Nevada political parties seek to sway ‘Gen Z’ amid inflation and recovery from an on-campus mass shooting

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Whether it’s the repaired windows from a recent on-campus mass shooting or inflated prices, Las Vegas college students don’t have to look far to find their motivation for voting this election cycle.

State presidential campaigns have been making efforts both online and offline targeting the youngest demographic of this year’s voting bloc, Generation Z. According to Encyclopedia Britannica the young generation this year ranges from 12 to 27 years old making up the youngest portion of the 2024 election.

At the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) both state parties have extended their resources to support student groups like the Young Democrats and the College Republicans.

UNLV College Republicans

“Harris’ far-left agenda has created a once-in-a-generation inflation crisis making everything unaffordable, including college,” Halee Dobbins, director of Nevada’s Trump campaign, wrote in a statement to 8 News Now. “Team Trump in Nevada has been on the ground engaging with young voters directly, including college campuses, festivals, marketplaces, and more, hearing directly from them on their top concerns and the reasons they are voting for President Trump this election.”

The Nevada Trump campaign pointed to videos of several UNLV students voicing support on their X account, formerly Twitter, as to the reasons college-age voters are engaging with their campaign.

“I am voting for Trump because he is ending [the] tax on tips and overtime,” Sam, a UNLV hospitality student, said in one video posted on X.

According to their social media, the College Republicans have created a few novel ways to appeal to certain interests of younger voters. One Instagram post advertising a virtual discussion time on Discord, an instant messaging social media platform, followed by a video game night.

UNLV Young Democrats

Standing not far from the shattered glass where she sheltered in place, Carolyn Salvador Avila, president of the UNLV Young Democrats, said she sees one of the major reasons she and other college-age voters support Vice President Kamala Harris.

“We were in this building when it happened, he was right there, and they walked us right past everything that happened,” Avila said. “We don’t want that brotherhood of everybody else that knows what it feels like to have to deal with a shooting on campus to continue to grow.”

Avila said although there is a push to capture potential young voters’ attention online, their organization continues to attract elected officials to visit campus and meet students face-to-face.

“We had Congressman Ro Khanna come from California to speak, not just on the importance of elections down ballot,” she said. “But also, about the importance of making sure that we’re getting Kamala Harris and Tim Walz into the White House for 2024.”

Nevada has one of the youngest electorates of any battleground state, according to Harris Campaign staff. Amahree Archie, Harris-Walz Nevada Press Secretary, cited their messaging as more hopeful in tone which appears to appeal to some contingents of “Gen Z.”

“Team Harris has been working to meet young voters where they are and offer Kamala Harris’ positive vision for our future,” Archie wrote in a statement to 8 News Now. “One where students are safe from gun violence, corporate landlords are held accountable, and our reproductive freedoms are protected.”

The UNLV Young Democrats are planning to hold a campaign event with online streamer and political commentator “Destiny” in the coming weeks. The UNLV College Republicans are planning to hold a movie night on campus Thursday night, showing Hacksaw Ridge.

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