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The growing generational divide in US politics: an overview -

Differences in generation have forever driven a political divide in the US. Over the years it has continued to widen and in the following slides, we'll explore exactly how.

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Reference years for different generations -

Generation Z (Post-Millennials): Born: 1997 and later

The Millennial Generation: Born: 1981 to 1996

Generation X: Born: 1965 to 1980

Baby Boom Generation: Born: 1946 to 1964

Silent Generation: Born: 1928 to 1945

Greatest Generation: Born: 1901 to 1927

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How age influences political ideology -

Age seems to be a great indicator of how the majority of a group will lean politically. For example, the Democratic party has a substantial edge among younger voters while the older generations tend to fall more in line with the Republican party.

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Gen Z’s progressive wave -

In the upcoming US election, according to the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, "40.8 million members of Gen Z will be eligible to vote, 8.3 million are new voters, and 45% of Gen Z voters are people of color."

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Gen Z’s progressive wave -

According to Circle, Gen Z voted at a higher rate in 2022 than previous generations in their first midterm election. Additionally, according to The News House, Gen Z will be outspoken about what matters most to them such as social justice and reproductive rights. 

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The role of race and ethnicity in generational political differences -

Race and ethnicity play a huge role in US politics. According to Pew Research, "White voters are much more likely than those in other racial and ethnic groups to associate with the Republican Party." As for those who lean Democrat, you'll find Hispanic, Asian, and Black voters.

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The role of education in generational political differences -

Overall, voters with Bachelor's and postgraduate degrees are more likely to be Democrats. Also, in a 63% vs. 33% split, white voters without a Bachelor's degree tend to associate with the Republican party.

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The digital divide: how generations use social media for political engagement -

Gen Z in general is much more active on social media than previous generations. They consume a lot of political news and information through sources like TikTok. This generation holds politicians to promises made while campaigning on social media (and otherwise).

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The digital divide: how generations use social media for political engagement -

Social media today is filled with tons of influencers, or people whose voices and messages are quite impactful thanks to the reputation they've built and the number of followers they have. Studies show that engaging with Gen Z is better accomplished by using smaller influencers rather than one or two macro-influencers.

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Voter turnout trends: why younger generations are voting more -

Older voters, namely those 70 and older, lean towards the Republican party while younger generations range from "slightly more likely" to "holding a substantial edge" with the Democratic party. 

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Voter turnout trends: why younger generations are voting more -

Younger voters today are more liekly than older voters to completely opt out of identifying with a party. In fact, only about 52% of voters under the age of 25 identify with a party. Others say they're independent or "something else."

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Generational attitudes toward government: more activism or more skepticism? -

According to a Wall Street Journal article, young adult voters are more skeptical of the government as well as more pessimistic about our future when compared to any other generation.

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Generational attitudes toward government: Issues -

Issues that are motivating younger voters include the economy, inflation, and concerns about democracy. Trump's focus on crime and the border isn't as important to the youngest of voters.

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Generational perspectives -

The following slides will discuss several issues that divide the US concerning differing generations.

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Same-sex marriage -

Same-sex marriage is supported more often in the US by Millenials than older adults, according to a Statista report. About 73% of millennials support same-sex marriage while 66% of Gen Xers, 62% of Baby Boomers, and 57% of the Silent Generation support it.

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Same-sex marriage -

Gen Z women are more likely than their male counterparts to support LGBTQ nondiscrimination laws. Additionally, approximately six in ten Gen Z adults are against allowing a small business to refuse service to LGBTQ people.

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Foreign policy across generations -

Younger Americans are more divided on whether the US should be active or stay out of world affairs. They don't believe in US exceptionalism, differing from other generations such as the Silent Generation (72%), Boomers (65%), and Generation X (55%) who believe the United States is the greatest country in the world.

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Foreign policy across generations -

Millennials and Gen Z are more selective about which international events they think the US should be involved in. Older Americans express higher support for military bases in countries such as South Korea, Japan, and Germany.

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The impact of educational attainment on political participation across generations -

Educational attainment refers to the highest level of education that someone has completed. Since 2010, more Americans have completed four-year degrees.

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The impact of educational attainment on political participation across generations -

Gen Z is more likely to rate a college education as important compared to the older generations. For the younger generation, the affordability of college is a major concern.

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Generational differences in views on taxes and jobs -

Slightly less than one-third of Gen Z and millennials believe that the economic situation will improve over the next year. The same groups are choosing careers based more on environmental concerns or jobs they feel are not as vulnerable to automation.

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Generational differences in views on taxes and job -

Often, younger generations' prefer higher taxes on the wealthy and for corporations to fund social programs, while older generations may lean towards lower taxes to protect their retirement savings and investment income.

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Trust in government: why distrust is universal across generations -

According to a recent Pew Research study, "Among Asian, Hispanic, and Black adults, 36%, 30% and 27% respectively say they trust the federal government “most of the time” or “just about always” – higher levels of trust than among White adults (19%)."

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Trust in government: why distrust is universal across generations -

Trust in the government has wavered over the years yet today 35% of Democrats and Democrat-leaning independents say they trust the government always or most of the time while only 11% of Republicans feel this way.

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Climate change as a generational issue: why younger voters care more -

Environmental sustainability is ranked highly among Gen Z and Millenial's top priorities. A majority of people in these generations are taking action to minimize their footprint.

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Climate change as a generational issue: why younger voters care more -

Research shows 46% of Gen Z and 42% of Millennials have already changed or plan to change their job or industry due to climate concerns. Also, 64% of Gen Z individuals and 63% of Millennials say they're willing to spend more for environmentally sustainable products.

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Looking ahead: how generational shifts could transform the 2024 election -

Millennials and Gen Z are more likely to prioritize issues like climate change, social justice, and student debt relief which may sway the election toward candidates who address these concerns. On the other hand, older generations may prioritize issues like economic stability, national security, and traditional values, influencing their support for different candidates

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Looking ahead: how generational shifts could transform the 2024 election -

A generational divide could lead to varying voter turnout rates as historically, younger generations are typically less consistent in voting, but more engaged when their key issues are at stake. Additionally, the candidates' ability to effectively communicate across these generational lines and address their specific concerns could be essential in securing support.

Sources: (Pew Research) (Circle) (University of Mississippi) (Washington Post) (PRRI) (The Chicago Council on Global Affairs) (LinkedIn) (Deloitte) (U.S Department of Commerce)

See also: The most memorable presidential debates in US history

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