Conservative activists are sounding the alarm about the growing influence of socialism and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) ideologies among young people, particularly in Gen Z.
According to CJ Pearson, a conservative activist and founder of Next250, a political action committee aimed at countering socialism and DEI among young people, Democrats are aggressively targeting "politically homeless" young people by offering them a sense of belonging.
Pearson argues that the left is successful in recruiting young voters because they are looking for a place where they feel heard and seen, and the left is offering them a sense of purpose through its ideologies.
Next250 plans to organize young conservatives, register voters in swing states, and counter support for socialism and DEI among Gen Z through digital ads and events.
The PAC aims to spend $1 million on digital ads targeting young and minority voters in Georgia, and Pearson believes that the left's aggressive approach has already backfired, citing the election of socialist and DEI candidates as a sign of their failure.
Pearson also points to the example of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has embraced the democratic socialist label and supported government-run grocery stores, rent freezes, and universal child care.
The movement gained ground when three congressional candidates endorsed by Mamdani won their Democratic primaries, but Pearson sees this as a sign of the left's failure to connect with young voters.
Pearson's own personal story is one of overcoming adversity and finding conservative values despite being a young Black man from the Deep South.
He argues that the left's policies, including DEI initiatives, have fostered a "soft bigotry of low expectations" and perpetuate assumptions about his background.
Pearson plans to build on his success organizing events for young conservatives to launch Next250, a political action committee aimed at countering support for socialism and DEI on college campuses.
The PAC will go head-to-head with the ideology embraced by younger students by rallying conservatives in deep blue areas and swing states for voter registration.
Pearson sees partnering with fraternities and sororities as a way to build a force capable of pushing back against socialism and DEI, and plans to deploy $1 million for digital ads targeting young and minority voters in Georgia.
"We're going to take this MAGA party on the road," Pearson said. "We're going to go to swing states like Georgia, Ohio, Michigan, Iowa. And we're going to throw these events and we're going to welcome young people around to them and we are going to have voter registration. We are going to get them to the polls."
Pearson believes that the left's approach to socialism and DEI has already been rejected by young voters, citing the example of former Maine Senate nominee Graham Platner, who withdrew his candidacy after a bombshell rape allegation.
"America has been on a generational run, a 250-year run that was marketed by innovation, opportunity, and truly the hallmark and the pillars of the American dream," Pearson said. "But if the left gets their way, there will not be another 250 years."
