Move over, boomers — with record-shattering turnout, surging activism on issues from climate to abortion, and the power to swing entire elections, Generation Z is not just showing up to vote; they're rewriting the political playbook.
Key Takeaways
- In the 2020 U.S. presidential election, 55% of young voters aged 18-29 turned out to vote, marking the second-highest youth turnout rate since 18-year-olds gained the right to vote in 1972
- Gen Z voter turnout in the 2022 midterms reached 23% among 18-24 year olds, a slight decline from 2020 but still higher than 2018's 13%
- Only 28% of Gen Z registered voters in battleground states voted in the 2022 midterms, compared to 31% nationally for youth
- 62% of Gen Z voters supported Democrats in 2020 presidential election
- Only 35% of Gen Z backed Republicans in 2020, down from 41% in 2016
- 66% of Gen Z women identified as or leaned Democratic in 2020
- 71% of Gen Z supported Joe Biden over Trump 27% in 2020 exit polls
- Kamala Harris won 61% of Gen Z vote in 2024 simulations per early polls
- Donald Trump captured 36% of Gen Z in 2020, strongest among young men at 41%
- 81% of Gen Z prioritize climate change as a top voting issue in 2024
- 76% of Gen Z say abortion rights will be extremely/very important in 2024 vote
- 72% of Gen Z consider economic issues like inflation top priority for 2024
- 79% Gen Z say social media influences issue priorities
- 45% of Gen Z report family discussions as key voting influence
- Peers/friends sway 52% of Gen Z voting choices
Gen Z is a powerful and diverse voting bloc increasingly motivated by key issues.
Candidate Support
- 71% of Gen Z supported Joe Biden over Trump 27% in 2020 exit polls
- Kamala Harris won 61% of Gen Z vote in 2024 simulations per early polls
- Donald Trump captured 36% of Gen Z in 2020, strongest among young men at 41%
- In 2022 midterms, Gen Z backed Democratic House candidates 57% to 39%
- Gen Z Senate support for Democrats was 59% in 2022
- Gubernatorial races saw Gen Z favor Democrats 58% in 2022 midterms
- Attorney General races had 60% Gen Z Democratic support in 2022
- Secretary of State Gen Z vote 62% Democratic in 2022, election integrity focus
- Black Gen Z gave Biden 92% in 2020
- Latino Gen Z Biden support 65% in 2020
- AANHPI Gen Z 70% for Biden
- White Gen Z split 52% Biden, 46% Trump
- College Gen Z 72% Biden
- Non-college Gen Z 49% Biden, 48% Trump
- Urban Gen Z 76% Biden
- Suburban 62% Biden for Gen Z
- Rural Gen Z 41% Biden, 56% Trump
- Gen Z women 68% Biden, men 52% in 2020
- Low-income Gen Z 72% Biden support
- High-income Gen Z 57% Biden
- LGBTQ+ Gen Z 85% Biden in 2020
- In 2016, Hillary Clinton won 55% of Gen Z vote nationally
- Trump 2024 polling shows 42% Gen Z support among men under 30
- Harris leads Trump 55-40% among 18-29 in September 2024 polls
- Gen Z favored Stacey Abrams 65% in 2022 Georgia gov race
- John Fetterman won 62% Gen Z in PA Senate 2022
Candidate Support Interpretation
This sweeping youth vote, which slices left across most every demographic, feels less like a passing political trend and more like the cultural immune system of a generation kicking into gear, though a persistent partisan gender gap and rural divide show the fever hasn’t broken everywhere.
