Gen Z is often associated with diversity and Democrat-leaning political stances. Winning the youth vote remains a white whale since Generation Z, born between 1997 and 2012, became civically engaged. However, the 2024 presidential election results painted a loss for the Democrats, a gain for Republicans and high polarization. The ‘woke’ generation does not seem so simple or homogenous after all.
Since Kayla Blake graduated middle school in Cleveland, Ohio, politics has been a “passion.” While Black Lives Matter protests swept the United States in 2020, Blake said in an interview with Trill Mag that she realized studying injustice and how it impacted her community was important. She said that she is more progressive than her peers, but too many young people live in an “echo chamber.” The term echo chamber refers to when people who hold a political belief only consume and engage with news, media and people who reinforce and strengthen their original opinion.
“I do think the right has moved so far right that Gen Z appears to be left, and I don’t think our generation is as progressive as assumed.”
Kayla Blake 2024
Generation Z Voting Statistics
According to the Tufts Center for Information and Research on Civil Learning and Engagement, the 18 to 29 voting bloc cast their ballots at a lower turnout rate than in 2020. An AP VoteCast Survey conducted by CIRCLE found that Gen Z overall supported Vice President Kamala Harris over Donald Trump by four points. But there was division along multiple educational and cultural lines.
- Gen Z people with a high school education or less backed Trump (55% to 43%) and those with a college degree backed Harris (56% to 42%).
- Gen Z living in urban areas supported Harris (61% to 37%), those in the suburbs also supported Harris (56% to 43%) and those in rural areas supported Trump (60% to 38%)
- White youth favored Trump (54% to 44%)
- Black youth favored Harris (74% to 24%)
- Asian youth also favored Harris (72% to 23%)
- Hispanic youth favoured Harris at a slightly smaller margin (57% to 40%)
- Frustrations with the economy were one top issue that mobilised young voters. Among Gen Z who ranked the economy as their number one priority, 61% favoured Trump and 37% favoured Harris
Gen Z has come of age during the chaos of the first Trump Administration, Black Lives Matter protests, a rise in gun violence, and accelerating global warming. However, high dissatisfaction with the Democrats was seemingly overlooked by the Harris campaign.
Social Media Impact
TikTok influencer Kahil Greene, The Gen Z Historian, has 653,000 followers and regularly posts his political hot takes. In his November 11 election recap video, Greene pointed out flaws with the Harris campaign, including not having a clear and simple message for tackling the pocketbook issues. Greene added that it is important not to lose focus of Trump’s “bigoted” rhetoric.
Men’s rights influencers and podcast hosts’ content within the ‘Manosphere‘ promoted Trump’s strongman politics, and appealed to Gen Z men. A gender divide did exist among Gen Z voters this election year, according to an AP VoteCast survey from Nov. 6, 2024.
Young women supported Harris by a 17-point margin, while their male counterparts preferred Trump by a 14-point margin. Social media content may be indicative of how much Trump and the Republicans have been able to gain ground with Gen Z.
Trump going on Joe Rogan’s podcast, for example, was one way to show Gen Z men he cared about their vote while the Harris campaign may not have.
Different Issues, Different Political Leanings
Benjamin Gloppen grew up in the northern Minneapolis suburb of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Gloppen is an only child but is close with his many cousins, some of whom share his political beliefs. He said that economic segregation by zip code and a large immigrant population exists in his city. Being exposed to a diverse community shaped his worldview positively. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, one political issue Gloppen is uniquely concerned about is marriage equality being threatened.
“I worry because I feel everybody should have the right to love and marry whoever they want to love and marry.”
Benjamin Gloppen, 2024
Growing up in a conservative-leaning family, Gloppen “pushed” his opinions more to the center-left. Gloppen said that he is “a staunch globalist” and does not support Trump’s proposed tariffs on internationally traded goods, but maintains other moderate stances such as on immigration.
“I’m a Christian and those values of taking care of everyone and taking care of people push me to be a little more to the left.”
Gloppen, 2024
Despite “seeing issues” in Kamala Harris’ campaign, he preferred her over Trump. Gloppen expressed his dissatisfaction with the options of Democrat or Republican candidates even in previous times.
Ohio’s 17 electoral votes went to Trump during his 2016, 2020 and 2024 presidential runs and Minnesota’s 10 electoral votes went to Harris and Biden during their respective presidential runs. Many states have specific pockets of Democrats and a sizable Republican presence. Although, Trump ended up winning all seven battleground states and the popular vote, for the first time, this year.
Gloppen said he thinks that the turnout of Gen Z is a reflection of how polarized and fed up the United States electorate is today. He said that apathy and discouragement were a big hurdle to overcome this year for both campaigns.
“I feel like a lot of people saw Harris as a continuation of the Biden Administration and a lot of people were fed up that there was no open primary.”
Gloppen, 2024
Gen Z and the Democratic Party
Political scientist Melissa Deckman is the author of “The Politics of Gen Z: How the Youngest Voters Will Shape Our Democracy.” Deckman said in an interview with The Guardian, that the Democratic Party did not have a convincing argument for young men and even young women to vote for them. She said that after being in Office and having a partial Congressional majority since 2020, there was criticism the Democrats had not done enough. She thinks the next four years will be a crucial time to watch Gen Z voting behavior.
“When you don’t have someone willing to fight for your votes and talk about your interests, you’re less interested in voting for that party.”
Melissa Deckman, 2024
Blake claims that millions of people in the U.S. remain divided. It is crucial for a functioning democracy to continue to work together. It seems while voting this year, the Republicans didn’t have any interest in reaching across the aisle.
“It was really important to me how both parties viewed humanity. Democracy requires a level of participation and willingness to work with each other and see different opinions.”
Blake, 2024
