Everyone knows millennials and Gen Z as the young, internet-native faces of American society. But the stereotype of millennials as the part-time barista working at the local coffee shop is out of date: Millennials are now 30 to 45 years old, and the oldest Gen Zers are turning 30. These Americans are far more likely to be your knee surgeon today than they are your barista. For decades, American politics has run on a binary that Baby Boomers built growing up amid the Cold War: communism versus capitalism, Team Red versus Team Blue. That framework fit a world with two clear sides. It fits a lot less neatly in 2026, when the free market and the internet age have handed us more choice than ever, from streaming platforms to ketchup brands. Except when it comes to politics. If there's anything we should know about millennials and Gen Z, it is that they hate being neatly fit into a box. This explains why people nowadays display significantly less brand loyalty than before when looking at consumer habits and trends. And this also explains why millennials and Gen Z identify as political independents at far higher rates than older Americans. Data conducted by Gallup in January discovered that the majority of both Gen Z (56 percent) and millennials (54 percent) identify as political independents. This trend is likely to continue. Millennials and Gen Z combined already make up the largest voting bloc of the U.S. electorate. By 2028, Gen Z and millennials are projected to make up more than half of the electorate, and they will continue to dominate American politics for the next 20 years. This demographic has experienced nothing but political gridlock, a failing immigration system and a national debt that continues to spiral out of control. Put simply, these voters have seen nothing but ineffective governance in Washington and are ready for something different. This year's election marks the first time where we're seeing serious, viable independent candidates emerge to meet this growing demand driven by younger voters. In fact, this year is seeing one of the largest surges of independent candidates in recent memory, with dozens of candidates vying for public office across the country. They offer genuine, nonpartisan, commonsense solutions that these voters are yearning for. Millennials and Gen Z are not the future of American politics. They are the present. And this also means that independents are now a major, indisputable force that decides elections and shapes policy. From comprehensive immigration policy that secures our borders to AI/tech guardrails for children, there's real potential for meaningful change that this demographic shift can usher in. On immigration, younger voters reject the false choice between a wall and blanket amnesty; they want enforcement that actually works paired with legal pathways that exist, not a standoff that's been stuck in place for 30 years. On AI and kids' online safety, they're equally unimpressed by regulate-everything and regulate-nothing. Having grown up as the first generations raised inside these platforms, they want guardrails that protect children without strangling the innovation that built the tools they use every day. We should be encouraged that these generations are already thinking about one of the biggest of problems facing our country: Social Security insolvency. Writing for Fortune in August, Nick Lichtenberg noted that baby boomers are collecting 265 percent of what they paid into Social Security while millennials pick up the tab. Sixty-nine percent of Gen Z and 71 percent of millennials worry the program will run out before they ever see a dime. Neither party has offered a credible fix; both sides seem intent on kicking the can down the road. Independent millennials and Gen Z Americans know that this can is going to eventually hit a wall, and they’ll be left to pick up the mess. You already see Sens. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) backing legislation to raise taxes instead of planning for lasting reform. Millennials and Gen Z can back a solvency plan that is judged on whether it actually works for the generations footing the bill, not based on which party flinches first. Social Security's looming insolvency is just one of these major policy areas where millennials and Gen Z will lead. And consider the possibilities that independents represent because they're not bound by either party's outdated ideologies. Remember, independents are not merely a trend driven by the historical unpopularity of the two parties. It's a new era ushered in by the political maturation of the millennial and Gen Z generations. The future is here, indeed. Adam Brandon served as the president of FreedomWorks for more than a decade. Currently he is senior adviser at the Independent Center and author of "The Exhausted Majority: Building a Home for the Politically Homeless."

Everyone knows millennials and Gen Z as the young, internet-native faces of American society. But the stereotype of millennials as the part-time barista working at the local coffee shop is out of date: Millennials are now 30 to 45 years old, and the oldest Gen Zers are turning 30. These Americans are far more likely to be your knee surgeon today than they are your barista. For decades, American politics has run on a binary that Baby Boomers built growing up amid the Cold War: communism versus capitalism, Team Red versus Team Blue. That framework fit a world with two clear sides. It fits a lot less neatly in 2026, when the free market and the internet age have handed us more choice than ever, from streaming platforms to ketchup brands. Except when it comes to politics. If there's anything we should know about millennials and Gen Z, it is that they hate being neatly fit into a box. This explains why people nowadays display significantly less brand loyalty than before when looking at consumer habits and trends. And this also explains why millennials and Gen Z identify as political independents at far higher rates than older Americans. Data conducted by Gallup in January discovered that the majority of both Gen Z (56 percent) and millennials (54 percent) identify as political independents. This trend is likely to continue. Millennials and Gen Z combined already make up the largest voting bloc of the U.S. electorate. By 2028, Gen Z and millennials are projected to make up more than half of the electorate, and they will continue to dominate American politics for the next 20 years. This demographic has experienced nothing but political gridlock, a failing immigration system and a national debt that continues to spiral out of control. Put simply, these voters have seen nothing but ineffective governance in Washington and are ready for something different. This year's election marks the first time where we're seeing serious, viable independent candidates emerge to meet this growing demand driven by younger voters. In fact, this year is seeing one of the largest surges of independent candidates in recent memory, with dozens of candidates vying for public office across the country. They offer genuine, nonpartisan, commonsense solutions that these voters are yearning for. Millennials and Gen Z are not the future of American politics. They are the present. And this also means that independents are now a major, indisputable