Harvard poll: Millennial voters want GOP takeover of U.S. Senate
Harvard poll shows millennials who will "definitely be voting" prefer Republican control of the Senate.
Millennial support of GOP jumps eight points since 2010.
Support among Hispanic youth for Democrats has dropped significantly since just six months ago.
A Harvard University poll released today, suggests that millennial voters now prefer a Republican controlled Senate.
The poll indicates that out of the 26 percent who say they will “definitely be voting in Nov.,” 51 percent of millennials prefer a GOP majority, while only 47 percent would opt for Democrats retaining control, according to the Washington Examiner.
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The poll, initiated by Harvard’s Institute of Politics (IOP), gave President Obama the second lowest grade in IOP polls since he took office in 2009, dropping to a 43 percent approval rating.
Harvard pollsters say the close percentages could indicate that millennials are still “up for grabs.” However, the 2014 poll shows an eight point gain for Republicans over the 2010 poll, which had millennials favoring Democrats 55 to 43 percent.
The poll’s results show that Republican millennial voters will outvote Democrats by a 12-point margin.
“Millennials could be a critical swing vote. Candidates for office: ignore millennial voters at your peril,” said Maggie Williams, IOP Director.
However, Harvard officials say millennials remain skeptical and dissatisfied with both parties.
"While Democrats have lost ground among members of America's largest generation, millennial views of Republicans in Congress are even less positive," Harvard IOP Polling Director John Della Volpe told the Washington Examiner. "Both parties should re-introduce themselves to young voters, empower them and seek their participation in the upcoming 2016 campaign and beyond."
IOP also reports that young Hispanic support of the Democratic party has hit a low at 49 percent approval rating since 2009; a significant drop from their 60 percent approval rating just six months ago.
Harvard’s poll was composed of 2,029 people, ages 18-29, with a margin of error +/- 2.9 percent and a 95 percent confidence level. The poll was conducted between Sept. 26 and Oct. 9.
Follow the author of this article on Twitter: @MaggieLitCRO
