Millennials are poised to claim the midterm elections
Ready to feel empowered? Next month could kick-off an era of Millennial political dominance. People born between 1980 and 2000 make up the largest generation in American history, and now that most of us can vote, we could prove pivotal to this yearâs midterm elections.
Midterms are often unfairly written off as inconsequential placeholders that dot the years between presidential contests. But thereâs a bunch at stake this year.
Get this
We Millennials number 80 million in the USâand only slightly more Americans (82.5 million) voted in the 2010 midterms.
Shaking up Congress
As you read this, 468 members of the US Congress are running for re-election, each hoping that young voters will boost them like they boosted now-President Obama in 2008.
Republicans think they can take control of the Senate by capitalizing on Obamaâs low popularity. Democrats are hopeful that an improving economyâand a Supreme Court decision that threatens employee access to some forms of birth controlâwill convince voters to put them back in charge of the House of Representatives.
College costs & environment
Thirty-eight states and territories will elect governorsâwho play a pivotal role in environmental protections and college affordability.
Minimum wage & marijuana
In a handful of states, including Massachusetts, voters will choose whether to raise the minimum wage. Citizens in Florida and three other states will vote on proposals to loosen restrictions on marijuana, Ballotpedia reports.
Students pushing for change
In New York City, students have joined parents and teachers to protest the Common Core education standards. In North Carolina, students established the #DebtFreeUNC campaign for fairer student loan terms. They delivered more than 18,000 red squaresâeach representing a University of North Carolina graduate with loan debtâto the governor and to a leading candidate for the US Senate, The Nation reported.