force that decides elections and shapes policy. From comprehensive immigration policy that secures our borders to AI/tech guardrails for children, there's real potential for meaningful change that this demographic shift can usher in. On immigration, younger voters reject the false choice between a wall and blanket amnesty; they want enforcement that actually works paired with legal pathways that exist, not a standoff that's been stuck in place for 30 years. On AI and kids' online safety, they're equally unimpressed by regulate-everything and regulate-nothing. Having grown up as the first generations raised inside these platforms, they want guardrails that protect children without strangling the innovation that built the tools they use every day. We should be encouraged that these generations are already thinking about one of the biggest of problems facing our country: Social Security insolvency. Writing for Fortune in August, Nick Lichtenberg noted that baby boomers are collecting 265 percent of what they paid into Social Security while millennials pick up the tab. Sixty-nine percent of Gen Z and 71 percent of millennials worry the program will run out before they ever see a dime. Neither party has offered a credible fix; both sides seem intent on kicking the can down the road. Independent millennials and Gen Z Americans know that this can is going to eventually hit a wall, and they’ll be left to pick up the mess. You already see Sens. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) backing legislation to raise taxes instead of planning for lasting reform. Millennials and Gen Z can back a solvency plan that is judged on whether it actually works for the generations footing the bill, not based on which party flinches first. Social Security's looming insolvency is just one of these major policy areas where millennials and Gen Z will lead. And consider the possibilities that independents represent because they're not bound by either party's outdated ideologies. Remember, independents are not merely a trend driven by the historical unpopularity of the two parties. It's a new era ushered in by the political maturation of the millennial and Gen Z generations. The future is here, indeed. Adam Brandon served as the president of FreedomWorks for more than a decade. Currently he is senior adviser at the Independent Center and author of "The Exhausted Majority: Building a Home for the Politically Homeless."

Everyone knows millennials and Gen Z as the young, internet-native faces of American society. But the stereotype of millennials as the part-time barista working at the local coffee shop is out of date: Millennials are now 30 to 45 years old, and the oldest Gen Zers are turning 30. These Americans are far more likely to be your knee surgeon today than they are your barista. For decades, American politics has run on a binary that Baby Boomers built growing up amid the Cold War: communism versus capitalism, Team Red versus Team Blue. That framework fit a world with two clear sides. It fits a lot less neatly in 2026, when the free market and the internet age have handed us more choice than ever, from streaming platforms to ketchup brands. Except when it comes to politics. If there's anything we should know about millennials and Gen Z, it is that they hate being neatly fit into a box. This explains why people nowadays display significantly less brand loyalty than before when looking at consumer habits and trends. And this also explains why millennials and Gen Z identify as political independents at far higher rates than older Americans. Data conducted by Gallup in January discovered that the majority of both Gen Z (56 percent) and millennials (54 percent) identify as political independents. This trend is likely to continue. Millennials and Gen Z combined already make up the largest voting bloc of the U.S. electorate. By 2028, Gen Z and millennials are projected to make up more than half of the electorate, and they will continue to dominate American politics for the next 20 years. This demographic has experienced nothing but political gridlock, a failing immigration system and a national debt that continues to spiral out of control. Put simply, these voters have seen nothing but ineffective governance in Washington and are ready for something different. This year's election marks the first time where we're seeing serious, viable independent candidates emerge to meet this growing demand driven by younger voters. In fact, this year is seeing one of the largest surges of independent candidates in recent memory, with dozens of candidates vying for public office across the country. They offer genuine, nonpartisan, commonsense solutions that these voters are yearning for. Millennials and Gen Z are not the future of American politics. They are the present. And this also means that independents are now a major, indisputable force that decides elections and shapes policy. From comprehensive immigration policy that secures our borders to AI/tech guardrails for children, there's real potential for meaningful change that this demographic shift can usher in. On immigration, younger voters reject the false choice between a wall and blanket amnesty; they want enforcement that actually works paired with legal pathways that exist, not a standoff that's been stuck in place for 30 years. On AI and kids' online safety, they're equally unimpressed by regulate-everything and regulate-nothing. Having grown up as the first generations raised inside these platforms, they want guardrails that protect children without strangling the innovation that built the tools they use every day. We should be encouraged that these generations are already thinking about one of the biggest of problems facing our country: Social Security insolvency. Writing for Fortune in August, Nick Lichtenberg noted that baby boomers are collecting 265 percent of what they paid into Social Security while millennials pick up the tab. Sixty-nine percent of Gen Z and 71 percent of millennials worry the program will run out before they ever see a dime. Neither party has offered a credible fix; both sides seem intent on kicking the can down the road. Independent millennials and Gen Z Americans know that this can is going to eventually hit a wall, and they’ll be left to pick up the mess. You already see Sens. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) backing legislation to raise taxes instead of planning for lasting reform. Millennials and Gen Z can back a solvency plan that is judged on whether it actually works for the generations footing the bill, not based on which party flinches first. Social Security's looming insolvency is just one of these major policy areas where millennials and Gen Z will lead. And consider the possibilities that independents represent because they're not bound by either party's outdated ideologies. Remember, independents are not merely a trend driven by the historical unpopularity of the two parties. It's a new era ushered in by the political maturation of the millennial and Gen Z generations. The future is here, indeed. Adam Brandon served as the president of FreedomWorks for more than a decade. Currently he is senior adviser at the Independent Center and author of "The Exhausted Majority: Building a Home for the Politically Homeless."