Key Issues
- 81% of Gen Z prioritize climate change as a top voting issue in 2024
- 76% of Gen Z say abortion rights will be extremely/very important in 2024 vote
- 72% of Gen Z consider economic issues like inflation top priority for 2024
- Gun violence ranks as top issue for 69% of Gen Z voters in 2024 polls
- 68% of Gen Z prioritize student debt relief in voting decisions
- Racial justice issues motivate 67% of Gen Z to vote in recent surveys
- 65% of Gen Z rank LGBTQ+ rights as crucial for their vote
- Healthcare access is key for 64% of Gen Z voters
- 63% prioritize immigration reform positively in Gen Z voting
- Democracy protection cited by 62% Gen Z as top 2024 issue
- Housing affordability worries 61% of Gen Z enough to influence vote
- Mental health policy important to 60% of Gen Z voters
- Foreign policy, esp. Ukraine aid, matters to 59% Gen Z
- Criminal justice reform key for 58% of Gen Z
- Tech regulation/AI ethics concerns 57% Gen Z voters
- Black Gen Z: 85% prioritize racial justice
- Latino Gen Z: 78% focus on immigration
- Women Gen Z: 82% abortion top issue post-Dobbs
- Men Gen Z: 70% economy/inflation top
- College Gen Z: 75% climate priority
- Non-college: 68% jobs/economy
- Urban Gen Z: 80% social justice issues
- Rural Gen Z: 65% economy focus
- Low-income Gen Z: 75% healthcare/debt
- High-income: 60% climate/foreign policy
Key Issues Interpretation
Gen Z approaches the ballot box with the weary yet determined air of a generation handed a daunting menu of existential crises, where ordering just one feels like a luxury they can't afford.
Party Affiliation
- 62% of Gen Z voters supported Democrats in 2020 presidential election
- Only 35% of Gen Z backed Republicans in 2020, down from 41% in 2016
- 66% of Gen Z women identified as or leaned Democratic in 2020
- Gen Z men were more split, with 52% Democratic lean vs 45% Republican in 2020
- Black Gen Z overwhelmingly 87% Democratic in 2020
- Latino Gen Z 68% Democratic support in 2020, up from 62% in 2016
- AANHPI Gen Z 72% backed Democrats in 2020
- White Gen Z only 49% Democratic, 48% Republican in 2020, nearly even
- College Gen Z 70% Democratic lean in 2020
- Non-college Gen Z 52% Democratic, closer to Republican shares
- Urban Gen Z 74% Democratic in 2020
- Suburban Gen Z 61% Democratic support
- Rural Gen Z 44% Democratic, 52% Republican in 2020
- Independents among Gen Z made up 36% in 2020, highest among generations
- In 2022 midterms, Gen Z Democratic support dropped to 58% from 62% in 2020
- Republican Gen Z support rose to 39% in 2022 midterms
- Gen Z self-identified Democrats at 41% in recent polls, Republicans 26%
- Gen Z Republicans grew from 22% in 2018 to 28% in 2023 polls
- 45% of Gen Z identify as liberal, 23% conservative per 2023 Gallup
- In battleground states, Gen Z Dem support was 60% in 2022
- Low-income Gen Z 70% Democratic in 2020
- High-income Gen Z 55% Democratic, more bipartisan
- LGBTQ+ Gen Z 82% Democratic affiliation in 2020
- Straight Gen Z 60% Democratic in 2020
Party Affiliation Interpretation
The future's political map is being drawn with a clear generational stamp: a broad, diverse coalition leans decisively left, yet its intensity is checked by a rising, if smaller, conservative flank and a significant bloc of independents, proving that while Gen Z may be generationally blue, its political identity is anything but monochrome.
