The recent election results reveal a concerning trend: Gen Z men, particularly, are increasingly right-leaning, defying the assumption that young voters are inherently progressive. While some attribute this to a susceptibility to online disinformation, it’s more likely a response to feeling marginalized and overlooked by a society they perceive as hostile towards them. The Democratic party, particularly the Harris campaign, failed to address these concerns, offering a platform that lacked concrete policies and a compelling vision for the future, ultimately failing to engage with the anxieties and aspirations of young voters. However, this doesn’t mean that Gen Z is inherently conservative; it underscores the importance of engaging with young voters on their own terms, offering solutions and a path forward that resonates with their hopes and anxieties.
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Gen Z voters, like Kate and Holly, are facing a deepening political divide with their Trump-supporting parents, a disconnect exacerbated by Trump’s re-election in 2024. While Kate’s parents transitioned from fiscal Republicans to QAnon believers, Holly’s parents, despite instilling empathy in her, now support a candidate whose rhetoric contradicts their past values. This generational gap is causing significant family rifts, leaving young people like Kate feeling isolated and fearing the loss of their entire family. The political landscape has intensified the differences between generations, leaving families struggling to bridge the chasm of conflicting ideologies.
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Despite pre-election polls suggesting Gen Z favored Kamala Harris, former President Donald Trump unexpectedly gained support among young voters, particularly men. This shift can be attributed to several factors: Trump’s efforts to connect with younger audiences through platforms like podcasts and social media, his focus on appealing to their disillusionment with traditional politics and economic hardship, and a potential tendency for younger voters to conceal their support for Trump. While Trump’s economic policies may have resonated with Gen Z’s economic anxieties, his conservative stances on issues like immigration and reproductive rights likely played a lesser role in his unexpected gains among young voters.
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Young men, particularly those in the “Gen Z” demographic, played a significant role in President-elect Donald Trump’s successful campaign. This demographic, facing economic anxieties and a growing education gap, was effectively targeted by the Trump campaign, who utilized messaging that resonated with their concerns. The campaign’s outreach to this group, coupled with a broader trend of Trump’s strong performance across multiple demographics, ultimately contributed to his electoral victory.
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The 2024 election results revealed a significant gender gap among young voters, with young men favoring Donald Trump over Kamala Harris, defying conventional wisdom about Gen Z’s progressive leanings. This trend may be attributed to the rise of right-leaning online influencers who cater to a predominantly male audience, promoting a culture of self-interest and skepticism towards institutions, sentiments echoed by Trump’s campaign. These influencers, often operating outside traditional media structures, appeal to young men who feel left behind by societal progress and find solace in a media landscape that validates their grievances. This rightward shift among young men, fueled by a backlash against social justice movements and online harassment campaigns, has led to a surge in content that reinforces traditional gender roles and a sense of male entitlement.
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Half of Gen Z voters say they lied to people close to them about whom they are voting for. It’s a shocking revelation that underscores a growing disconnect between the generation and the political landscape. It seems that many young people are hiding their true political leanings, often for fear of social repercussions or judgment.
This phenomenon is a reflection of the highly polarized political climate that has permeated American society. The divide between political ideologies has become increasingly stark, leading to a sense of shame or reluctance to express one’s beliefs openly. The rise of social media has further amplified this trend, creating echo chambers where people are more likely to encounter and engage with information that aligns with their existing views.… Continue reading
Sabrina Carpenter has surpassed all other artists in voter engagement for 2024, registering over 35,000 new voters and engaging over 263,000 through her “Short n’ Sweet” tour in partnership with HeadCount, a nonpartisan organization focused on registering young voters. Green Day’s “Saviors Tour” also set a new record for most voters engaged for a single tour, nearly doubling Ariana Grande’s previous record. HeadCount’s partnership with musicians has proven successful in engaging young voters, leveraging artists’ cultural influence to encourage fans to take control of their future. This year alone, HeadCount has registered over 450,000 new voters, over 80% of whom are Gen Z or Millennials.
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Generation Z is participating in a trend of ‘cancelling out’ the votes of family members who are voting differently in the upcoming 2024 US election, showcasing their decision through TikTok videos. Several women posted videos of themselves going to vote for the Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, intending to cancel their fathers’ or husbands’ votes for Donald Trump. The trend sees individuals documenting their journey to the polls with a piece of paper (presumably their ballot) in hand. A September poll of roughly 2,600 registered voters aged 18-29 revealed that half would vote for Harris, a third for Trump, 10% would not vote, and 6% would vote for another candidate. The 2024 election in four days’ time has already seen over 47 million votes cast.
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The infamous Access Hollywood tape of Donald Trump boasting about sexually assaulting women has resurfaced, with many Gen Z voters rediscovering it. Young people are using TikTok to react to the footage, expressing shock and encouraging others to view it. Despite the seeming desensitization of the public toward Trump’s countless scandals, Gen Z’s fresh perspective serves as a reminder of the severity of his past indiscretions. The author urges not to forget the multiple allegations against Trump, including him being found civilly liable for sexually assaulting journalist E. Jean Carroll and accused by at least 21 other women. The author concludes by highlighting the potential power of a new generation of political actors, underscoring the need for continued remembering and reckoning.
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The controversial 2005 “Access Hollywood” video of current US President Donald Trump has resurfaced on TikTok, shocking some young voters ahead of the upcoming presidential election. Some TikTok creators have been sharing clips of the video, which contains audio of Trump making lewd comments about women. At the time of its initial release in 2016, several Republican officials withdrew their support for Trump, though he went on to win the election. The video has also been cited occasionally as evidence against Trump in court cases, such as in the E. Jean Carroll defamation trial in 2019.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood