The Not-So-Woke Generation Z
For years, Gen Z has been either derided or praised for supposedly being “woke.” Its members have been called snowflakes, mocked for performative “slacktivism” and embracing trigger warnings, and described (favorably and unfavorably) as climate warriors and gun-control activists. Some older commentators have even proclaimed them the nation’s last hope. (The number of people who’ve argued that Gen Z might “save the world” is … not small.)
But that progressive reputation was called into question when Donald Trump won last week’s presidential election—partly thanks, it seems, to Gen Z, which encompasses voters ages 18 to 27. Exit polls and county-by-county analyses, however imprecise, indicated that young voters had shifted right since 2020. That’s especially true for young men—most of all young white men, who made up one of Trump’s most supportive cohorts. Democrats also lost ground with young women, though. According to some national exit-poll data, the party’s lead among 18-to-29-year-olds was cut nearly in half. And county data (which are considered more reliable, though still imperfect) indicate that counties with large populations of 18-to-34-year-olds moved 5.6 points rightward since the 2020 election.
People had good reason for thinking that more young adults might vote for Kamala Harris. Surveys have shown that the group cares about blue-coded issues such as the environment, firearm safety, diversity, and inclusivity. One 2023 poll found that, compared with Baby Boomers and Generation X, Gen Z is more concerned about criminal-justice reform and racial equity; in 2020, Pew found that Gen Z members are likelier to say the government “should do more to solve problems” rather than leaving things to business and individuals.
