Millennials 'Most Liberal' Age Group, Young Republicans Say Immigrants Strengthen US
Millennials have been labeled the "most liberal" generation, and it could affect individuals identifying themselves as Republican.
Based on the "Political Polarization in the American Public" report by Pew Research Center, the GOP could be struggling to attract younger people. The report, which classified millennials between the ages of 18 and 33, found millennials to be the "most liberal" age group based on 10 "political values" questions concerning the government, environment, sexual orientation and other ideological issues.
With more than 10,000 Americans surveyed, 28 percent were mostly liberal with their views, and 13 percent were "consistently" liberal in their views. In comparison conservative values, 12 percent of millennials were mostly conservative, while 3 percent were "consistent." Older generations were found to be "progressively more conservative."
"The relative liberalism of Millennials translates into a greater likelihood of affiliating with or leaning toward the Democratic Party compared with those in older generations," noted Pew Research Center's Assistant Director of Research Jocelyn Kiley and Vice President of Research Michael Dimock.
Pew Research Center acknowledged 50 percent of millennials classified themselves or lean with the Democratic Party and 34 percent for the Republican Party. The "silent" generation, comprising of people ages 69-86, was identified slightly more toward Republicans than Democrats with 47 percent to 44 percent.
Among millennial conservatives, they shared less traditional conservative ideologies than older Republican generations. With 31 percent, Republican millennials had "right-of center" political values while 51 percent held mixed liberal and conservative values.
Social issues such as immigration and homosexuality were regarded to the generational split among Republicans. With a 64 percent to 30 percent margin, millennial Republicans said society should accept homosexuality, but the percentages declined among older generations such as 51 percent from Generation X and 45 percent from baby boomers.
"There is a similar generational split in the GOP over immigration: On balance, younger Republicans say immigrants strengthen our country with their hard work and talents, while older Republicans say immigrants are a burden on our country by taking our jobs, housing and health care," noted Kiley and Dimock.
Millennial Republicans were also "far less skeptical" about the government than older Republicans. With 59 percent, millennial Republicans said the government is "almost always wasteful and inefficient," which is lower than approximately 8 in 10 Republicans over age 33.
Millennial Democrats also have their differences from older Democrats. Younger Democrats were more conservative than older generational Democrats to say the government "can't afford to do much more to help the poor and needy in this country" or that "blacks who can't get ahead are responsible for their own condition."
Pew noted, "The age differences among Democrats are generally a matter of degree, not direction. Millennial Democrats are 21 points more likely than Silent Generation Democrats to say homosexuality should be accepted by society [84 percent vs. 63 percent]. And they are also more positive toward immigrants."