The current political scene as a whole has the United States in what feels like a permanent chokehold. Thanksgiving dinners turn ugly when politics are brought up, and media constantly harp on the divisions. While the US’s obsession with politics is nothing new, the political divides and tensions seem to be worsening as the 2024 presidential election looms on the horizon. Yet, one factor may play a defining role in this turbulent election: Generation Z.
Gen Z, the cohort born between 1997 and 2012, stands in stark contrast to its predecessors. Gen Z is coming of age in a world saturated with technology, facing unique socio-economic challenges and cultural shifts that are shaping their political outlooks. It is expected that Millennials and Gen Z will make up roughly 40 percent of the electorate in the 2024 election, according to The Harvard Gazette. From climate change activism to social justice movements, Gen Z – now eligible for the polls – is set to make its mark on the political landscape in unprecedented ways.
One trend especially unique to Gen Z Americans is the lack of political party affiliation, with many voters more likely to support candidates who champion policies that align with their values, rather than simply sticking to party affiliation. In recent studies, it was found that more than half of coming-of-age Gen Z voters do not align themselves with a major political party, though with political priorities of social change, climate action, and LGBTQ and reproductive rights, many inevitably are leaning left.
I wanted to get a sense of whether my fellow-Gen Z’ers corroborated this statistic and so, I made an informal inquiry among them at a northern New Jersey high school.
Roughly half of surveyed students claimed that they would rather vote for a candidate who promised to take action on their beliefs, including diversity and climate justice, even if it meant straying away from previous familial political affiliations. “For me, it’s more important that I vote for someone because they reflect my hopes for the US, rather than just because they are a Democrat or Republican,” said Rowan, a student who declined to give a last name but is eager to vote in 2024.
Moreover, of those surveyed, roughly 8/10 claimed that in the 2024 election, they would likely vote Democrat, while only 1/10 claimed to vote Republican. An even smaller number claimed not yet decided. This overwhelming swing signifies that many Gen Z voters continue to believe that President Biden, as the Democratic candidate, could address issues most important to them, even if political affiliation is not at the top of their priorities.
“As a first-time voter, I believe that [Democratic candidate] Joe Biden’s policies are most effective for young voters compared to Trump,” one student said.
However, they added, “That being said, I think there is a lot of work needing to be done in the [US] and hopefully young voters can help make this happen.”
The 2024 election will be a watershed moment for Gen Z, as they emerge as a formidable force in American politics. With countless Gen Z and millennial activists already making change across the nation and the globe – including Greta Thunberg, X González, and Malala Yousafzai – there is no doubt that Gen Z will be a driving factor as they head to the polls in 2024, and will do so with a clear-eyed determination to create what they view as a more just, equitable, and sustainable future for their emerging generation.
