It’s increasingly clear that a resurgence of patriotism has taken hold among America’s youth. Youth turnout in 2024 helped cement President Donald Trump’s victory and exposed a serious crack in Democrats’ long-held grip on young voters. Trump’s gains with this demographic didn’t just shift an election; they helped set the tone for a new golden age in America. Compare this to the 2020 election, where democratic candidate Joe Biden won the youth vote by 61%. Vice President Kamala Harris and the failed policies of their administration shrank the lead to only around 50% in 2024. As a Harvard analysis put it, “Two key issues for Gen Z voters, dissatisfaction with the economy and the way immigration is being handled, most likely influenced the drop.” For many young voters facing high costs of living and economic uncertainty, those concerns outweighed partisan social fads. The shift we saw is meaningful, but it also comes with a reality check heading into the midterm elections. Young voters simply can’t be relied on to push us over the edge in 2026. They may turn out in a presidential year when everything feels urgent, but participation drops off fast two years later. It’s important to build a winning midterm strategy around a bloc we will be able to count on. If the continued goal is winning, the GOP’s focus has to be on our most dependable voters in the midterm electorate: our seniors.