CPAC 2013: Millennial Voters Dominate Event

CPAC has wrapped and the numbers are in: the “establishment” has no choice but to listen to millennials.

If you listen to the articles written on PolicyMic and other venues, you’re left with the perception that CPAC was filled with a bunch of “old white men.” Unfortunately, CPAC straw poll data doesn't support the “old white men” claim for the 2013 CPAC gathering:

Attendance

-Attendance was down for the second year in a row with only 2930 participants.

-44% of the participants were non-student individuals

-41% were students

-The remaining attendees were either with a Participating CPAC organization or an organization associated with a CPAC affiliated organization

Demographics

-2% of the participants were under the age of 18

-52% were between the ages of 18 and 25

-20% were between the ages of 26 and 40

-13% were between the ages of 41 and 55

-The remaining 12% were over 55

Sex

-66% of the participants were male

-Ladies, I expect your numbers to grow next year

Job approval ratings

-96% of the participants disapprove of Obama’s job performance (up 17% from the previous year)

-54% approve of the job Republicans in Congress (up 6% from the previous year)

Deficit Reduction

-72% of the participants stated their preferred method to cut the deficit was through cuts

-Only 16% support a combination of cuts and tax increases

-1% thought tax increases only is the way to solve our deficit woes

-The remaining 11% stated other, refused to answer, or didn’t know

Sequestration

-Only 23% of the participants thought the Sequester should be managed with the arbitrary automatic across the board cuts to military and domestic programs

-68% felt spending cuts should be targeted

-Only 2% felt the America should not be cutting any spending

Drones

-86% were opposed to the use of drones to kill American citizens

-70% were opposed to the use of drones to spy on fellow Americans

Straw Poll

-Rand Paul won the straw poll with 25% of the vote

-Marco Rubio came in at 23%

-Rick Santorum managed 8% of the vote

-Chris Christie earned 7% of the vote

-14% said someone else should get the nod

Personal Core Beliefs

-77% stated their most important goal is to promote individual freedom by reducing the size and scope of government and its intrusion into the lives of its citizens

-Only 15% felt their most important goal was to promote traditional values by protecting traditional marriage and protecting the life of the unborn

-Only 8% felt their most important goal is to secure and guarantee American safety at home and abroad regardless of the side or cost of government. 

Congrats to the GOP: You alienated a large portion of your base and are left with no choice but to listen to your adult children. On the plus side, the left now has some serious competition.