Democrats Have Become The Party Of Grumpy Elderly People
The article discusses the recent “No Kings” protests held nationally,which appeared to be largely attended by older people rather than young voters. This demographic trend signals a growing disconnect between the Democratic Party and younger generations,especially Gen Z,who are increasingly leaning conservative and supporting Republican candidates. Studies show that young voters prioritize economic issues and feel neglected by Democrats, who are perceived as weak and overly cautious compared to the confident Republican image. Young men, in particular, feel invisible within the democratic coalition and skeptical about the party’s investment in their futures. Despite these challenges, Democrats continue to focus on protests against former President Trump instead of addressing the concerns of younger voters. The article suggests that the Democratic Party risks becoming the party of older, disgruntled voters while losing touch with the youth vote that once contributed to its electoral successes.
No kings? More like no young people.
On Saturday, several so-called “No Kings” protests took place across the country. The protests looked more like an AARP meeting, with NBC Boston perhaps encapsulating the state of the protests best: “This is an older crowd … A lot of white hair. You see Q-Tips as we used to call them in the business … not a lot of young people.”
Videos and photos circulating on social media appear to show mostly older men and women protesting Trump. Occasionally there appeared to be middle-aged women. But finding young people in the crowd was rare. That means the red warning lights for Democrats are only blinking faster.
Last November, Gen Z voters moved toward the right. A study from CIRCLE found the youth vote was “more Republican and conservative in 2024” and that “Economy was the top youth issue” which “drove youth vote for Trump.” That trend has only continued, with a recent Decision Desk HQ study finding “Gen Z appears to be charting a different political course than Millennials” and that based on registration, Gen Z is “the most pro-GOP generation alive.”
Meanwhile Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist University Institute for Public Opinion, told NPR that Trump is “making connections with people who are very dissatisfied with the way things are. And therefore, being a candidate who’s going to disrupt and change things is a major attraction for a hunk of the electorate that is feeling that economic stress.”
“That’s perhaps most profound with younger people,” Miringoff continued.
In particular, Democrats are struggling to register young men. A study from Speaking with American Men (SAM) may have found the reason why, with young men thinking “Democrats don’t want to invest” in them. SAM found young men believe that Democrats — as described by Politico — are “overly-scripted and cautious, while Republicans are seen as confident and unafraid to offend.”
“Democrats are seen as weak, whereas Republicans are seen as strong,” SAM co-founder Ilyse Hogue told Politico. “Young men also spoke of being invisible to the Democratic coalition, and so you’ve got this weak problem and then you’ve got this, ‘I don’t think they care about me’ problem, and I think the combination is kind of a killer.”
The memo also found young men feel they are in a “no-win situation around the meaning of ‘a man’” and that “traditional milestones” like buying a home or putting away money for kids’ colleges “feel impossible.”
So what have Democrats decided to do about it?
Hold protests against President Donald Trump across the country. Democrats are doubling down on talking points that are about as old and tired as their geriatric base. And they don’t attract young voters. While young men in particular are struggling to pay rent, save, and find direction, Democrats are out protesting an imaginary threat.
The Democrat Party — which once relied on the youth vote to deliver it election wins — is now looking more like the party of “Old Man Yells at Cloud.”
Democrats can keep focusing on “No Kings” all they want, but they should really be concerned about “No Youths.”
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