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applegrove

(126,139 posts)
Wed May 21, 2025, 04:12 PM Wednesday

Democrats Are Losing Young People

Democrats Are Losing Young People

May 21, 2025 at 10:36 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 82 Comments

https://politicalwire.com/2025/05/21/democrats-are-losing-young-people/


A new postmortem on the 2024 election by the Democratic data firm Catalist delivers a sobering warning: The party’s biggest problem is with young voters.

Support among voters under 30 dropped from 61% in 2020 to just 55% in 2024. That’s still a majority, but the trend is moving in the wrong direction. And it’s not just white voters.

Among young voters of color, the slide was even more dramatic: Support among Black men under 30 dropped by 10 points. Among young Latino men, it cratered by 16 points.

These are voters who made up the Obama coalition and once represented the party’s most reliable long-term growth opportunity. Now they’re becoming a liability.
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Democrats Are Losing Young People (Original Post) applegrove Wednesday OP
It's the social media JBTaurus83 Wednesday #1
Yes. It is also financial anxiety. Regression analysis applegrove Wednesday #4
Right. H2O Man Wednesday #49
Oh social media is a big part of it. Particularly right applegrove Wednesday #52
Respectfully disagree. H2O Man Wednesday #57
Social media is a huge part of the manipulation of the applegrove Wednesday #59
Interesting. H2O Man Wednesday #62
Young people were texted anti-trans stuff. Even on DU applegrove Wednesday #66
Right. H2O Man Wednesday #81
What a bunch of bullshit! RB77 Wednesday #79
Read this. applegrove Wednesday #80
Young people? thought crime Wednesday #90
Dems are poor at media, online or not. Tetrachloride Wednesday #61
Entirely. Social media will end up as the weapon that destroyed this nation misanthrope Wednesday #64
No, it is not. vanessa_ca Wednesday #65
You speak LOUDLY for me LearnedHand Wednesday #69
Thank you. vanessa_ca Wednesday #76
Unfortunately, mostly due to historic oppression, black men are particularly susceptible to the manly-man appeal. . nt Bernardo de La Paz Wednesday #2
Yes that too. Euphemisms for submissiveness in women applegrove Wednesday #5
Huh? TnDem Wednesday #6
Financial anxiety makes people vote with passion rather than reason. applegrove Wednesday #18
I am thinking of 1947 Bernardo de La Paz Wednesday #22
No TnDem Wednesday #24
Indeed they are traits of SOME men and it cuts across racial lines. You miss the point and the history Bernardo de La Paz Wednesday #34
re" "the point" TnDem Wednesday #44
Simple answers go nowhere. My post goes deeper. Your post begs the question. Bernardo de La Paz Wednesday #46
Actually, what your post does TnDem Wednesday #48
Again you beg the question. Why don't they respect, don't like? are the real questions Bernardo de La Paz Wednesday #55
Testosterone has no monopoly on logic. . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Wednesday #23
Dems lost 10% of young black voters under 30 and 16% applegrove Wednesday #41
They voted for Gallego JI7 Wednesday #56
Most black men still voted for Kamala Harris JI7 Wednesday #10
the problem is we depend on the Black and LatinX communitites to cover the failure of white communities cadoman Wednesday #63
Thank you. I'm so sick of this shit. Black men got nothing to do with this shit. Trump is a white people's problem. Solomon Thursday #101
The appeal is to B.See Wednesday #40
Yes, the campaign made it a broad appeal, their mindset is not really manly, and they are whiny and unqualified. . nt Bernardo de La Paz Wednesday #42
Well, qualified to be B.See Wednesday #54
Many of those young voters aren't switching to the republicans Fiendish Thingy Wednesday #3
Right VanceFan Wednesday #8
With catastrophic climate change coming, there is no hope Kaleva Wednesday #15
They have just succeeded in a self-fulfilling prophecy. Congratulations to them. JohnSJ Wednesday #16
What are their values ? And many of these men DID vote for Trump JI7 Wednesday #11
And Harris got 4% less of the female vote than Biden did in 2020. elocs Wednesday #12
We can't RJ-MacReady Wednesday #29
And it will only get worse as blue states may lose 10 or more electoral votes elocs Thursday #97
Although there were 12 million more eligible voters in 2024 Fiendish Thingy Wednesday #36
Yes, and that's sad. We have too many complacent, non-voters elocs Thursday #96
I'm not sure complacency is this issue Fiendish Thingy Thursday #104
Complacent in the sense that why weren't women fired up to elect Harris? elocs Thursday #108
Also - they see all our money going to war womanofthehills Wednesday #67
An ossified leadership with no new ideas or policies would do this uponit7771 Wednesday #7
What new ideas or policies do they want ? JI7 Wednesday #13
Most of them did not vote for Trump, they stayed home. Nt Fiendish Thingy Wednesday #37
If they didn't vote when there was a clear difference JI7 Wednesday #50
Claiming to know with certainty the reason young people stayed home is part of the problem Fiendish Thingy Wednesday #68
One of the reasons was clearly that they were ok with Trump JI7 Wednesday #72
Clearly? Fiendish Thingy Wednesday #75
No, the civil rights movement and what they boycotted JI7 Wednesday #84
Those "shit people" are the largest untapped pool of voters in the country Fiendish Thingy Wednesday #89
