Despite his sterling conservative record, recent political success, and broad popularity among Republicans, things didn't go the way Ron DeSantis needed them to go in Iowa on Monday evening. The Florida governor ended up with 21 percent of the vote, overperforming the latest polling of the state, but not getting the finish required to shift the momentum, and ultimately, primaries are all about momentum.
SEE: Iowa Caucus Results
Is the race over? Technically, it's not (and will likely stretch until Super Tuesday), but I'm always going to be honest with the readers here at RedState, and I don't see a path forward at this point. Trump is going to be the nominee barring something completely unforeseen happening.
With that said, there was one thing that DeSantis got right in Iowa that's worth taking note of, and it's something Republicans should pay attention to in future cycles. Namely, while Trump overwhelmingly won voters who were 65 or older, DeSantis cleaned up with younger voters, winning them outright.
At least the kids are all right 😁 pic.twitter.com/AegW01Dd47
— Christina Pushaw 🐊 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) January 16, 2024
If you had told me DeSantis was going to win young voters going away a couple of days ago, I'd have called you crazy. I would have assumed he had much more appeal to voters in his own age bracket.
After all, I've been assured that Vivek Ramaswamy was the only candidate breaking through with young voters. Likewise, we've been told that outfits like TPUSA and pundits like Candace Owens (both pro-Trump) have established a direct line to young conservatives in a way no one else does. The numbers didn't bear that out, though, either through Ramaswamy's results or TPUSA's promotion.
Expectations were subverted, and it's worth asking why. What if Republicans had young voters all wrong? What if they don't care so much about viral videos, memes, and light shows at overpriced conventions? What if they just want strong conservative leaders who do what they say they are going to do without much fuss? Maybe assuming every young person is looking for flash over substance was a mistake.
To make a comparison, I can remember going to youth group in the late '90s during a time when almost every evangelical church was into smoke machines and loud music. I'm sure some of you had similar experiences. Yet, when I look back, was that the stuff that solidified my relationship with Christ, though? I can confidently say the answer is no.
Maybe I'm reading too much into this. Maybe this is just a blip on the radar and most young people actually do want the political equivalent of TikTok videos shoved in their faces nonstop. But what if they don't?
What I can say confidently is that what Republicans have been doing regarding young voters has been failing miserably. Maybe it's worth exploring some different strategies because it's clear that the status quo of loud noises and based lib-owning hasn't worked for the Republican Party.
