The National Public Opinion Reference Survey (NPORS) published by Pew Research in July shows people under 30 lean Republican over Democrat party identification. That’s the first time the NPORS has reported that fact.
Breaking out those registered to vote, Republicans under 26 beat Democrats by over 29% (63.8%R to 34.3%D). So, not only do young people generally lean Republican, but by petty staggering numbers when looking at those actually registered to vote. Young people are more conservative now than they have been in many decades.
This was pretty big news a month ago. Gen Z might be coming for someone, but it might not be who you think.
From the NPORS
- About two-thirds of voters ages 18 to 24 (66%) associate with the Democratic Party, compared with 34% who align with the GOP.
- There is a similarly large gap in the partisan affiliation of voters ages 25 to 29 (64% are Democrats or lean that way vs. 32% for Republicans).
- Voters in their 30s also tilt Democratic, though to a lesser extent: 55% are Democrats or Democratic leaners, 42% are Republicans or Republican leaners.
What are you talking about?
A poll that didn’t count Democratic Socialists for Democrats but counted Nazis for Republicans.
I’m talking about the more recent (and more comprehensive and granular) data from NPORS:
"In April, for example, Pew Research Center released data showing a continuation of the familiar pattern in party identification — more liberal to more conservative as the age of respondents increased.
Earlier this week, though, Pew released the most recent iteration of its big, comprehensive National Public Opinion Reference Survey. The NPORS is a benchmark poll that uses a number of different methodologies to ensure responses, including phone, online contact and direct mail. And, as The Washington Post’s Lenny Bronner found after parsing the data, it found a much more complicated interplay between partisan identification and age."
You can read the numerous articles on the data from NYT or the Washington Post if you’d like.
What I linked to was from April 9, 2024 and is the most recent data set.
I found this article, which is saying what you’re saying, but if you look at the actual report I just linked it doesn’t line up with any of the claims in the article. The article seems to be reporting on screenshots and tweets, but they’re all wrong? I don’t really know what’s going on here. How about you actually link to something so we can scrutinize it?
A couple of things:
- Biden was still the candidate, and a lot of young people were angry with him at the time
- Younger people are less likely to identify or register with any party (but will still likely vote in one particular direction). So focusing on the results by party identification isn’t that useful.