They are shit people that want their ass kissed JI7 Thursday #94
Dems are almost certain to retake the house in a blue wave in the 2026 midterms Fiendish Thingy Thursday #103
I didn't disparage young voters. My comments are about all people JI7 Thursday #105
Young people who didn't vote are the largest untapped pool of voters in the nation Fiendish Thingy Thursday #107
That's never going to happen JI7 Thursday #109
After the revolution everything will be nice, everyone young forever and dominating elections for generations. betsuni Thursday #110
The threat of losing all their rights with a Trump victory wasn't enough to motivate them Kaleva Wednesday #17
Correct because people don't understand dictatorships in the US, no perspective uponit7771 Wednesday #85
From the 2024 election. HOW DO THEY FEEL NOW? hlthe2b Wednesday #9
If they are that stupid, which based on this OP they seem to be, then they have no one to blame for the JohnSJ Wednesday #14
Curious. Do you converse with younger generations? cachukis Wednesday #38
Yes, I sure do, and they can't be all painted with one brush either, because they don't all speak with the same JohnSJ Wednesday #45
No question. cachukis Wednesday #71
Very impressive cachukis. JohnSJ Wednesday #74
Joe Rogan and they watch Fox News. It's young white men. kerry-is-my-prez Wednesday #19
It's not just white men but yes the reason is the same. And they are becoming religious also JI7 Wednesday #20
I was a social worker who worked with almost all women. kerry-is-my-prez Wednesday #26
Most young people do not True Blue American Wednesday #27
young people don't watch TV news to begin with pstokely Thursday #106
It's because the Dems aren't fighting the GOP synni Wednesday #21
It has nothing to do with this. JI7 Wednesday #28
I agree. It never is that straight forward. JohnSJ Wednesday #47
It's because of widespread propaganda. A small group is angry at the Dems for not speaking out enough. kerry-is-my-prez Wednesday #31
I don't think it's young people Tree Lady Wednesday #25
Part the 100th Redleg Wednesday #30
So we should ignore changes in how people vote? That makes applegrove Wednesday #43
I did not say that. Redleg Friday #111
Wasn't the total vote total several million less than doc03 Wednesday #32
I need to see a trend D_Master81 Wednesday #33
I think you are underestimating the damage that has been done, and will be done in the next 4 years. The JohnSJ Wednesday #51
Whenever they do these comparisons, they ignore karynnj Wednesday #35
Sanders has led them to believe that Democrats are just as bad as Republicans and everyone needs to... W_HAMILTON Wednesday #39
it is damning all of us. That type of thinking has brought us to where we are today. JohnSJ Wednesday #53
TY. Exactly, John... We were There and saw Cha Wednesday #78
Done. We are definitely on the same page Cha. JohnSJ Wednesday #83
The damage and polarization will last for a long time. betsuni Wednesday #58
Does Sanders ever hold those rallies in his own state ? JI7 Wednesday #73
Message auto-removed Name removed Friday #112
The problem isn't with young people, per se. Basso8vb Wednesday #60
All two parties are losing young people. DJ Synikus Makisimus Wednesday #70
Well Then.. the "young Voters".. are in Danger Cha Wednesday #77
You are so right Cha. They messed up in a big way, but I guess they can put those tiny screws in Apple Iphones JohnSJ Wednesday #82
Aloha Join, sorry I Cha Wednesday #87
No problem Cha. We are on the same page. JohnSJ Wednesday #91
Thanks, John... They're trying to Destroy America. . Cha Wednesday #92
I don't like being too pessimistic, but what happened was a perfect storm against Democracy, and I think JohnSJ Thursday #93
I don't like it, either... always looking for Cha Thursday #95
Technocracy won't cut it. David__77 Wednesday #86
3 democratic congressmen died in office so far this year Terry_M Wednesday #88
Do you think congresspeople are anointed rather than voted in by their constituents? W_HAMILTON Friday #113
Thanks for the opening. Terry_M Friday #114
"They come in via primaries that are handled by the super engaged tiny minority" W_HAMILTON Friday #115
Yes. Their fault, absolutely Terry_M Friday #116
Older people too. nt RandiFan1290 Thursday #98
Losing young people was an own goal for the Democrats AZProgressive Thursday #99
No, people are losing Democrats and gaining Republicans. I'm sure they'll be very happy together. betsuni Thursday #100
Corporatists vs fascists Johnny2X2X Thursday #102

JBTaurus83

(416 posts)
1. It's the social media
Wed May 21, 2025, 04:27 PM
Wednesday

There is so much misinformation being fed to young people, and social media is the main way they get their information. My youngest sister is 22 and she is amazed at the shit people she knows believe once they start going down these social media rabbit holes.

applegrove

(126,139 posts)
4. Yes. It is also financial anxiety. Regression analysis
Wed May 21, 2025, 04:31 PM
Wednesday

Last edited Wed May 21, 2025, 06:23 PM - Edit history (1)

shows that when people are under financial anxiety they vote with passion over reason. So the GOP does stuff like make sure the young are burdened with student loans and that hedge funds and private equity went into the housing market (rental and home ownership) and made it more expensive. That way people voted on prejudice and not their financial best interests.

