Staff Reports
Young voters have been raising eyebrows with their recent political opinions, which seem to go against the grain of conventional wisdom. One major point of divergence is their disapproval of Israel’s response to the Hamas atrocities. While older voters show strong support for Israel, young voters are not as convinced. This poses a problem for President Biden, who has publicly expressed his unwavering backing of Israel. It’s clear that his efforts are not resonating with young people, and this could potentially cost him their votes.
In addition to their differing stance on Israel, young voters are also showing a shift away from Biden and towards former President Trump. A recent poll focusing on key states revealed that black and Hispanic voters under the age of 45 have become more inclined towards Trump compared to 2020. This is quite surprising considering the perception that Trump struggled with these demographics during his presidency. However, it seems that there has been a shift in sentiment, and Biden’s support is not as strong among these groups as it once was.
So, what could be driving these two contradictory tendencies among young voters? It could be that we are looking at different segments within this age cohort. On one hand, we have the college-educated young voters who tend to lean left on issues like Israel and have been influenced by their liberal education. On the other hand, we have non-college young people, including black, Hispanic, and Asian individuals, who seem to be moving towards the right. These individuals might not have as much exposure to liberal indoctrination and are less interested in politics overall.
The leftward drift among college-educated young people has been observed not only in politics but also in local elections. In city races, we have seen how progressive candidates have garnered support in lower-rent neighborhoods near major metropolitan areas. These areas have a high concentration of young voters who align with the barista Left, a term used to describe left-leaning individuals in low-wage jobs. However, these candidates have sometimes been narrowly defeated by more centrist counterparts, like in New York City’s mayoral primary.
It’s important to note that the barista leftists are mostly concentrated in university towns and certain trendy neighborhoods of big cities. Outside of these areas, they are few and far between. The rest of the young population, especially those who have not been exposed to the same indoctrination, are scattered all over the country. Their political views are shaped by different factors, and they are more attracted to Trump and the Republican Party.
One explanation for this shift towards the right among young voters is the disconnect between Biden’s policies and the priorities of these individuals. The COVID-era handouts, college loan forgiveness, and support for transgender teenagers touted by Biden Democrats are not resonating with these voters. Instead, they are drawn to Trump and Republicans for reasons explored in two recently published books. These books highlight the alienation of working-class voters from the Democratic Party and the formation of a multiracial working class coalition within the Republican Party.
Young voters are proving to be unpredictable and are challenging the status quo in American politics. With their differing stances on Israel and their shifting support towards Trump, they are injecting new dynamics into an already heated political landscape. It remains to be seen how these trends will play out in future elections, but they should not be taken lightly.
