Just when you thought you knew where young voters stood, a shocking new poll throws a wrench in the works. The latest survey shows America’s youngest voters are breaking sharply from their slightly older peers, ditching Democrats and leaning toward the GOP.
The Yale Youth Poll, surveying thousands of voters including over 2,000 under age 30, found a dramatic split. Voters aged 18 to 21 now lean Republican by a hefty 11.7 points. Compare that to the 22-to-29 crowd, who still favor Democrats by 6.4 points.
The latest Yale Youth Poll confirms the trend we’ve seen at one campus after another: The youngest voters have turned sharply to the right. Yale found 22-29 year olds favored Democrats by ONLY 6.4 points. But kids of college age, 18-21, lean Republican by almost 12 (!!)
The most… pic.twitter.com/UhIgCWsoHA
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) April 15, 2025
This is a major turnaround from previous trends that saw young voters reliably in the Democratic camp. As recently as Fall 2024, polls showed voters under 30 strongly backing Democrats. What changed?
While this youngest group is tilting rightward in party preference, the poll notes prominent conservative figures aren’t exactly winning popularity contests yet. Donald Trump, J.D. Vance, and Elon Musk all registered negative favorability ratings among the under-30s, even more so than with the general voting population.
The survey also highlights deep generational splits on hot-button cultural issues. Younger voters, even the GOP-leaning 18-to-21 group, are more supportive of trans athletes participating in women’s sports and allowing access to transition treatments for young adults compared to older voters. They also line up more with elite universities on issues like test-optional admissions.
Still, the headline remains: the very youngest slice of the electorate is making a move toward Republicans. While their views on specific personalities and some cultural issues differ from older conservatives, this partisan shift could signal a major realignment shaking up the political landscape for years to come.
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