Demographically, this group of voters bears little resemblance to President Trump’s older, whiter, more religious followers. The PRRI poll found that, “In addition to being the most racially and ethnically diverse generation in our nation’s history, Gen Z adults identify as LGBTQ at a much higher rate than older Americans. It turned out that he admitted that there was. “Like Millennials, Gen Z is less likely than older generations to belong to an established religion.”
These characteristics suggest that Gen Z prefers progressive messages that embrace diversity and oppose government imposition of religious views. In fact, “Gen Z adults (21%) are less likely to identify as Republicans than any other generation group except Millennials (21%).” 36% of Gen Z adults identify as Democrats However, their teens are more likely than older generations to be independent (51 percent).
Ideologically, “Gen Z adults are the most likely of all generations to identify as liberal, at 43%, compared to the Silent Generation (24%) and Baby Boomers (25%). ), one in four members of Gen “There is also a notable gender gap among Gen Z adults, with 47% of Gen Z women and 38% of Gen Z men identifying as liberal.” Racial disparities exist, but It’s not as big as imagined. “White Gen Z adults are more likely to identify as conservative than non-whites (32% vs. 23%). However, there is no significant difference in the racial disparity ” Percentage of people who identify as liberal. ”
and, In contrast to the MAGA movement, which gives voice to white Christian supremacists, “Gen Z adults are significantly less likely to identify as white Christians than older generations, with the exception of Millennials.” , are more likely to identify as having no religious affiliation.”
When it comes to specific issues, Gen Z voters overwhelmingly support affirmative action and student loan forgiveness. Like older generations, they support allocating funding to technical and vocational schools, but the majority also support support for political and community activities. PRRI’s previous polling has shown that younger voters in the United States are more supportive of abortion rights than older Americans. Numerous other polls show they are more concerned about climate change than older Americans.
Gen Z voters have less trust in government, organized religion, the press, the criminal justice system, and police than older generations. A warning to those courting these voters: “Adult Gen Z (58%) and Millennials (60%) are more likely than Gen Agree that voting is the most effective way to bring about change in America. ”
Nevertheless, these young Americans are far from apathetic about politics. On the contrary, “Gen Z adults are more likely to have signed an online petition (36% vs. less than 30% for older generations) or follow a social media profile of someone with a different opinion (21% ) significantly more likely than older generations (vs. 16% or less),” the PRRI poll found. “Gen Z adults are more likely than older generations (excluding Millennials) to post on social media about issues that are important to them (32% vs. less than 25% for Gen X and older) or more likely to encourage others; be politically active on social media (18% vs. 12% or less for Gen X and older);
All of this suggests that young voters are eager to spend their time and money promoting their values both online and offline. “Gen Z adults are significantly more likely than older generations to have volunteered for a group or cause (30% vs. .24% or less) or directly participated in a public meeting or demonstration. (15% vs. less than 8%).”
These are all bases that aim to end the separation of church and state, ban abortion, target LGBTQ youth, deny climate change as a hoax, and oppose race-based affirmative action policies and student loan forgiveness. This is not good news for the Republican Party. Given that “majorities of both Gen Z adults (64%) and Millennials (59%) believe older generations will never fully understand the struggles of younger Americans.” Republicans also appear to have missed an opportunity to nominate a much younger presidential candidate. In contrast to President Biden.
While there’s a lot of encouraging news about Gen Z for Democrats (e.g., they’re less religious, more diverse, more progressive, and in agreement on some important issues), many are distrustful of older generations. There are also some warning signs for Democrats seeking the votes of those who are. Skeptical about voting.Democrats might do that. You want to adjust your message accordingly.
First, overt partisan appeals (A better life under the Democratic Party!) may be of little importance to voters who are indifferent to their political party affiliation. By contrast, he emphasizes that the Biden administration has advanced key progressive goals (including massive investments in green energy) and has defeated a right-wing onslaught (including the deportation of Dreamers and other illegal immigrants). Warning about the dangers may be more effective.
In that regard, sending Kamala Harris, the first black and first female vice president, to college campuses to talk about guns, abortion, the environment, and other issues seems like a smart move. (Harris’ message that voters’ “freedoms” are at stake provides a useful contrast to political parties seeking to impose her religious views on the rest of the nation.)
Second, given the high level of distrust in the news media (only 37% of Gen Z adults say they trust the news media some or a lot) and the mainstream media’s tendency to treat politics like a horse race. Democrats will communicate directly (and likely through social media) to young voters that the stakes are very high. They are sure to repeat ad nauseam: These American votes matter a lot. Highlighting examples of how voting makes all the difference may be important to getting these voters to the polls.
Finally, the MAGA movement presented a classic fascist message. Only some people are “real” Americans. Others threaten the purity of our blood. Nothing could be more jarring for a generation distinguished by diversity, tolerance, suspicion of powerful institutions, and opposition to organized religion. Biden could certainly use Trump’s own words to emphasize how offensive that vision is in a multicultural, multiracial democracy. Making 2024 a values-based movement may be essential to getting these voters to the polls.
If young voters start thinking of 2024 as a fight for an inclusive and free America rather than just a partisan election, perhaps enough voters will turn out to vote to defeat the MAGA threat. It will be.