Red wave: Why is Donald Trump so appealing to young voters?

A trend has emerged over the past elections: Young voters are getting more conservative. We'll ask Gen Z voters from Delaware County, Pennsylvania and Burlington County, N.J.

Air Date: November 12, 2024 12:00 pm

Philadelphia Young Republicans watched the presidential debate at the Kimpton Hotel on Sept. 10, 2024. (Kimberly Paynter/WHYY)

While Democrats traditionally rely on young voters, the 2020 election saw a surprising shift, with President-elect Donald Trump making significant gains among 18-29-year-olds. This trend isn’t isolated to this election; Gen Z voters have been moving rightward in the past three election cycles. Notably, Trump’s success with young men was particularly pronounced, but the trend toward the Republican Party was noticeable across gender lines. This shift signals a new challenge for candidates seeking to engage Gen Z voters. We will hear from young voters active in their local GOP about the issues that resonated most with them during this election.

Guests:

Aiden DeMarsey, student of public policy at Rutgers University and the vice chairman of Evesham Republicans

Aidan Shandley, political director of the Delaware County GOP

Melissa Deckman, executive director of PRRI and author of The Politics of Gen Z

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