comments after the next. Unfortunately, the truth of the matter is, the GOP is slowly pushing out key voting blocs with each Trump rally. In the beginning, it was Mexicans, then it was Muslims, and now, with Gaitan’s exit, it is Hispanics and Millennials.

With just under 90 days until Election Day, there is no doubt some serious soul searching to be done among Millennials about whether or not they are willing to vote for Trump. Brace yourselves America, because this is a generation who thrives on procrastination and will wait until last minute. As a result, this will be a game time decision, but truth be told, I would not double down on Millennials voting for Trump in this election.

Originally written for Political Storm, August 11, 2016