WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Young voters could be decisive in the upcoming elections and both presidential candidates are doing everything they can to increase their support for the youth.

Elaine Kamarck is a senior fellow at Brookings who researches American politics. She says that young people can be a critical voting group in the coming elections.

“Younger voters could almost certainly tilt the election in the Democratic direction,” Kamarck said.

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are each appealing to young people in their effort to make gains among key groups.

“Both campaigns are trying really hard right now to see if they can talk to younger voters and gain an edge among them,” Kamarck said.

Republican spokesperson Elizabeth Pipko says the Trump campaign is using social media to reach young people.

“Making sure the content is pushed where the young people actually are, which happens to be social media. TikTok is obviously a big one,” Pipko said.

Kevin Munoz, of the Harris campaign, says they are also investing in online strategies and trying to be innovative with their reach.

“It’s on Snapchat. We are the first campaign to ever advertise on DraftKings, we are going to podcasts and we are making sure we are on college campuses,” Munoz said.

He says they’re focusing on telling young people how VP Harris is planning for their future.

“She’s going to protect their reproductive rights, she’s going to make our communities safer from gun violence. And it will reduce costs and create opportunities for the future,” said Munoz.

While the Trump campaign emphasizes an economic challenge and claims that the current administration has failed in that area.

“Buying a house is more difficult, renting an apartment is more difficult. Obviously they provide college, groceries, rent and so many different things that young people focus on,” Pipko said.

Young voters tend to lean heavily Democratic and Kamarck says that trend is likely to continue.

“A lot of young women are running for obvious reasons: I mean, a female candidate, the abortion issue,” Kamarck said.

Munoz says Team Harris doesn’t take youth support for granted.

“Deploy every place where we can recruit voters,” Munoz said.

The Trump camp is undeterred by the Democratic advantage among young voters.

“It’s about making a dent to change the dynamic because Democrats know they need a large percentage of those voters to win and it seems like that is slipping away from them now,” Pipko said.

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