A new poll from Yale University researchers paints a grim picture for the future of the Democratic Party.
The survey from Yale Youth Poll is drawing attention for its stark data showing plunging support for Democrats among key demographics.
The polling shows a growing divide among young voters.
The news is a major blow to the future of the Democratic Party.
The poll was conducted in early April and released this week.
Pollsters surveyed 4,100 registered voters nationwide, including a targeted oversample of 2,025 voters between the ages of 18 and 29.
Conducted by undergraduate researchers at Yale University, the survey measured voter sentiment across a range of political and cultural topics, including immigration, free speech, and public safety.
Among the most notable findings, President Donald Trump now holds a net favorability of +7 among 18–21-year-old men.
Meanwhile, former Vice President Kamala Harris has fallen to a net-48 in the same demographic, a 55-point gap between the two.
Such a disparity is considered rare in national polling, particularly within younger voting groups.
The survey’s generational breakdown revealed a growing rift within Gen Z.
Voters aged 22–29 still leaned slightly toward Democrats on the generic congressional ballot, favoring Democrats by 6.4 points.
However, those aged 18–21 leaned Republican by 11.7 points, marking a double-digit swing to the right among the youngest segment of eligible voters.
On cultural and policy issues, younger men were more likely to support traditionally conservative positions.
According to the survey, men aged 18–21 showed greater opposition to gender transition treatments for teenagers, stronger support for standardized testing in college admissions, and higher backing for stricter sentencing policies to address crime.
While a slim majority of all voters surveyed opposed medical transitions for teens aged 13–17, that opposition was even higher among younger males.
Despite the shift among younger men, the broader 18–29 age group continued to support several left-leaning policies.
A strong majority opposed the idea of deporting international students who protest U.S. policy in Gaza, supported expanded legal immigration pathways, and favored increased taxes on the wealthy and large university endowments.
Harris’s steep decline in favorability among young male voters has become a growing concern for Democrats.
Analysts have suggested that her association with unpopular Biden-era policies, her public messaging on contentious cultural issues, and media appearances that critics say appear out of touch may be contributing factors.
Though Harris remains the leading choice among Democratic primary voters in hypothetical 2028 matchups, the poll found her facing increasing competition within the party.
On the Republican side, President Trump continues to lead by wide margins in primary testing.
The data further reinforces a broader trend noted by political observers: an emerging divide within Gen Z, particularly among young men.
Over the past two years, surveys have shown that men under 30 — especially those who are white or Hispanic and lack a college degree — are less likely to identify with the Democratic Party, even if they support individual progressive issues such as marijuana legalization or tech regulation.
Figures like Trump and Elon Musk have increasingly resonated with young male voters through messages focused on economic independence, distrust of traditional institutions, and opposition to political correctness.
If current polling trends persist, the shift among younger male voters could reshape electoral dynamics in upcoming elections, including the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential race.
READ MORE – Young Americans Are Turning Away from Democrats in Droves, Harvard Poll Finds
