With the 2024 presidential election called before most of the nation went to sleep, Donald J. Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States. With his family standing next to him, and notably his Gen Z son by his side, Trump addressed this remarkable win on election night.
In the past few months, we have been watching the youth vote. Several months ago, I predicted an 11% to 13% increase in the youth vote for the Republican platform in this election. As the returns are coming back, it looks like at least a 10% increase of the youth vote.
So I am pretty disappointed that we did not reach our prediction.
Multiple sources are reporting on the significance of the growth in the Black vote, the Latino vote, and the less-educated vote. But what has stunned the political world is the growth of the youth vote ages 18 to 30.
It was widely reported that 35% of the youth vote was undecided three months ago. What is clear today is that the youth vote was loud and clear.
By historical comparison, 2020 Democrat candidate Joe Biden enjoyed a 28% youth vote gain over Republican candidate Donald Trump, who received an 8% youth vote. We just saw in this year's election that Democrat candidate Kamala Harris received only an 8% youth vote — a drop of 20% from 2020.
Why the change?
I think there are four notable reasons the youth vote was front and center in the 2024 election.
1. The economic advantages of the Republican platform have impressed Gen Z.
Gen Z voters have watched their parents struggle and want to be able to have freedom from the financial stress they've experienced in the family. And they have resoundingly placed the economy at the front of their interest.
2. The humanitarian cause of the Republican Party has impressed young people to have an impact under their world.
Our government's response to the recent hurricane crises in the southeast was unacceptable. It was very difficult for Gen Z to watch an anemic response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the hurricane.
On top of that, the drug and alcohol fentanyl situation, and the human trafficking caused by an open border without a path to citizenship have become increasingly important to young people.
3. The deteriorating educational situation in America and a progressive message that youth have rejected.
Multiple sources reported that 71% of the country was not happy about the direction of America. That is a significant research finding.
The educational concern goes beyond the cost of education and is more about the content of education. It is no secret that young people are repelling against the woke narrative, cancel culture, and progressive narratives in education to which they do not adhere.
4. Most people will not think about this, but the church kids have shown up and shown out.
Morality and the conservative message still rings with young people. The sanctity of life, the sanctity of marriage, and the sanctity of gender are all major pillars for Gen Z and younger millennials.
Make no mistake about it, the transgender agenda and the inequality it causes for girls' rights has become a hill that this generation sees as worth dying on.
Finally
More than 30 million Gen Z voters ages 18 to 22 — 8 million of whom were 18-year-olds —were eligible to vote for the first time in this election.
That number of young people has made a historical mark on the 2024 presidential election.
In 2020, Joe Biden won the presidential election over Trump by about 6 million votes. As the numbers are coming in for 2024, it looks like Trump will win the popular vote by about 6 million votes — a flip of 12 million votes that was aided by the young people of our nation.
We could write an article on each one of these areas and how significant these changes in our political landscape are. What is clear from the research is that the youth vote has made a significant statement about the future of America.
The economy, humanitarian causes, concern for education, and the moral direction of our country are at the forefront of the minds of America's greatest resource. If the future of America is in the hands of the young people I see across the nation, the United States is in great hands.
Jeff Grenell is the founder of ythology.com, to inspire, educate, and resource youth leaders to prepare the next generation, to lead in the church nationally and globally. Follow Jeff on Twitter: @jeffgrenell. Read Jeff Grenell's Reports - Here.