H2O Man

(76,796 posts)
49. Right.
Wed May 21, 2025, 06:17 PM
Wednesday

I do not think that "social media" is high among the reasons. Blaming social media would seem to highlight the risks of attempting shortcuts when identifying why so many young adults are registered independents.

applegrove

(126,139 posts)
52. Oh social media is a big part of it. Particularly right
Wed May 21, 2025, 06:22 PM
Wednesday

wing trolls pretending to be Democrats and whining every time Democrats try to do an autopsy on the 2024 election. In Canada the social media is so supportive of liberals. It is a big difference. Social media is key.

H2O Man

(76,796 posts)
57. Respectfully disagree.
Wed May 21, 2025, 06:38 PM
Wednesday

It allows for misinformation and disinformation to be spread on the internet. But one would have to think that young adults are so stupid that they believe everything they read. There are numerous other actual reasons, such as education debt and the job market, the US support of the destruction of Gaza, etc, that they are actually smart enough to understand.

applegrove

(126,139 posts)
59. Social media is a huge part of the manipulation of the
Wed May 21, 2025, 06:44 PM
Wednesday

right of voters. We disagree.

H2O Man

(76,796 posts)
62. Interesting.
Wed May 21, 2025, 07:28 PM
Wednesday

In 2008, 2012, and 2020, the internet helped Democrats win. In 2016 and 2024, republicans won, using the same internet.

For sake of discussion, a factor favoring your position was the Russian military intelligence's use of the internet to win in 2016. I am unaware of anything that documents that young voters -- the OP's topic -- were more influenced than other groups. Indeed, the two groups that under-voted for our ticket was white women and black women. I have never seen a breakdown of ages.

applegrove

(126,139 posts)
66. Young people were texted anti-trans stuff. Even on DU
Wed May 21, 2025, 07:38 PM
Wednesday

Last edited Thu May 22, 2025, 12:05 AM - Edit history (2)

there are right wingers spouting nonsense like don't do anything autopsy of the Democratic loss in 2024. Social media in Canada is filled with harmony after positive Carney posts. Let's me know how many trolls there are dividing Democrats amongst each other in the USA.

H2O Man

(76,796 posts)
81. Right.
Wed May 21, 2025, 09:30 PM
Wednesday

I think that republicanshave used media/communications better overall in my lifetime. Of course, JFK beat Nixon based in part by appearing healthy while Nixon looked like Nixon. But there was a lot of anti-Irish Catholic nonsense in the media.

More recently, there was evidence that there is no depth to how low republicans will go. "Willie" Horton was not called that by anyone familiar with him, including police. His name was William Horton, but Bush the Elder's campaign recognized that by using "Willie," they amplified the dog whistle. And this messaged reached everyone in the country, as opposed to right-wingers' texts.

The corporate news has a long history of splattering shit, too. There are obviously examples of good reporters/journalists, of course. We are witnessing it today, when some of the most accurate reporting comes from the late night comedy shows.

If Democrats are looking for the group with the lowest turn-outs in virtually every election is poor people. That holds from elections for school board to the presidency. Yet we see remarkably little paid to that population. I'm old enough to remember when caring about the poor was "in style," to quote the late George Foreman.

RB77

(51 posts)
79. What a bunch of bullshit!
Wed May 21, 2025, 09:16 PM
Wednesday

It’s obvious that most of our American, television soaked brains have lost our ability to be open minded, fact check, (and ‘fact check the fact checkers’) deduce, - then make an honest, rational, decision on what might help the future of all those cute young children we see walking around, laughing and having fun. Does anybody on this forum have any ideas as how to break through this information barrier? I may seem a bit harsh by the title of this post, However “I’m all Ears” (Ross Perot quote from 1992, - I did not vote for him , of course I voted for
Bill Clinton) Thanks Good Night 🤓

thought crime

(212 posts)
90. Young people?
Wed May 21, 2025, 11:42 PM
Wednesday

Boomers have TV soaked brains, also clogged with top 40 trash (eg ABBA, Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, etc), along with the lingering effects of leaded gasoline fumes. Younger people face a larger, more subtle form of repeated messaging.

misanthrope

(8,783 posts)
64. Entirely. Social media will end up as the weapon that destroyed this nation
Wed May 21, 2025, 07:35 PM
Wednesday

It only appears to be building. I was listening to an advocate for critical thought and rational skepticism lamenting Tik Tok as actively "anti-intellectual."

