• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary says if he were 25 today, he'd chase these two booming opportunities in the world of AI

2

Even as Elon Musk calls philanthropy ‘very hard,’ everyday Americans gave a record $617 billion—despite feeling the squeeze over the cost of living

3

The stock market is about to suffer a 'snapback' and will lose much of this year's gains as 'speculation is hitting extreme levels,' BofA warns

1

Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary says if he were 25 today, he'd chase these two booming opportunities in the world of AI

2

Even as Elon Musk calls philanthropy ‘very hard,’ everyday Americans gave a record $617 billion—despite feeling the squeeze over the cost of living

3

The stock market is about to suffer a 'snapback' and will lose much of this year's gains as 'speculation is hitting extreme levels,' BofA warns
LeadershipMillennials

Why Millennials Don’t Like Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton

By
Jack Cahn
Jack Cahn
and
David Cahn
David Cahn
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Jack Cahn
Jack Cahn
and
David Cahn
David Cahn
Down Arrow Button Icon
August 21, 2016, 5:00 PM ET
US-VOTE-REPUBLICANS-TRUMP-PROTEST
Shayna Cureton looks at the camera while sitting in an interlocked chain of people blocking a street during a protest outside the Hyatt Regency Hotel where US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was speaking in Burlingame, California on April 29, 2016. Hundreds of protesters jostled with police in riot gear outside a California hotel where Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump was to give a speech, forcing the candidate to duck into a back entrance. / AFP / Josh Edelson (Photo credit should read JOSH EDELSON/AFP/Getty Images)Photography by JOSH EDELSON AFP/Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Millennials voted for Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio and Bernie Sanders in the primaries. But they got Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton instead as their candidates.

To be sure, voters overall aren’t happy with our choices for president. Polls show that 37% of registered voters have strongly unfavorable views of Clinton, and more than 50% have strongly unfavorable views of Trump. But the difference is Millennials, as a group, didn’t vote for Trump or Clinton.

Millennials gave Clinton less than 30% of their votes in key primaries and nearly precipitated her defeat nationwide. Trump won 20%-30% of millennial voters in key GOP primaries, generally behind both Cruz and Rubio. Young voters have already delivered both candidates an unambiguous rebuke.

See also: The Green Party’s Open Letter to Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump

The fallout from Clinton and Trump’s nominations has been significant. Polling data shows only 20% of young people say they will vote for Trump, and 25% of young Republicans say they will vote for Clinton in November, according to USA Today. And, recent anecdotal reports suggest that some young voters are even disaffiliating with the Republican Party.

Grassroots organizing, usually bolstered by young volunteers, is in shambles. Recently dozens of young RNC staffers left in protest of the Trump candidacy. Now, the GOP risks losing not just the White House but also the House and Senate.

See also: Donald Trump’s Immigration Reform May Be Less Severe Than We Thought

For many young conservatives, Trump’s values are a deal breaker. Whereas millennials tend to identify as optimistic, tolerant of diversity and authentic, Trump vilifies undocumented immigrants, has threatened to ban Muslims from immigrating to the United States, and frequently taunts women. Trump’s flagrant insults and racism directed toward minority groups makes him an anathema to young voters.

“I didn’t want to be associated with the Trump campaign,” one former RNC staffer, who asked to remain anonymous, told Politico. “I don’t agree with what he has to say … He’s not a person I feel comfortable working for. It’s just that simple.”

See also: Report: Hillary Clinton Says Colin Powell Told Her to Use Personal Email

For Democrats, who traditionally rely on young voters as a core part of their coalition, the picture isn’t much prettier. As recently as late June, just 55% of Sanders voters said they would vote for Clinton; recent polling data shows just 41% of young voters are supporting Clinton.

The big fear for Democrats is not that millennial voters will support Trump – as Clinton widens her lead, this is increasingly unlikely – but that not enough millennials will show up in November.

 

Historically, young voters are less likely to turn out than their parents. There are a number of reasons for this: 1) Having never voted before, the default setting for many young people is not to vote, 2) Young voters are busy with school, starting families and with their first jobs. Politics (and taxes) are not yet a priority and 3) Politicians are less likely to campaign to millennials or address their issues, creating a negative feedback loop that discourages political participation.

Voter turnout among millennials may yet determine the outcome of this presidential election. In 2008 and in 2012, millennial voters delivered President Obama his margin of victory. Had Mitt Romney won just 50% of the millennial vote in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Florida, he would be president today. Likewise, in 2014 higher than expected turnout among millennial voters helped the GOP win its Senate majority.

See also: Read Kanye West’s Poem About McDonald’s

Hillary Clinton recently launched a Millennial Engagement Program to address this issue. The team will set out with the explicit goal of encouraging young people to get the polls. Clinton’s staffers will leverage Obama and Sanders’ endorsements to rile up young voters. They will likely also highlight Clinton’s support for debt free college education and gun control, which are both critical issues for young voters.

