Everyone knows by now that Republicans have a major demographic problem: The party is struggling to attract nonwhite voters even as that segment of the electorate keeps growing.

But a new study by the Pew Research Center on millennials — defined as those between the ages of 18 and 33 — suggests that Republicans will have another major demographic issue on their hands in future elections: Young people are more liberal and are more inclined to support Democrats than the generations that have come before them.

The findings suggest that millennials’ attraction to Democratic and liberal policies extends beyond the candidacy (and presidency) of Barack Obama.

Obama’s 34-point victory among 18-to-29-year-olds in 2008, and his 24-point margin four years later, showed that he had an ability unique among politicians — Democrats or Republicans — to motivate and unite an age group that has been the perennial sleeping giant of American politics. But Republicans have held out hope that without a historic figure like Obama leading the ticket, millennials will be back in play in 2016 and beyond.

Read Full Article Here