And we thought television was destructive? Social media is that on steroids.

vanessa_ca

(157 posts)
65. No, it is not.
Wed May 21, 2025, 07:36 PM
Wednesday

Speaking for myself and many in my young circle, we were and still are not impressed with the party's insistence on sticking to its tepid, lukewarm, corporate course. Many are turned off by the centrist wing that bashes Bernie Sanders and other progressives and keeps yelling at us to shut up and get off their lawn. Oh, but when it's time for the midterms and the general election, that same centrist wing expects more progressive younger voters to keep shutting up, hold our nose and fall in line voting for the same lukewarm soup.

We see what's going on. And to be blunt, the Democratic Party is too supportive of Israel's crimes against the Palestinians. There are some lines many will not cross. Methinks the days of dictating what people should think, say and vote for are over. Politicians need to start representing us for a change. We made it loud and clear that Bernie did and still does, but the party refuses to budge. David Hogg comes to mind too.

Speaking for my circle, social media had nothing to do with it. The DU/KOS bubble is no more representative of the streets than the politicians hanging on to their sinecures.

More introspection is in order. It's a cop out to blame it on social media.

LearnedHand

(4,699 posts)
69. You speak LOUDLY for me
Wed May 21, 2025, 07:58 PM
Wednesday

Thank you for this very cogent explanation. Dems can piss and moan all they want about whether people are re-litigating the election or the primary, but we cannot ignore the polls showing Dems are LESS POPULAR than the Pukes. Some of it is targeted propaganda, to be sure, but Dems are losing supporters on their own initiative .

Bernardo de La Paz

(55,991 posts)
2. Unfortunately, mostly due to historic oppression, black men are particularly susceptible to the manly-man appeal. . nt
Wed May 21, 2025, 04:29 PM
Wednesday

applegrove

(126,139 posts)
5. Yes that too. Euphemisms for submissiveness in women
Wed May 21, 2025, 04:36 PM
Wednesday

in certain churches perk some men's ears up. They GOP doesn't have to say it directly. And neither do I.

TnDem

(853 posts)
6. Huh?
Wed May 21, 2025, 04:36 PM
Wednesday

What does that mean exactly?...That black men are sort of predisposed to liking more masculine things because someone oppressed them in the distant past?

You do realize that though patterns like this are demeaning, "talking down" and whitesplainin' in the extreme....Also, statements like this that are why black voters ARE voting the other way.

Has it ever been considered that men in general have higher testosterone levels and gravitate toward straightforward logical answers?

applegrove

(126,139 posts)
18. Financial anxiety makes people vote with passion rather than reason.
Wed May 21, 2025, 04:52 PM
Wednesday

They've done regression analysis on this. Why Republicans took so much wealth from the middle and working classes since Reagan and got more white men to vote for them. They want people voting on feelings rather than their rational best interests. In 2016, Pence said "Trump and his broad shouldered leadership"...... an nauseum.

Bernardo de La Paz

(55,991 posts)
22. I am thinking of 1947
Wed May 21, 2025, 05:07 PM
Wednesday

In 1947 two big avenues for advancement of black men opened up while many other avenues remained restrictive at best.

Professional athletics broke open then with Jackie Robinson.

The US military was desegregated.

Both of those avenues are particularly appealing to and supportive of physical prowess and courage. Thank goodness they were opened up, but those huge events, symbolic and practical, helped move cultural currents.

TnDem

(853 posts)
24. No
Wed May 21, 2025, 05:12 PM
Wednesday

"Physical prowess" and "courage" are traits of most men with healthy testosterone, black, white or other.

Bernardo de La Paz

(55,991 posts)
34. Indeed they are traits of SOME men and it cuts across racial lines. You miss the point and the history
Wed May 21, 2025, 05:39 PM
Wednesday

When many other avenues of advancement continued to be blocked or restricted in the years following 1947, it is natural that many black men took the avenues that were open. Those avenues had cultural implications within black culture.

It is a mistake to think I am referring to racial characteristics. Do not make that mistake.

To be explicit, I do not refer to any innate characteristics of any group.
To be explicit, I refer to the cultural channeling imposed on the group by the society at large, which was racist generally and continues to impose racist pressures on black men.

TnDem

(853 posts)
44. re" "the point"
Wed May 21, 2025, 06:09 PM
Wednesday

"cultural channeling imposed on the group by the society"?

What kind of encounter group nonsense is that? That diatribe sounds like something out of a freshman college sociology lesson.

Whatever black men, (or any men for that matter), that voted for Trump and Vance did so because they liked them better than Kamala and Walz...Simple answer for a simple question.

Bernardo de La Paz

(55,991 posts)
46. Simple answers go nowhere. My post goes deeper. Your post begs the question.
Wed May 21, 2025, 06:13 PM
Wednesday

My post gets at the question that you gloss over. It delves into the issue of "because they liked them better than Kamala".

TnDem

(853 posts)
48. Actually, what your post does
Wed May 21, 2025, 06:16 PM
Wednesday

Is a long spiel of something that can explained much easier.