At the end of the day, the success or failure of this approach will lie in Clinton’s ability to build a grassroots army. Thus far, the results are lackluster; Team Hillary lacks the gleam or enthusiasm of Obama and Sanders. For Clinton, never a darling of young voters, this is an uphill battle. Rather than give up or shift her focus elsewhere, Clinton needs to double down on this effort. It will make or break her campaign.

See also: Donald Trump Focuses on America’s Safety in First TV Ad

For Trump, the priority now needs to be on controlling the bleeding. Young voters consistently rank the economy as their #1 priority. And most voters (including millennials) believe Trump is the best candidate to improve our economy, according to Gallop. If the Trump campaign can focus on this message – instead of racism, immigration, and “Obama created ISIS” – he can shore up millennial support. To this end, Trump should leverage his children – especially Ivanka, whose charismatic RNC address stole the show – when campaigning to millennials.

Bottom line: The outcome of this election hinges on the candidates’ ability to get young voters to polls. Uninspiring candidates make voter turnout all the more vital – and difficult to predict.

David Cahn and Jack Cahn are twin brothers, undergraduates at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and co-authors of When Millennials Rule: The Reshaping of America (Post Hill Press, August 2016).

About the Authors
By Jack Cahn
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
By David Cahn
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Leadership

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Leadership

e
CommentaryCorporate Governance
SpaceX’s supervoting shares put a decades-old governance debate back in play
By Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and Steven TianJuly 6, 2026
7 hours ago
Exclusive: Xbox’s CEO on 3,200 layoffs, four studios cut, and her blunt warning that ‘we spread ourselves too thin’
Big TechMicrosoft
Exclusive: Xbox’s CEO on 3,200 layoffs, four studios cut, and her blunt warning that ‘we spread ourselves too thin’
By Sebastian HerreraJuly 6, 2026
8 hours ago
‘Our business today is not healthy’: 1,600 Xbox employees among the 4,800 laid off by Microsoft as it looks to ‘reset’ gaming division
Big TechMicrosoft
‘Our business today is not healthy’: 1,600 Xbox employees among the 4,800 laid off by Microsoft as it looks to ‘reset’ gaming division
By The Associated PressJuly 6, 2026
9 hours ago
Indra Nooyi sitting in a chair behind a red background.
SuccessCareers
Ex-PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi worked from midnight until 5 a.m. as a receptionist to pay for her Yale degree—and she says ‘respect went up’ because of it
By Preston ForeJuly 6, 2026
9 hours ago
Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban
SuccessWealth
Billionaire Mark Cuban says it’s ‘embarrassing’ to not pay employees well—and a $20 minimum wage should be standard
By Emma BurleighJuly 6, 2026
9 hours ago
A businesswoman uses a smartphone in modern conference room.
NewslettersFortune Workplace Innovation
The tech attention crisis has hit the workplace. One company thinks AI is the cure
By Kristin StollerJuly 6, 2026
12 hours ago

Most Popular

Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary says if he were 25 today, he'd chase these two booming opportunities in the world of AI
AI
Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary says if he were 25 today, he'd chase these two booming opportunities in the world of AI
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezJuly 5, 2026
1 day ago
Even as Elon Musk calls philanthropy ‘very hard,’ everyday Americans gave a record $617 billion—despite feeling the squeeze over the cost of living
Success
Even as Elon Musk calls philanthropy ‘very hard,’ everyday Americans gave a record $617 billion—despite feeling the squeeze over the cost of living
By Preston ForeJuly 4, 2026
3 days ago
The stock market is about to suffer a 'snapback' and will lose much of this year's gains as 'speculation is hitting extreme levels,' BofA warns
Investing
The stock market is about to suffer a 'snapback' and will lose much of this year's gains as 'speculation is hitting extreme levels,' BofA warns
By Jason MaJuly 5, 2026
1 day ago
Egg companies made $1.22 billion in profit off a $6 carton — now they’re buying their way out of a price-fixing case with 53 million donated eggs
Law
Egg companies made $1.22 billion in profit off a $6 carton — now they’re buying their way out of a price-fixing case with 53 million donated eggs
By Wyatte Grantham-Philips and The Associated PressJuly 2, 2026
4 days ago
Gen Z was 'jaded about employment before we ever entered the workforce'—now psychologists say the stare has hardened into something worse
Economy
Gen Z was 'jaded about employment before we ever entered the workforce'—now psychologists say the stare has hardened into something worse
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 6, 2026
18 hours ago
Meet the Zillennials: The luckiest micro-generation in the workforce, born between 1993 and 1998
AI
Meet the Zillennials: The luckiest micro-generation in the workforce, born between 1993 and 1998
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 3, 2026
4 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.