Three months ago all of the pundits, media, conservatives were talking about not a red wave but a red tsunami.
But "none of that happened,” said Navin Nayak, president of the Center for American Progress Action Fund, who moderated a panel discussion titled, “The Role of Young Americans in the 2022 Midterms," on Tuesday.
The panelists—Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost, the first GenZer to serve in Congress; Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez, president and executive director of NextGen America; and Rachael Russell, associate director, polling and analytics, Navigator Research—discussed the role young people played in the election as well as strategies to engage Americans 18 to 35 in the political process. 
“There is a pattern that has emerged in the last few elections of young people showing up, having their voices heard and shaping the direction of this country,” said Nayak.
Frost noted that his election to Congress shows that GenZ people are getting involved in the political process at a young age. He attributed that to movements over the past several years, such as March for Our Lives. As well as running for election, Frost is a musician and artist, which puts him in contact with various elements of advocacy.
NextGen is approaching its 10-year anniversary, and Ramirez said it was founded on the premise that it could take on the biggest challenges around climate change and income inequality if young people mobilize. “This third election of historic turnout has busted the myth that young people don’t care,” she said. “Young people turned out because they are trying to build a country that’s more just, more inclusive, more fair.”
Nayak noted that two-thirds of young Americans support labor unions. Ramirez, who has experience working with unions, said this is the first generation to be worse off than their parents. She said issues that have been centered in the Democratic party include climate change, racial justice and economic justice.