People don't vote for candidates that:

1) They don't respect
2) They don't like

That goes for any election and any party

Bernardo de La Paz

(55,991 posts)
55. Again you beg the question. Why don't they respect, don't like? are the real questions
Wed May 21, 2025, 06:28 PM
Wednesday

Simply saying "They don't respect, they don't like" is no answer. It gives no insight. It points back at itself. It is circular reasoning. It offers no way forward.

It is a Captain Obvious non-answer answer. You really can do better.

applegrove

(126,139 posts)
41. Dems lost 10% of young black voters under 30 and 16%
Wed May 21, 2025, 06:05 PM
Wednesday

of Latinos under 30 in the 2024 election.

cadoman

(1,280 posts)
63. the problem is we depend on the Black and LatinX communitites to cover the failure of white communities
Wed May 21, 2025, 07:31 PM
Wednesday

We need near absolute majorities until white people are--for lack of a better term--fixed.

60% would normally be a blowout, but the fact is we need 70-80-90% sort of numbers to cover for the fact that so many whites are--for lack of a better term, forgive me--FUCKING IDIOTS.

Solomon

(12,543 posts)
101. Thank you. I'm so sick of this shit. Black men got nothing to do with this shit. Trump is a white people's problem.
Thu May 22, 2025, 08:45 AM
Thursday

B.See

(5,487 posts)
40. The appeal is to
Wed May 21, 2025, 06:02 PM
Wednesday

TOXIC masculinity, period, combined with a sense of VICTIMHOOD. And the demographics of Trump's primary base of support shows us who mostly subscribes to that particular IDEOLOGY.

Though I, for one, find nothing "manly" about that kind of mincing "poor-misunderstood-me" mentality so TYPICAL of the Trump-like male mindset.

Nor is lending support to whiner types like Trump who've somehow convinced themselves that everyone ELSE is an unqualified 'hire' and not them (the sorry fks).

Bernardo de La Paz

(55,991 posts)
42. Yes, the campaign made it a broad appeal, their mindset is not really manly, and they are whiny and unqualified. . nt
Wed May 21, 2025, 06:08 PM
Wednesday

B.See

(5,487 posts)
54. Well, qualified to be
Wed May 21, 2025, 06:26 PM
Wednesday

Trump's biggest ASS kissers. That's for sure.

Real ' manly" isn't it? What...26 or more in his... 'administration' come from Fux News? And Trump wants to talk of DEI hires?

If the premise of the term is (according to Trump) the hiring of people based upon something other than QUALIFICATIONS, on what this clown calls a 'merit based' society

then Trump's entire fkn 'ADMINISTRATION' is a 'dei hire'.. himself included.

".. dei hire..." gtfoh.

Fiendish Thingy

(19,358 posts)
3. Many of those young voters aren't switching to the republicans
Wed May 21, 2025, 04:30 PM
Wednesday

They just aren’t voting because they don’t see any politicians responding to their needs and values.

VanceFan

(45 posts)
8. Right
Wed May 21, 2025, 04:40 PM
Wednesday

I have three sons 25 to 35 age, they hate both parties. Young people see little hope for the future in America.

elocs

(24,373 posts)
12. And Harris got 4% less of the female vote than Biden did in 2020.
Wed May 21, 2025, 04:45 PM
Wednesday

And Biden received 6 million more votes than Harris did and she lost by 2.3 million.
How do we explain this away?

RJ-MacReady

(565 posts)
29. We can't
Wed May 21, 2025, 05:26 PM
Wednesday

Not without lying to ourselves. The party brand is perceived as out of touch with main street America on everyday issues and hyper focused on "identity politics" while also chastising white people. Obvously I do not believe any of that but unfortunately many others do. As pointed out in other threads the Democrats must modernize, it is no longer the 80's 90's or even 00's. We are still predominately going on network media and cable news. The party still uses "political speak" and after the past couple elections its obvious that no longer satisfies the voters. The problem isn't the party's platform or policies its their obsolete campaigning and message that is causing the damage and allowing the far right to swoop right in with their lies and manipulations. To a struggling 20 something that sounds enticing. The biggest problem is the party isn't able to connect with voters the way we used to. Because of that Democrats have the perception of being out of touch elitists.

elocs

(24,373 posts)
97. And it will only get worse as blue states may lose 10 or more electoral votes
Thu May 22, 2025, 06:38 AM
Thursday

as a result of the 2030 census.
But even if Democrats are out of touch, Trump was known to be what he is--a liar, lying casually and without shame, a known entity. As a nation, we have reaped what we have sowed. This is why the other free nations of the world, our allies no longer trust us because even after Trump our electorate could do the same thing again. Sadly, America is changed for the worse forever and that is Trump's legacy.

Fiendish Thingy

(19,358 posts)
36. Although there were 12 million more eligible voters in 2024
Wed May 21, 2025, 05:48 PM
Wednesday

Two million fewer voters showed up at the polls compared to 2020.

Turnout in 2024 was 63%, compared to almost 67% in 2020.

elocs

(24,373 posts)
96. Yes, and that's sad. We have too many complacent, non-voters
Thu May 22, 2025, 06:31 AM
Thursday

who don't cherish or honor our right to vote.

