David Austin, a 20-year-old political activist from South Jersey, has raised nearly $18 million for his super PAC ForwardBlue, dedicated to reaching Gen Z voters. Austin believes it takes a young person to effectively communicate with young people, which is why he has focused on engaging his generation in the political process.
Austin’s passion for politics began during former President Donald Trump’s first campaign when he was just a middle school student. Since then, he has dedicated his time to volunteering for the Democratic Party, even delaying college to pursue his political activism. After working on Sen. John Fetterman’s campaign in 2022, Austin founded ForwardBlue, which has now garnered about 500,000 donors and made 3.5 million voter contacts.
ForwardBlue stands out from other Democratic groups targeting young people by not only focusing on relevant issues but also by how they deliver their message. They utilize various channels such as text messages, nontraditional digital ads, and public spaces near college campuses to engage with young voters. Austin emphasizes the importance of tailoring the message to resonate with the lived experiences of young people to avoid coming across as “cringe.”
While the group tackles a range of topics, the affordability of housing is their best-testing issue. Austin believes that young people are most concerned about being able to move out of their parents’ homes and the challenges of finding affordable housing. Despite his success, Austin continues to operate his “war room” from his mom’s house, staying focused on engaging young voters in the political process.
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