As Gen Z voters shift Georgia House seat, will Harris or Trump recognize that power in the Peach State?

Gabriel Sanchez, right, seeks signatures trying to force a referendum to decide the fate of a proposed police and firefighter training center on Thursday, July 20, 2023, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)

No matter what their politics, Gen Z voters are mobilizing in Georgia to ensure their voices are heard at the polls, according to Georgia Socialist Gabriel Sanchez.

Sanchez shifted the political landscape in the Georgia House back in May during the primary election for the House District 42 seat.

The 27-year-old emerged victorious over the more moderate, longtime state Rep. Teri Anulewicz in the Democratic primary for her Cobb County seat. That covers parts of Smyrna and Marietta.



Sanchez won with 56.8% of the votes in the May primary – compared with 43.2% for Anulewicz, with his campaign crediting much of that win to mobilizing younger Gen Z voters aged 18 to 27.

He now faces Republican Diane Jackson in this fall’s general election for the state House seat.

The young politician tells WABE’s “Morning Edition” he knows the power of Gen Z’s ability to sway elections, which translates to the national stage. Sanchez says that both former President Donald Trump and presumed Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris cannot forget that this age bracket will play an integral role in cementing a win this November.

Lily Oppenheimer contributed to this report.