Fiendish Thingy

(19,358 posts)
104. I'm not sure complacency is this issue
Thu May 22, 2025, 09:10 AM
Thursday

It seems more like apathy, cynicism or just plain exhaustion. Perhaps disillusionment is the more accurate word.

Right now, there are a significant number of voters who feel neither party cares about them and their needs, and won’t fight for what is important to them. They aren’t seeking to impose a purity test, they just want evidence of fierce resistance, obstruction even, to Trump’s tyranny.

Instead, we see some Dems voting to confirm Trump’s cabinet nominees, supporting crypto deregulation, etc. Those Dems who do show that fierceness voters want are often shunted aside by the party power structure.

So, I’m not sure voter complacency is the problem.

elocs

(24,373 posts)
108. Complacent in the sense that why weren't women fired up to elect Harris?
Thu May 22, 2025, 01:48 PM
Thursday

Why weren't minorities fired up to elect a woman of color to the presidency rather than having he get less votes than Biden did in 2020? Did they believe that Harris was such a sure fire bet to get elected that it didn't matter if they voted for her or not?

womanofthehills

(9,796 posts)
67. Also - they see all our money going to war
Wed May 21, 2025, 07:55 PM
Wednesday

And little to Americans

Just read a poll that over 50% of young Republicans were unhappy with their party spending all their tax dollars on war. It’s all the young - Dems & Republicans- who hate war.

My friend makes a hundred thousand a yr as a college professor and she can’t afford to buy a home without stressing herself big time money wise.She has big student loans. Most US families make way under that and will never be homeowners.

JI7

(91,962 posts)
13. What new ideas or policies do they want ?
Wed May 21, 2025, 04:45 PM
Wednesday

They voted for Trump so that gives an indication.

JI7

(91,962 posts)
50. If they didn't vote when there was a clear difference
Wed May 21, 2025, 06:18 PM
Wednesday

it means they don't care about many issues. It means they are happy with what Trump is doing since they aren't protesting him.

Fiendish Thingy

(19,358 posts)
68. Claiming to know with certainty the reason young people stayed home is part of the problem
Wed May 21, 2025, 07:56 PM
Wednesday

Maybe you should rethink your presumptions.

JI7

(91,962 posts)
72. One of the reasons was clearly that they were ok with Trump
Wed May 21, 2025, 08:07 PM
Wednesday

And I'm going by their actions.

Fiendish Thingy

(19,358 posts)
75. Clearly?
Wed May 21, 2025, 08:47 PM
Wednesday

Is not voting an action, or an inaction?

So, according to your logic, the civil rights boycotts of the sixties was “clearly” evidence that the AA community was “OK” with Jim Crow, amirite?

JI7

(91,962 posts)
84. No, the civil rights movement and what they boycotted
Wed May 21, 2025, 09:56 PM
Wednesday

is not the same as boycotting Kamala Harris and just shows they are shit people .

Fiendish Thingy

(19,358 posts)
89. Those "shit people" are the largest untapped pool of voters in the country
Wed May 21, 2025, 11:37 PM
Wednesday

Do you think it’s a good strategy to ignore, or worse, dismiss their potential worth to Democrats?

Certainty is just another form of arrogance.

JI7

(91,962 posts)
94. They are shit people that want their ass kissed
Thu May 22, 2025, 12:23 AM
Thursday

and don't seem to stand for much seeing they are fine with Trump but will get offended over some comments .

Fiendish Thingy

(19,358 posts)
103. Dems are almost certain to retake the house in a blue wave in the 2026 midterms
Thu May 22, 2025, 08:58 AM
Thursday

Unless, of course, they follow your strategy of disparaging young voters as “shit people”.

Then the GOP will likely increase their slim majority.

Thank goodness you don’t work at the DNC or consult for any campaigns.

JI7

(91,962 posts)
105. I didn't disparage young voters. My comments are about all people
Thu May 22, 2025, 10:48 AM
Thursday

that didn't vote and want their ass kissed. And they can't be referred to as voters if they didn't vote.



Fiendish Thingy

(19,358 posts)
107. Young people who didn't vote are the largest untapped pool of voters in the nation
Thu May 22, 2025, 01:01 PM
Thursday

We disparage these “shit people” as you call them st our own peril.

Once they become motivated to vote, they will dominate elections for generations.

betsuni

(27,934 posts)
110. After the revolution everything will be nice, everyone young forever and dominating elections for generations.
Thu May 22, 2025, 06:44 PM
Thursday

It's Democrats who are a million years old and having illnesses and dying and ruining everything forever -- I learned that on DU.

Kaleva

(39,395 posts)
17. The threat of losing all their rights with a Trump victory wasn't enough to motivate them
Wed May 21, 2025, 04:51 PM
Wednesday

JohnSJ

(98,746 posts)
14. If they are that stupid, which based on this OP they seem to be, then they have no one to blame for the
Wed May 21, 2025, 04:49 PM
Wednesday

Last edited Wed May 21, 2025, 06:06 PM - Edit history (1)

current situation except themselves.

