--- title: Young Republicans Want GOP to Back Off Social Issues description: Many young Republicans want the GOP to modulate its hard-line stances on gay marriage and drug legalization. canonical: https://time.com/4417781/republican-convention-young-republicans/ author: Charlotte Alter article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-07-21T23:00:58.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T04:50:26.746Z article:section: Politics og:title: Young Republicans Want the GOP to Back Off Social Issues og:description: "Back in the '90s, they made deals and stuff like that." og:url: https://time.com/4417781/republican-convention-young-republicans/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte3a5f61d769d9728/69889ec0f887dc605de96bd1/landon-nordeman-fashion-donald-trump-republican-national-convention-rnc-election-photos-06.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2560 og:image:height: 1440 og:image:alt: TIMEPOL RNC og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Young Republicans Want the GOP to Back Off Social Issues twitter:description: "Back in the '90s, they made deals and stuff like that." twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte3a5f61d769d9728/69889ec0f887dc605de96bd1/landon-nordeman-fashion-donald-trump-republican-national-convention-rnc-election-photos-06.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Young Republicans Want the GOP to Back Off Social Issues > Sponsored content. 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Brief is TIME's Washington newsletter, written by senior correspondent Philip Elliott. It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, three times a week. It reaches 85,000 subscribers with a 37.0% open rate as of August 2026. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. by [Charlotte Alter / Cleveland](https://time.com/author/charlotte-alter/) and [Julia Lull](https://time.com/author/julia-lull/) Jul 21, 2016 11:00 PM UTC  An elephant pendant is worn on the floor of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. An elephant pendant is worn on the floor of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Tuesday, July 19, 2016.Landon Nordeman for TIME by [Charlotte Alter / Cleveland](https://time.com/author/charlotte-alter/) and [Julia Lull](https://time.com/author/julia-lull/) Jul 21, 2016 11:00 PM UTC Teenage delegates shouted to be heard over “The Thong Song.” Polaroid photos and discarded snap bracelets littered the floor, and the partygoers scribbled notes with milky pens before heading to a take a selfie with a sign declaring them the “New Conservatives on the Block.” This was the “Make America Dance Again,” ’90s dance party, hosted by the College Republican National Committee, and about 200 young conservatives were there to party like it was 1999. “Back in the ’90s, they made deals and stuff like that, and they got things done,” says Austin Evans, a 21-year old guest of a delegate, of what he now thinks of as a gentler time. “We kinda got along with each other.” But weren’t Clintons in power during this golden age of pogs, Pokemon and political harmony? “Bill Clinton seemed like a fun guy,” said Tim Slocombe, 20\. His friend Michael Talaganis, 19, says the ’90s were a time when “everything \[was\] available to you.” If a ’90s nostalgia party seems out of place at a GOP convention largely devoted to vilifying Hillary Clinton, that could be because the youngest Republicans are out of step with a quickly aging GOP. According to Nick Allman, founder of the Republican National Convention Youth Caucus, fewer than 2% of the delegates at the RNC are under 30. “The current model won’t last very long demographically,” notes Slocombe, who voted for John Kasich in the primary and hasn’t quite come around on Donald Trump. “Old Christian white people are dying out.” And when they do, the party will change dramatically. Many young Republicans want the GOP to modulate its hard-line stances on social issues like gay marriage and drug legalization in order to attract younger, more diverse voters. “Those issues are far less important than some of the other things we’re dealing with, and by clinging to them, you drive away potential Republicans,” says Allman, a 23-year old student at Trinity University and delegate from San Antonio. “You gotta give it up or you’re gonna lose.” In interviews with nearly 20 young RNC delegates, alternate delegates, and guests, there was a near unanimous consensus that the party establishment needed to back off LGBT issues like traditional marriage and transgender bathroom access in order to attract more young voters. “A lot of people think that we just straight up can’t deal with any LGBTQ community members,” says David Morton, an 18-year old alternate delegate from Massachusetts. “The new generation of young Republicans, that’s not how we think.” Peter Thiel, the openly gay Silicon Valley entrepreneur who is slated to speak during primetime Thursday night, could be a read as an olive branch towards this younger, more tolerant wing of the party, as could a speech by Eric Trump Foundation vice president Lynne Trump, who used the more progressive phrase “LGBTQ.” Many also said they wanted the party to go in a more libertarian direction, which they said included relaxing on other social issues, like abortion and marijuana legalization. “I’m more in favor of less government forcing people to decide whether to get an abortion or not,” says Eric Shure, a 32-year old delegate from Florida. “We need to take a step back and look at medical marijuana in the way it can be used,” says Tanner Goldsmith, an 18-year old alternate delegate from Georgia. The vast majority of the young Republicans interviewed at the RNC said Trump had not been their first choice. Most voted for Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz or John Kasich, and some hadn’t even decided if they’d vote for the nominee. Many said they thought the candidate’s rhetoric was alienating young voters, even if they weren’t convinced Trump actually believes what he says. ### Scenes from the Republican National Convention  Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence stand with their families at the end of the Republican National Convention on July 21, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Attendees celebrate as the Republican National Convention comes to a close on July 21, 2016 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Duck Dynasty reality TV star Phil Robertson on the floor at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Thursday, July 21, 2016. Landon Nordeman for TIME  Scenes from the floor at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Thursday, July 21, 2016. Landon Nordeman for TIME  Scenes from the floor at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Thursday, July 21, 2016. Landon Nordeman for TIME  Donald Trump kisses running mate Indiana Gov. Mike Pence at the Republican National Convention on July 20, 2016, in Cleveland. