Xer leaders also tilt Republican because their generation as a whole has tended to vote Republican over the course of their lives—certainly more than first-wave Millennials or Boomers. This voting preference has no doubt been shaped by their location in history. Ever since they grew up as latchkey kids in the ‘70s and came of age under Reagan in the ‘80s, Xers (first-wavers, especially) have prided themselves on their pragmatism, survivalism, and skepticism of big institutions—traits that align better with the GOP than the Democratic Party.New York Times columnist David Brooks suggests that the Republican tilt of Gen-X leaders may be further accentuated by their strong connection to conservative cornerstones like churches, small businesses, and the military.