Are they pushing the Ralph Nader bullshit "how tired they are of voting for the lesser of two evils".

If they cannot distinguish the differences between the two parties, they are an embarrassment to anyone with critical thinking skills.

The mindset that contributed to putting someone who tried to overthrow the government TWICE in the white house, have contributed in helping give us an extremist Supreme Court that will last at least a generation. They will have contributed in rolling back any progress the Democrats made through the years with climate change, Civil rights, Women's rights, worker's rights, healthcare, etc. etc. etc.

Let the 30 million of them who follow their prophet joe rogan enjoy the future they have set in motion.

What helped President Obama the most was the financial implosion setup by the republicans starting with regan, and culminating with bush, along with mccain choosing a complete idiot as his VP.

but the framing is entirely wrong. It wasn't just the young, but Latino's who split the vote, labor who split the vote, the protesters on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict which refused to vote Democratic, and women who didn't come out in the numbers anticipated.

Good luck undoing that damage that is and will be done in the next four years.

JohnSJ

(98,746 posts)
45. Yes, I sure do, and they can't be all painted with one brush either, because they don't all speak with the same
Wed May 21, 2025, 06:11 PM
Wednesday

voice.

cachukis

(3,246 posts)
71. No question.
Wed May 21, 2025, 08:06 PM
Wednesday

I am the oldest of 6. 4 boys 2 girls. 8 nieces and nephews from 38 to 21.
I have 5 children from 56 to 38. 8 grandchildren from 27 to 4.
I am a retired high school teacher who taught mostly level 1 and 2 students with occassional escapes to level 5.
I relish conversation from viewpoints that corroborate and refute my own perspectives.
Every person I've communicated with is a product of their environment.
Everyone of them has done the best they can at the time they are doing it.
If you say these youngsters who do not live up to your expectations are stupid, how did they get here?
None of them want to fail.
They want to be someone. They seek answers from their environment. They will make choices to the best of their ability.
Nature is itself, the challenge.
We built this system and accepted what we could not change. If we didn't respond early the time was lost.
We didn't respond early, just like every generation before us, but somehow we got here.
Bemoaning is cathartic for us, but not for those unready to recognize the encumbrance.
Many of us have yet to recognize our time has passed.
Our grandparents and parents passed on their learning experiences from the Depression, from the War.
Many of us just lived the advantages they left us. They did not pass on that shared experience. They passed on our abundance.
That abundance is nature to our youth.
They are having their own learning experience.
Do you seriously think they consider the consequences of their actions or inactions?
Trump gets away with everything.
We all have the forgiveness thing as an operational in our heavenly aspirations.
It is the least powerful who cannot escape the pitfalls of their mistakes.
What you describe is real, but it's impact is as well.
We are not going escape the impact of this time. None of us are.
We will just manage.

kerry-is-my-prez

(9,936 posts)
19. Joe Rogan and they watch Fox News. It's young white men.
Wed May 21, 2025, 04:54 PM
Wednesday

Who are pissed off because they can’t get laid. I think they may be resorting to denying that they are Republicans and claim they are apolitical. I keep running into guys who are saying that all of a sudden.

JI7

(91,962 posts)
20. It's not just white men but yes the reason is the same. And they are becoming religious also
Wed May 21, 2025, 04:57 PM
Wednesday

they see women in the workplace as a problem. They see it as causing breakdown of the social order and the reason for them being miserable.

kerry-is-my-prez

(9,936 posts)
26. I was a social worker who worked with almost all women.
Wed May 21, 2025, 05:20 PM
Wednesday

Most of the time, we just had one guy and they would get “picked on.” We had a Republican once and she also got picked on.

kerry-is-my-prez

(9,936 posts)
31. It's because of widespread propaganda. A small group is angry at the Dems for not speaking out enough.
Wed May 21, 2025, 05:28 PM
Wednesday

Every day, I hear a couple of Democratic politicians speaking out or protesting. It doesn’t get covered too much - only on MSNBC. That’s the small group that got angry that Harris or Clinton won and voted for Trump, third party or stayed home.

Tree Lady

(12,400 posts)
25. I don't think it's young people
Wed May 21, 2025, 05:14 PM
Wednesday

It's young men. My grandson is one of them but he doesn't like either party.

Redleg

(6,503 posts)
30. Part the 100th
Wed May 21, 2025, 05:27 PM
Wednesday

I mean no offense, but these posts about young people are getting tedious.

Redleg

(6,503 posts)
111. I did not say that.
Fri May 23, 2025, 01:20 PM
Friday

My point is that there have been many many of such posts here at DU over the last few years. While I have given due consideration to the implications of demographic changes, I have gotten tired of being beaten over the head with it.

doc03

(37,850 posts)
32. Wasn't the total vote total several million less than
Wed May 21, 2025, 05:32 PM
Wednesday

in 2020? I think many were unhappy with the choices, especially young people. They never have the turnout that we expect anyway.

