One enduring myth is that people become more conservative as they get older. This myth persists despite research that demonstrates this conversion to conservatism is rare. The vast bulk of voters do not change voting habits from their initial introduction into voting.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2015_11/whats_up_with_millennials058774.php
The above article links to another article that says the development of poltical identity occurs within the first vote. I have seen studies that place the number at 2- 3 election cycles. Beyond tha,don't expect some come to conservatism moment because Millenials are not boomers. Boomers did not come to conservatism anyway. Many cut their teeth voting apparently for Njxon.
In other words , what you are seeing of Millenial voters right now is what you will likely see of most of them in the future - they are likely to be left leaning independents.
Even Millenial voters who favor Trump are decidedly angry at the system as it currently stands:
http://fortune.com/2016/05/27/millennials-donald-trump/
Even young Black voters supported Sanders over Clinton:
http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/huge-split-between-older-and-younger-blacks-the-democratic-primary
This is based upon research of 25 primaries.
It's not Bernie Bros that explain why Sanders did so well in the primaries . It's young women.
Let's be clear - while Sanders is clearly the Millennial voter way to let their voice be heard - it is likely that he is their instrument, not the other way around because their lurch to the independent left predates Sanders run. So anyone expecting Sanders to act as a pied piper for the party without making concessions over the policies and arguments that Millenials liked about Sanders is likely to be disappointed.
This is not to say he has not helped in creating a generation of leftist.
www.washingtonpost.com/...
http://www.gallup.com/poll/191465/millennials-sanders-dislike-election-process
It is to say that they were heading in that direction anyway if you look at polls for example aboot their views of socialism in 2014.
You may wonder why this matters ?
Because Millennials are to become the largest voting block , surpassing the boomers. If you want to understand why people keep saying Sanders is future , it's not because of who will win the primary in 2016, it's because of who is supporting him and why they support him. The two parties , in short , are in a generational downward decline. They will either change to reflect the new big tent dynamics to the left or be replaced.
Aging boomers can't save them as their influence wanes. Gen X seems split down the middle between leftists and the right. Millenials are just now coming into their own. If you want to understand the swing voter - I just gave you a glimpse.