New Era Colorado, the most effective youth organizing nonprofit in the state, and its associated political entities completed successful electoral and Get Out the Vote (GOTV) programs to turn out young voters (18-34 years old) in targeted areas for the 2024 general election. Colorado bucked national youth voter trends with turnout levels on par with historic 2020 levels and once again demonstrated its position as a national leader in youth political power. Colorado’s young voters turned out at 69 percent, 27 points higher than the national average for youth turnout estimated at 42-44 percent. Colorado’s young voters supported Harris by a 25-point margin despite the fact that young voters’ support for the Democratic candidate dropped significantly nationally, with Harris leading Trump by only 6 points compared to Biden’s 25-point lead in 2020. Colorado youth voter turnout was essential in maintaining the state’s leftward trajectory despite national rightward trends.
New Era’s tactics were critical in turning out the organization’s base of young members at 86 percent, 17 points ahead of statewide youth turnout; Colorado young voters identifying as Black, Indigenous, and people of color notably turned out at 54 percent, high above national turnout levels. In total, the organization reached over 1 million young voters through tactics, including 56,658 doors knocked, 1,860,337 calls, 98,185 texts, 290,790 mailers, and 2,374 voters delivered to the polls across eight college campuses. New Era saw 52,073 views on its digital bilingual Voter Guide and engaged over 490,000 young people through social media, Google SEO, YouTube, Spotify, City Cast Denver, and Hulu.
Young voters were also critical in passing Amendment 79 to cement abortion rights in the Colorado constitution, reasserting shared values around autonomy and control over our own lives and our own futures, as well as Amendment J to protect the right to marriage for all Coloradans. According to exit poll data, young voters overwhelmingly supported Amendment 79, with 69 percent of voters ages 18-44 voting in favor. Despite national gender gaps among young voters, young women (77 percent) and young men (62 percent) both voted strongly in favor.
Individually, each program focused on:
- New Era Colorado Foundation (c3) prioritized GOTV education with young Black, Indigenous, and voters of color in our organizing regions (Denver/Aurora, Boulder, southern Colorado, northern Colorado, and western Colorado) and Congressional Districts 3 and 8 to make plans to vote. The foundation reached hundreds of thousands of young voters through mailers, phone calls, texts, and digital advertisements.
- New Era Colorado Action Fund (New Era Colorado AF) (c4) organized universes of young voters across the state to vote in alignment with our nine endorsed statewide ballot measures, prioritizing passing Amendments 79 and J. New Era Colorado AF focused voters in the highly contested 8th and 3rd Congressional Districts. The entity reached hundreds of thousands of young voters across the state through canvassing, phone banks, text banks, campus tables, walkovers to the polls, and Voter Guide promotions.
- New Era Colorado Small Donor Committee endorsed and contributed to the campaigns of three candidates: Representative Stephanie Vigil in House District 16, Katie Stewart in House District 59, and Yara Zokaie in House District 52, who was endorsed in the 2024 primary election cycle.
- Young People for All People independent expenditure expanded upon New Era Colorado AF’s electoral outreach work that started in the 2024 primaries by organizing and mobilizing young voters in key state and local races to elect Youth Agenda Champions, pass progressive ballot measures, and defeat ballot measures that harm young people’s priorities. In total, the independent expenditure reached tens of thousands of young voters in House District 16 and House District 59 through canvassing, mailers, phone banks, texts, campus tables, and digital promotions.
“In 2024, New Era Colorado ran its most impactful cross-entity electoral program yet. We saw proof of our philosophy that when young people are educated and empowered, we can change elections,” said Christina Soliz, deputy director at New Era Colorado AF and registered agent for Young People for All People independent expenditure. “We’re not surprised to see young people vote for our values of freedom and equitable access to health care and for our vision for a more anti-racist world. The results of our turnout program on Amendment 79 and House District 59 are a proclamation to decision-makers: Young people are a force to be reckoned with. Record youth turnout in these races shows that a third of the electorate will continue to back candidates who do the work to advance our issues in Colorado.”
New Era Colorado was critical in turning young people out to vote in support of every Coloradan’s right to access reproductive care and the successful passage of Amendment 79. “We are proud to say that New Era Colorado was essential in mobilizing young voters, who again proved that we will show up time and time again to protect abortion rights,” said Nicole Hensel, executive director of New Era Colorado AF and executive committee member of Coloradans for Protecting Reproductive Freedom. “Young people are issue-motivated voters, and abortion consistently remains one of the top issues we hear from young people on campuses, at the legislature, and during election season. Amendment 79’s success is another sign of young voters’ commitment to creating a reproductive health care landscape that is rooted in accessibility and affordability instead of politicians’ unwanted opinions on what’s best for an individual’s health, life, and future. Passing Amendment 79 is a huge step towards creating the world young people dream of: one where we’re free to make decisions that work for our lives and shared values of liberation.”
New Era Colorado AF’s endorsement program, the first endorsement program run since 2012, is poised to send at least two Youth Agenda Champions, Katie Stewart (House District 59) and Yara Zokaie (House District 52), to the state legislature as we await final tallies for Stephanie Vigil in House District 16.
“The support of young people across southwestern Colorado and the New Era Colorado Action Fund was critical to my race. From my first conversations with the New Era AF Small Donor Committee team, it was clear that we’re aligned on the top issues facing young voters in House District 59 and ideal partners for lowering the costs of living, from housing to health care, and protecting the freedom to access reproductive care. At the legislature and in the community, I look forward to our continued relationship to drive progress on Youth Agenda policies.” Katie Stewart, Representative-elect of Colorado House District 59.
“To every young person who supported my race in support of creating a more just, affordable housing system and reproductive care landscape: thank you. Thank you to New Era Colorado for recognizing my proven record asserting renters’ rights, fighting for fair wages, and protecting our reproductive freedoms. I hope to continue the work to fight for HD16 on Jan. 8,” said Rep. Stephanie Vigil, Representative of Colorado House District 16.
Since its founding, New Era Colorado has registered over 250,000 young people to vote and consistently turned out our base at one of the highest rates in the country. Young people are one of the largest voting blocs in Colorado and represent one-third of the electorate. The organization consistently turns out our base of young people at double-digit points above the state average: in 2022, our base of young people turned out at 60 percent, 21 points higher than the state average; in 2020, New Era’s base turned out at 86 percent, 15 points higher than the state average of 71 percent.
With federal election results final, state and local politics remain critical levers for driving progressive change in our country. We are proud that Colorado remains a beacon of hope for Youth Agenda priorities and champions who are willing to put in the work to invest in young people’s futures. New Era Colorado prides itself on being a political home for young people, especially those who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color, during these uncertain times. Now, more than ever, young people will lead us into the future where we demand our rights are protected, our freedoms are secured, and we all have what we need to thrive.
After some much-needed rest, the organization’s staff will continue preparation for Colorado’s 2025 legislative session, 2025 local elections, and the 2026 midterm elections. New Era Colorado and its entities plan to focus on electing Youth Agenda champions to city council and mayoral offices across the state and securing the future young people deserve by advocating for a fair tax code. We will fight on until young people’s vision for our future is realized.
About New Era Colorado Action Fund: New Era Colorado Action Fund is a 501(4) nonprofit organization that organizes young people to win on the Youth Agenda through elections and policy to ensure that elected officials are held accountable to the Youth Agenda before and after elections.
Young People For All People expands upon New Era Colorado Action Fund’s electoral outreach work by organizing and mobilizing young voters in key state and local races to elect Youth Agenda Champions, passing progressive ballot measures, and defeating ballot measures that harm young people’s priorities.
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