Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
USA TODAY
Gen Z voters don't trust you. And they may pick your next president.
By Celinda Lake and Christine Matthews,
23 days ago
Younger and older Americans have often been disconnected, but the differences between Gen Z and older generations are proving to be especially pronounced.
Having come of age during a global pandemic, economic crisis and social and political unrest, today’s young people are perhaps understandably sour on public institutions, existing power structures and even the country, compared with older Americans.
As we head into an election where 41 million Gen Z Americans are now eligible to vote , politicians, organizers and pundits would be wise to pay attention to differences in guiding values between older and younger generations that affect perceptions of the world and voting behaviors.
Younger and older voters view the world and their place in it very differently
Generations also differ about what is important to them financially or in their careers. The 2021 Solutions Voter Survey by Lake Research Partners found that baby boomers are more likely to say being able to pay bills and provide for their family is extremely important. Generation X, born between the years 1965 and 1980 , is most likely to focus on stability and financial success.
A voting machine on May 29, 2024 at an early voting center in Washington, D.C. Deborah Berry, USA TODAY
Gen Z is much more likely than boomers to say pursuing a passion is extremely important, as well as accomplishing a goal and achieving their full potential. However, Gen Z and boomers equally disagree with the notion that hard work is good for them.
Younger people also see systemic issues as more of a barrier to success: Gen Z and millennials, born between 1981 and 1996 , are more likely than older generations to agree that people of color face greater barriers to economic success than white people (64% of Gen Z and 67% of millennials compared with 57% of Gen X and 45% of baby boomers).
Younger Americans have little trust in public institutions
A nearly defining feature of young Americans is their lack of trust in public institutions . Faith in institutions among Americans under 30 has dropped dramatically in the past decade. Trust in the president, Congress, federal government, Supreme Court, Wall Street, the news media and the military are all at an all-time low.
Young people also have less faith in our economic system. Only 40% of Americans under 30 have a positive impression of capitalism , compared with 73% of those 65 and over.
Gen Z even has less faith in their fellow Americans – they are far less likely than older generations to agree that most people are willing to make minor sacrifices for the benefit of the common good.
This vein of cynicism persists in many younger adults and affects their perception of American democracy.
Americans under 30 are less connected to the two-party system
Gen Z turnout could decide the result of this year’s election. Turnout rates have historically been lowest among eligible voters under 30, while older voters consistently turn out at higher rates. In 2022 though, Gen Z turned out at higher rates than millennials or Gen X did when they were that age.
However, increases in young voter turnout were largely concentrated in swing states such as Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, while turnout rates in solidly red or blue states were lower among young people.
Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store .
According to 2022 exit polls , 63% of voters under 30 voted for the Democratic candidate for the House and 35% voted for the Republican, a higher Democratic margin than any other age group.
Now, among likely voters under 30 , Joe Biden leads Donald Trump 56% to 37%, according to the Harvard Youth Poll. However, only 44% of likely Biden voters say they enthusiastically support him while 76% of Trump supporters are enthusiastic.
As candidates make their pitch to voters this summer through Election Day, they would be wise to understand how the experiences of each generation have shaped their values – and in turn shape their campaign’s pitch accordingly.
Celinda Lake, president of Lake Research Partners , was one of two lead pollsters for Joe Biden's 2020 presidential campaign. She also is a pollster for the Democratic National Committee. Christine Matthews, president of Bellwether Research , is a leading public opinion pollster known for her understanding of swing voters, particularly women.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
Comments / 0