College campuses aren’t just hubs of student life—they’re kingmakers in state politics. This week, By the Ballot breaks down how youth turnout in college towns is flipping districts, shifting legislatures, and deciding razor-thin races.
From Virginia Tech to William & Mary to JMU, the numbers are wild: youth voting is up 100–400% in key college communities—and those votes have already helped flip chambers in Virginia.
We dig into:
🔥 Why students count in redistricting even if they vote elsewhere
🔥 How campus organizing cracked open battleground districts
🔥 The blueprint any state can copy to flip seats in 2025 and beyond
And then we focus on the next big race: House District 34, home of James Madison University. I’m backing Andrew Payton, a community advocate and newly named Battleground candidate—and he can win with strong student turnout.
🎓 Support Andrew: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jmudems
College towns win elections. Let’s use them. Tune in.
