Local party leaders seeing more involvement from younger generation

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Local party leaders said they're seeing more investment and excitement in the election-- not just from the baby boomers. California's presidential primary may still be a few months away, but the Super Tuesday results are capturing the attention and alarm of younger voters across Fresno.

On campus at Fresno State, almost everyone feels like they have a personal stake in this year's election. "I know I'm definitely more invested in this election than the last," said Eric Sardenetas, Sanders supporter.

"It's probably going to be do or die if someone good doesn't get elected," said

Some students said it's because of this year's candidates. "I don't really trust her ethics or what she stands for, she kinds of flip flops," said Sardenetas.

Others said it's because of the issues. "Student debt reform, investment in transportation, technology, and equal pay for women," said Jose Verduzco, Hillary Clinton supporter.

In years past younger voters have been notoriously difficult to rally. But in 2016 local party leaders said the enthusiasm they see among millennials is unprecedented. And many of them seem to follow polarizing figures. "A lot of them support Donald Trump, a lot of them don't. But the ones that do blindly support him. So they say, 'yeah, I'm Donald Trump, he's going to get things done," said Guillermo Moreno, California GOP Associate Rep.

This is the first time 20 to 30-year-olds have outnumbered the baby boomer generation. Many tell us they hope to use that advantage. "We have a generation of millennials dealing with a different workforce, different dynamics, that a generation 50 years ago didn't deal with. We need a candidate that understands that, not someone stuck in the past," said Verduzco.

Come November 2016 millennials said they hope not only to see their candidate in the white house but to know they helped get them there.

According to the u.s. Census bureau millennials now number over 83 million. That's more than a quarter of the nation's population.