For Immediate Release: November 4, 2026
Contact: Manuel Madrid, media@fwdshift.com
In a demonstration of strength and momentum, hundreds of thousands of young Floridians took to the polls to reshape the electorate and demand change.
ORLANDO, FL — Following Florida’s November 3 elections, which saw historic midterm turnout among young voters, a diverse coalition of nine youth organizing groups led by Engage Florida Civic Fund, Florida Student Power Network, genCLEO, Hope CommUnity Center, People Power for Florida, PRISM FL, SEE AllianceSeeds of Pine Hills, and Florida Youth Action Fund released the following joint statement highlighting young Floridians’ growing electoral impact.
Building on years of organizing, the coalition focused much of its voter outreach over the past six months along the I-4 corridor between Tampa, Orlando, and Daytona Beach. During this election cycle, coalition members made 10 million+ voter contact attempts, engaged 260,000+ young Floridians, and registered nearly 5,000 students to vote. Their year-round work also supported 1,000+ young leaders, mobilized 500+ young people to the state capitol, and organized 100+ community events.
“Against all odds, young Floridians showed up in force on Election Day to make one thing clear: Florida’s culture war is dead. In its wake, young people across the Sunshine State have repolarized against the billionaires and corporate interests at the top instead of each other," said Cameron Driggers, Executive Director and Founder of Florida Youth Action Fund. “Florida has become a ground zero for resistance, led by young people, against autocratic policies meant to divide and conquer everyday people. We’re building the future we deserve, and we’re not waiting for permission from anyone else.”
“From Hillsborough to Polk to Orange and Seminole Counties, the I-4 corridor experienced an overwhelming surge of young voters demanding change. If it weren’t clear before, Florida is not a state to be counted out—and young voters are a voting bloc which can no longer be ignored,” said Juan Ardila, State Director at People Power for Florida. “This happened because of a surge in youth and low-propensity voters, who usually stay home, but showed up yesterday to make their voices heard and change the political reality in Florida.”
“Young people across Florida showed up because the places they call home: their schools, neighborhoods, and communities are worth caring and fighting for,” said Paula Muñoz Executive Director at Florida Student Power Network. “Every phone call, every door knocked, and every conversation pushes back against the idea that young people do not care to lead. And this cycle is a testament that they are already leading. When young people have the freedom to belong, learn, and build power, they do more than imagine a better future– they help create it.”
“This election cycle has shown us that young voters have never been apathetic. Building political power among Millennials and Gen Z starts with one conversation at a time. Those conversations turn into opportunities for civic education, giving young people the power to advocate for the changes they want to see in their communities from the ballot box and beyond,” said Katherine Leiva, Executive Director of Engage Florida Civic Fund. “No matter the outcome, young people are showing all of us that change is imminent and we will continue to fight for the Florida we all deserve.”
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