Former Obama strategist Joel Benenson on Wednesday said that the emergence of secular, young people in politics is frightening to Republicans and conservatives.

"These generations are more diverse. They are more tolerant of others. They come to the table with a set of values that are not rooted in a religious foundation in their household," Benenson said to Hill.TV's Joe Concha on "What America's Thinking."

"They are closer to liberation theology than they are to white, evangelical philosophy. But their approach to life is to be accepting of others," he continued.

He said the younger generation of voters "drove the discussion" in their households.

"They're the generation that drove the discussion in their households frequently about marriage equality, which ultimately had a majority of Americans, including a fair number of white, Christians supporting it," Benenson said. "So you've got a generational change taking place. This isn't just a religious change, and I think that generational change is part of what's scaring Republican practitioners."

Benenson's comments come ahead of November's midterms, in which Republicans and Democrats are battling to gain millennial support.

While President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE has enjoyed widespread support among white and evangelical voters, millennials appear to be pushing back against him ahead of the midterms.

An NBC News/Gen Forward survey released last month found that 42 percent of millennials said their midterm vote will be in opposition to President Trump.

— Julia Manchester