Young people today are unsure about President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. A recent NPR/PBS News/Marist poll shows both leaders have 49% support among voters. Yet, many under 30 feel disconnected from these candidates.

Early on, Biden had 60% support from young voters, which has since dropped. This decline is sharp among young Black and Latino Americans. They are let down by unmet promises and are unhappy with Biden's work. On the other hand, Trump's approach and words don't reach Gen Z, making them less involved in politics.

Many young voters are still unsure about their choice. About 9% have not decided, and 25% say they might change their minds. This shows they could majorly impact election results.

Key Takeaways

• Political disengagement among Gen Z voters is significant with 9% remaining undecided.
• Younger generation's skepticism towards Biden and Trump is prevalent, impacting voter engagement.
• Climate change, student debt, and job insecurity are key issues inadequately addressed by current candidates.
• 58% of respondents express serious concern about Biden's age affecting his competence.
• Inflation ranks as the top issue for 30% of voters, closely followed by preserving democracy at 29%.
• Biden's support among independent voters increased from 42% to 50%, while Trump's advantage among white voters doubled from 6 to 12 points.

The Generational Divide

Why Gen Z Feels Misunderstood by Trump and Biden

Gen Z voters see President Joe Biden and Donald Trump as out of touch. They feel these leaders don't understand today's values. Many believe this causes a disconnect in politics.

The Generational Divide

Around 40% view Gen Z as tough to work with. In contrast, 36% think they're hard to manage. Also, 33% see Gen Z as poor managers. This adds to their feeling of disconnect.

Many in Gen Z find Trump and Biden's views outdated. They believe these leaders don't reflect their generation's values. This only widens the gap between generations.

Gen Z places a big value on diversity and inclusion, says Gianna Driver from Exabeam. They like to solve problems through dialogue. This differs from the older, more conservative views of Biden and Trump.

Lack of Relatable Policies

Gen Z feels current policies don't address their concerns. They want action on issues like global warming and job opportunities. A study from October 2022 showed that 74% of Gen Z workers might quit due to a lack of growth opportunities.

Gen Z values work-life balance and wants jobs that match their beliefs. They feel politics too often ignores their needs for the sake of wealthy elites. This makes many young voters want more relevant and inclusive policies.

The Role of Age in Political Disconnect

Many young people feel a big age gap in politics. They find it hard to communicate with older leaders like Joe Biden and Donald Trump. About 48% of voters under 30 think these leaders don't get the needs of the young.

Movement Towards Younger Politicians

This feeling has led to a push for younger politicians. A striking 67% of Gen Z voters believe politics would get better with more young leaders. Only 51% of voters over 65 agree. Young voters feel their generation can better tackle today’s problems.

Outcrop Silver (CA: TSX.V: OCG US: OTCQX: OCGSF)

Impacts of Candidates' Elderly Ages

The concern over Biden and Trump's age is real. Only 26% of young voters think Biden understands them; for Trump, it's 20%. This shows a big gap in political representation. Their age might make it hard to grasp issues like jobs, student debt, and housing.

Despite this, 66% of young voters plan to vote in 2024. This shows a strong need for candidates who connect with young activists and voters.

The table below shows different age groups' views on political representation and issues:

To sum up, young leadership could close the age gap in politics. It ensures political decisions better match what young voters need and experience.

Gen Z's Specific Concerns: Climate Change, Student Debt, and Job Insecurity

Gen Z cares about the environment, education costs, and finding good jobs. They want actions that fix these issues together. This reflects their hope for solutions against economic troubles.

Young climate activists are standing up globally. They push for kindness and community health. Their worries about the planet come from policies, including Biden's on Gaza. The lack of action on climate change bothers many.

Education costs are also a big worry. High college fees leave many in debt. This makes it hard for them to buy a home or have a family. Changes in how we finance education are needed more than ever.

Good jobs are hard to come by for Gen Z. Global changes make finding stable, well-paid work tough. This affects their financial freedom and safety. Politicians need to focus on creating jobs for them.

Many young voters are unhappy with Biden. His policies, especially on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, make them look elsewhere. They want a leader who takes action on climate justice and peace.

Grassroots movements are showing a gap between Gen Z and the government. They warn this might affect voting in 2024. Climate activists are also speaking out for Palestine. They want less money on war and more on climate action.

Gen Z's message is loud and clear. They want leaders to truly address climate change, economic issues, and fair education finance.

The Perception of Political Systems by Gen Z

Gen Z feels disconnected from political parties. More than half avoid aligning with any party. They believe policies favor the rich and powerful, ignoring the average person. This skepticism is especially directed at the two-party system. Young people think it blocks genuinely new ideas that would benefit them.

Distrust in Politics and Parties

Gen Z's doubt in politics also includes doubts about politicians themselves. In 1959, 73% of kids thought the president was trustworthy. Now, only 18% feel that way. Moreover, faith that the president works harder than others has dropped significantly.

Many young people, like Becky Oliveira and Logan Dubil, change political sides. They feel let down by the usual choices.

Special Interests and Wealthy Elite Influence

This generation is disillusioned by how policy-making seems controlled by the rich. Last year, Congress passed only 34 bills, showing significant partisanship. Gen Z thinks this inaction benefits the wealthy at their expense.

Young individuals like Maxwell and Grace Guentzel change their political stances. Their views shift due to feeling that the elite have too much power. They're looking for options beyond the major parties.

Why Gen Z May Consider Third-Party Candidates

Gen Z is starting to look at third-party candidates as real options. This is because they are unhappy with the usual Republican and Democrat choices. Less than half of young voters, 47%, say they will surely vote in the next election. This number has fallen from 57% in 2020. This shows they are not happy with how things are in politics right now.

Disillusionment with Major Parties

Gen Z feels the big parties are not solving important issues. Only 37% of them are happy with the current candidates. This shows a big disconnect. Biden is slightly more popular than Trump among Gen Z, with 45% support. However, this number goes up to 56% among those who are likely to vote. This suggests Gen Z might turn to third-party candidates if their issues are not addressed. Also, 49% think there's a genocide happening in Gaza. This shows they care about global issues, which big parties often ignore.

Yearning for Progressive Policies

Gen Z is set to be a huge voting group in the U.S. They want leaders who push for big changes and reform. The economy and inflation are their main worries, but they feel lost politically. They are torn between conservative and liberal viewpoints. With 8.3 million new young voters joining by 2024, third-party candidates have a chance. These candidates offer new, forward-thinking options that could change how elections work.