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Scenes from the floor at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. Landon Nordeman for TIME  Scenes from the floor at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. Landon Nordeman for TIME  Scenes from the floor at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. Landon Nordeman for TIME  Donald Trump with his children Eric and Ivanka Trump at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, on July 20, 2016. Benjamin Lowy for TIME  A man poses at Instagram's "Mini Oval" office at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. Landon Nordeman for TIME  Donald Trump supporter Rachel Day, from Akron, stands outside the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. Landon Nordeman for TIME  Troopers monitor protests outside the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. Benjamin Lowy for TIME  Mounted police from Fort Worth, Texas monitor the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. Landon Nordeman for TIME  Attendees hold signs at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. Benjamin Lowy for TIME  New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie attends the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. Landon Nordeman for TIME  A man attends the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. Landon Nordeman for TIME  Attendees hold signs at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  A Texas delegate tallies up the votes for the Donald Trump's nomination at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. Benjamin Lowy for TIME  Donald Trump speaks at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. Landon Nordeman for TIME  Delegates cheer at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. Landon Nordeman for TIME  Comedian Eric Andre is escorted from the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. Landon Nordeman for TIME  Boxing promoter Don King attends the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. Landon Nordeman for TIME  Donald Trump Jr. speaks at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Tiffany Trump speaks at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on July 19, 2016. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  A screen displays the state flag of Mississippi, the only state that includes the Confederate battle emblem in its official state flag, at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. Christopher Morris—VII for TIME  Scenes from the floor at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Tuesday, July 19, 2016.at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Landon Nordeman for TIME  Buttons are displayed for sale outside the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. Landon Nordeman for TIME  A pair of men interact with protesters in the Cleveland Public Square at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Tuesday, July 19, 2016. Benjamin Lowy for TIME  Trevor Leis, of Lime, supports open carry at the Cleveland Public Square amidst various protests at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on July 19, 2016. Benjamin Lowy for TIME  A police officer stands on a protective crowd control line in the Cleveland Public Square at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on July 19, 2016. Benjamin Lowy for TIME  Delegates pose for a group photo at the Republican National Convention on Monday, July 18, 2016, in Cleveland. Landon Nordeman for TIME  A man dons a "Make America Great Again" hat at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Benjamin Lowy for TIME  Melania Trump kisses her husband, Donald Trump in front of an ecstatic crowd, on July 18, 2016. Ben Lowy for TIME  Scenes from the floor of the 2016 Republican National Convention on Monday, July 18, 2016, in Cleveland. Landon Nordeman for TIME  Donald Trump appears on stage at the 2016 Republican National Convention on Monday, July 18, 2016, in Cleveland. Landon Nordeman for TIME “If Trump did not have the harmful rhetoric about either Muslims or immigrants, I could 100% vote for him,” says Jorge Villarreal, a Mexican-American 19-year old at-large delegate to Texas. “But because of the things he said about those coming here illegally, like my parents who were granted amnesty under Reagan, I just can’t in good conscience vote for a President like that.” Other young Republicans also said they wished Trump would cool it a little. Michael Talaganis, a 19-year old Republican, said he thought Trump’s promises were “way too radical for us to enact.” “Trying to build a wall, trying to have Muslim immigrants have special ID cards, that’s completely unconstitutional,” he said . “The youth in the Republican party is the future of this country,” said Curtis Boucher, an 19-year old alternate delegate from Massachusetts. He has a message for the older GOP establishment: “Embrace change. It’s not going to be the same republican party that my father was a part of or my grandfather was a part of.” ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4417781/republican-convention-young-republicans/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4417781/republican-convention-young-republicans/"},"headline":"Young Republicans Want the GOP to Back Off Social Issues","datePublished":"2016-07-21T23:00:58.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T04:50:26.746Z","description":"And party like it's 1999","url":"https://time.com/4417781/republican-convention-young-republicans/","keywords":["Republican National Convention","Hillary Clinton","republicans","RNC","GOP","Bill Clinton","Donald Trump"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte3a5f61d769d9728/69889ec0f887dc605de96bd1/landon-nordeman-fashion-donald-trump-republican-national-convention-rnc-election-photos-06.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Charlotte Alter / Cleveland"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Julia Lull","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/julia-lull/"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte3a5f61d769d9728/69889ec0f887dc605de96bd1/landon-nordeman-fashion-donald-trump-republican-national-convention-rnc-election-photos-06.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"TIMEPOL RNC","caption":"An elephant pendant is worn on the floor of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Tuesday, July 19, 2016.","creditText":"Landon Nordeman for TIME","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/politics/","name":"Politics"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/republican-national-convention/","name":"Republican National Convention"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4417781/republican-convention-young-republicans/","name":"Young Republicans Want the GOP to Back Off Social Issues"}}]}] ```