Young Men Backed Trump. Now They’re Questioning His Power.
What the National Guard debate reveals about Gen Z’s definition of safety and leadership.
The Backdrop
Young men, ages 18–29, helped power Donald Trump’s 2024 victory. But new data shows that support is far from guaranteed moving forward.
In our August SocialSphere Gen Z Tracking Poll (Aug. 27–29, 2025; N=1,048), young men are essentially split on the 2026 congressional ballot: 41% say they’d back the Republican candidate, 40% the Democrat, and 16% say they wouldn’t vote for either. By contrast, young women lean heavily Democratic, 64% to 26%.
This uncertainty reflects something bigger than shifting partisanship. It reflects a generation of men wrestling with power, freedom, and trust.
The very group that helped Trump win in 2024 is no longer firmly in his column. Their 2026 votes are in play.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to JDV on Gen Z to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.