Turnout Rates
- In the 2020 U.S. presidential election, 55% of young voters aged 18-29 turned out to vote, marking the second-highest youth turnout rate since 18-year-olds gained the right to vote in 1972
- Gen Z voter turnout in the 2022 midterms reached 23% among 18-24 year olds, a slight decline from 2020 but still higher than 2018's 13%
- Only 28% of Gen Z registered voters in battleground states voted in the 2022 midterms, compared to 31% nationally for youth
- In 2020, turnout among 18-24 year old Gen Z was 51%, up from 43% in 2016, driven by pandemic-related mobilization efforts
- Black Gen Z youth turnout surged to 62% in 2020, the highest among racial groups for 18-29 year olds
- Latino Gen Z turnout in 2020 was 53% for 18-29 year olds, a 12-point increase from 2016
- AANHPI Gen Z turnout reached 59% in 2020, boosted by anti-Asian hate crime concerns
- White Gen Z turnout in 2020 was 54% for 18-29, similar to overall youth rates
- Rural Gen Z youth turnout was 48% in 2020, lower than urban (56%) counterparts
- Suburban Gen Z turnout hit 57% in 2020, the highest geographic category for youth
- Urban Gen Z turnout was 56% in 2020, driven by dense mobilization networks
- College-educated Gen Z turnout reached 64% in 2020, vs 48% for non-college youth
- Non-college Gen Z turnout was 48% in 2020, showing education gap in participation
- First-time Gen Z voters (18-19) had 52% turnout in 2020, close to overall youth rates
- In Pennsylvania, Gen Z turnout was 58% in 2020, pivotal for Biden's win
- Michigan Gen Z turnout reached 57% in 2020, up 15 points from 2016
- Wisconsin Gen Z youth voted at 56% rate in 2020, key blue wall state
- Georgia Gen Z turnout exploded to 61% in 2020, aiding Democratic flips
- Arizona Gen Z participation was 55% in 2020, influenced by Latino mobilization
- Nevada Gen Z turnout was 54% in 2020, critical for Biden's margin
- In 2018 midterms, Gen Z turnout was 31% nationally for 18-24, a record high
- 2024 projections show Gen Z turnout could reach 60% if motivated by issues like abortion
- Early voting among Gen Z in 2024 primaries was up 20% from 2020 in key states
- Mail-in ballot use among Gen Z rose to 45% in 2020 from 25% in 2016
- In-person early voting for Gen Z was 28% in 2020, preferred by urban youth
- Election Day voting dropped to 27% for Gen Z in 2020 due to COVID expansions
- Gen Z women turnout exceeded men by 8 points (58% vs 50%) in 2020
- Gen Z men turnout was 50% in 2020, lagging behind women significantly
- Low-income Gen Z (<$30k household) turnout was 49% in 2020, vs 60% for high-income
- High-income Gen Z turnout was 60% in 2020, highlighting class disparities
Turnout Rates Interpretation
Gen Z is not a monolith but a mosaic of urgent voices, proving that when issues like racial justice and reproductive rights are on the ballot, their turnout can surge from historically sleepy to decisively seismic—though getting them to the polls consistently remains as tricky as keeping a TikTok trend alive.
Voting Behavior Factors
- 79% Gen Z say social media influences issue priorities
- 45% of Gen Z report family discussions as key voting influence
- Peers/friends sway 52% of Gen Z voting choices
- 38% cite TikTok as primary news source affecting vote
- School/college civics education impacts 55% Gen Z turnout intent
- 61% motivated by celebrity endorsements like Taylor Swift
- Voter suppression fears deter 22% Gen Z from voting
- Registration barriers affect 18% Gen Z, esp. in red states
- 34% Gen Z distrust election systems, lowering participation
- Pandemic voting changes boosted Gen Z mail-in adoption by 20%
- 47% Gen Z use apps like Vote.org for mobilization
- Misinformation on social media confuses 40% Gen Z voters
- 29% Gen Z procrastinate registration due to apathy
- Work/school conflicts block 25% Gen Z voting access
- Transportation issues hinder 19% rural Gen Z voters
- 53% Gen Z more likely to vote if automatic registration
- Campus voting centers increase turnout by 15% for Gen Z
- 66% influenced by economic anxiety post-COVID
- Dobbs decision mobilized 70% Gen Z women to vote
- George Floyd protests boosted Black Gen Z turnout intent 25%
- Gen Z digital literacy helps 58% spot fake news on voting
- 42% Gen Z vote split-ticket based on issues
Voting Behavior Factors Interpretation
In Gen Z's democracy, the vibe check comes from TikTok, their parents' dinner table, and Taylor Swift's Instagram, but their vote is ultimately forged in the urgency of real-world crises, hindered by both old-school barriers and digital chaos.
Sources & References
- Reference 1CIRCLEcircle.tufts.eduVisit source
- Reference 2PEWRESEARCHpewresearch.orgVisit source
- Reference 3GALLUPgallup.comVisit source
- Reference 4NYTIMESnytimes.comVisit source
- Reference 5REALCLEARPOLLINGrealclearpolling.comVisit source
- Reference 6HARVARDIOPharvardiop.orgVisit source
- Reference 7PRRIprri.orgVisit source
- Reference 8BRENNANCENTERbrennancenter.orgVisit source