Exit polls show young voters swinging back to Democrats after Trump's 2024 gains
Young voters swung so hard toward Democrats in Tuesday's midterms that it raises new doubts about whether Republicans can build a lasting coalition among Americans under 30. Why it matters: Trump's success with Gen Z voters, especially young men , fueled talk of a generational shift toward Republicans. Tuesday's results tell a different story. By the numbers: An estimated 66% of voters ages 18–29…
Young voters have dramatically shifted their support back to the Democratic Party in the wake of former President Donald Trump's gains among Gen Z voters in the 2024 midterms. According to exit polls, 66% of voters aged 18-29 backed Democratic House candidates, compared to just 31% for Republicans, representing a 35-point Democratic advantage.
This marked a significant increase from the 14-point Democratic advantage in the 2024 national exit poll. Young men under 30 showed a 7% increase in Democratic support, rising from 51% in 2024 to 59% in 2026. Young women saw an even more substantial rise, with Democratic support increasing from 61% to 70%. White young voters leaned Democratic by a 63% to 34% margin.
Polls in the final stretch warned of potential Republican struggles with young voters, with a Harvard Youth Poll in October indicating Democrats leading among young voters in the 18-29 age group by 63% to 26%. Democrats also secured overwhelming support in key statewide races, including Texas, Georgia, Ohio, and Iowa. Democrats saw significant gains in races that Trump won in 2024, such as in Iowa where young voters defected in large numbers.
While young voters made up an estimated 11% of Tuesday's electorate, compared to 12% in 2022, their numbers could have increased despite the smaller share. Regardless, Republicans have not lost all young conservatives who helped Trump win in 2024.
Written by urgent.news from Axios's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
