The Great Awakening: Young Americans Turn Away from Democrats
By Glenn Stokes III, April 24, 2025 A seismic shift is underway among America’s youth, and it’s one that could reshape the nation’s political future for generations. The latest Harvard Youth Poll, conducted by the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School and released yesterday, paints a stark picture: support for congressional Democrats among 18- to 29-year-olds has plummeted to a mere 23%, trailing behind congressional Republicans at 29% and President Donald Trump at 32%. This is not a fleeting dip but a profound rejection of a party that once claimed the mantle of youth idealism. As the poll reveals a generation grappling with financial hardship, social disconnection, and deep political disillusionment, it also signals a turning point—an awakening that could herald a new era of American leadership. The numbers are striking. In 2017, when Democrats in Congress enjoyed 42% approval among young Americans, they were seen as the vanguard of progressive change. By 2020, their ...