Generation Z has emerged as a significant demographic, both in the workforce and in politics, despite being notoriously progressive.
Republicans face the challenge of winning over young voters as they head into the 2024 presidential elections. To understand the perspective of young Republicans, Fox News' Rachel Campos-Duffy hosted a panel discussion with several Gen Z Republicans.
Isabel Brown, a Turning Point USA contributor, expressed her enthusiasm for Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign and the political changes he is bringing.
"I have so enjoyed following Vivek's campaign as he's shaking things up in the political world and look forward to seeing what might happen in my new home state of Florida," she said.
Jahmiel Jackson, a writer for "The Chicago Thinker," shared his thoughts on the importance of policy ideas to back up GOP leaders' emphasis on God and faith.
He suggested that community service graduation requirements should be tied to churches to help socialize kids and curb crime, while bringing younger generations closer to God.
"I don't think this should be just a general conversation about God. I think there should be actual policies that tie into the current problems in our country. One policy idea I'm really looking forward to someone talking about is why don't we tie community service graduation requirements to churches? Make students do some community service in their churches," he said.
Jahmarri Green, a member of "Young Americans for Freedom," stated that he supports former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, while also keeping an eye out for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is expected to announce his bid for the presidency soon.
"I've been with her [Haley] since what she's done in South Carolina, what she's done in the U.N. and, hopefully what she'll do in the future. I'm Camp Haley all for it right now," Green said.
He also praised DeSantis's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which received criticism from the left for allegedly prolonging exposure to the virus by refusing to follow widespread school or business lockdowns similar to those in other areas.
Another issue that resonates with young Republican voters is transgender ideology. Isabel Brown pointed out that gender-affirming care for minors and the push from left-wing progressives encouraging minors to receive such care under arguably consequential circumstances are at the forefront of their generation's conversations.
"We're impossibly opening all of our social media apps to find biological men speaking for women and the other way around. Children are being pushed into irreversible chemical and surgical castration before they even go through puberty. Now, 20% of our generation is identifying as LGBTQ+, so it absolutely is an issue that we're seeking real leadership on, not just to protect the innocence of those who come after us, but to help dig Gen Z out of this big question that we have really been pushed into by the radical left," she said.
The panel also discussed a recent survey that found managers find Gen Z employees "difficult" to work with, particularly because of a sense of "entitlement" and their tendency to be "easily offended."
Jahmiel Jackson believes the problem originated with TikTok, which has social influencers making huge salaries without any skills or mastery. He noted that 68% of Gen Z members are on TikTok, comparing their lives to these influencers, resulting in a vastly different reward system from that of previous generations.
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