D_Master81

(2,080 posts)
33. I need to see a trend
Wed May 21, 2025, 05:32 PM
Wednesday

There’s way too much anxiety over the results of 1 election. If the economy struggles over the next couple of years while the GOP is in charge the numbers will likely return to the mean. I think the dip in 24 has as much to do with post-Covid inflation as anything the GOP is doing with messaging. I will say that I agree about social media. The right has flooded the zone, especially for young men, with influencers that pander to RW talking points.

JohnSJ

(98,746 posts)
51. I think you are underestimating the damage that has been done, and will be done in the next 4 years. The
Wed May 21, 2025, 06:22 PM
Wednesday

Supreme Court is gone for at least a generation. Even if we are fortunate enough to win both houses in congress, they won't have the votes to remove trump, and if they did vance is just as nuts if not more so.

The best that winning Congress in the midterms would do is slow the damage down, but what this administration puts in place in the next two years could provide even power power to a president without Congress.

and whether we want to admit it or not, unless we have enough republicans in Congress to curtail his power, the country is serious trouble. They are already defying court orders, and I don't see a made rush to enforce those orders.





karynnj

(60,265 posts)
35. Whenever they do these comparisons, they ignore
Wed May 21, 2025, 05:41 PM
Wednesday

that the cohort of people is different.

2024 consists of people age 18 through 21 who were not included in the 2020 election as they were too young. Additionally, the 26 to 29 year olds in the 2020 group have aged beyond 30 in the 2024 election.

Could it be that the kids who transitioned from elementary school to high school - most of the first group are different from the latter group (now 30 to 34) who transitioned from elementary school to high school in the Obama years might be very different.

I know they ALWAYS compare by fixed ages groups, but especially if they want to speak of losing people, comparing the SAME cohort as they age makes more sense.

I am old enough to remember when the oldest voters were Democrats and spoke of FDR.

W_HAMILTON

(9,013 posts)
39. Sanders has led them to believe that Democrats are just as bad as Republicans and everyone needs to...
Wed May 21, 2025, 05:54 PM
Wednesday

...follow in his footsteps if any progress is to be made, when, in fact, doing that is just damning them to be a lost generation (maybe even longer...) where no ACTUAL progress is made and we actually regress as a nation. Unfortunately, we're already seeing this...

Social media doesn't reward boring pragmatic progress -- it rewards purity and grand ideals that have zero chance of ever actually being enacted due how government actually works.

JohnSJ

(98,746 posts)
53. it is damning all of us. That type of thinking has brought us to where we are today.
Wed May 21, 2025, 06:24 PM
Wednesday

Cha

(311,131 posts)
78. TY. Exactly, John... We were There and saw
Wed May 21, 2025, 09:13 PM
Wednesday

it happening in real time.

Would you Please take a look at my post and comment?

Mahalo! https://democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=20334299



JI7

(91,962 posts)
73. Does Sanders ever hold those rallies in his own state ?
Wed May 21, 2025, 08:11 PM
Wednesday

becsuse like 80 percent of the state voted for a republican governor. The whole thing is weird with him going across the country attacking Democrats but how about his own state ? He can't even get (isn't even tryng) to get this in his own state. And Vermont is a mostly liberal state.

Response to W_HAMILTON (Reply #39)

DJ Synikus Makisimus

(1,072 posts)
70. All two parties are losing young people.
Wed May 21, 2025, 08:03 PM
Wednesday

Older people, too, it would appear. More people are not voting, and all two parties are pretty much carrying on doing the same thing they always do and leaking more voters. I predict that even more people will choose not to vote in future elections. If funding could come together to overcome obstacles against a third party positioned to attract the not well-off, and had a good set of folks running social media (like AOC has done), all. two parties might be in trouble. But the likelihood of that is about as likely as Tottenham Hotspur winning a trophy. Oh, wait....

#COYS

So I guess it's LESS likely that Tottenham Hotspur winning a trophy.

Cha

(311,131 posts)
77. Well Then.. the "young Voters".. are in Danger
Wed May 21, 2025, 09:05 PM
Wednesday

of "LOSING" their Future and everyone Else's Fucking Future.

There's been so many Dem WINS Lately since Mump and the Fascists got Control.. I guess they weren't Involved?!

JohnSJ

(98,746 posts)
82. You are so right Cha. They messed up in a big way, but I guess they can put those tiny screws in Apple Iphones
Wed May 21, 2025, 09:35 PM
Wednesday

when they are assembling them as Lutnick, Commerce Secretary was excitedly proclaiming when the tariff's create all those wonderful jobs that will be coming back.

I am sure those laid off government scientists and other professionals laid off due to the trump/musk genius job creating plan are chomping at the bit for those jobs so to speak.

Too bad that a lot of those jobs will probably be filled by robots and AI.



Cha

(311,131 posts)
87. Aloha Join, sorry I
Wed May 21, 2025, 10:41 PM
Wednesday

Had to take a bus to Costco.

I want to read and answer this when I get back home 🏡.

Talk soon. Mahalo for replying 🕯️🕊️💙🌈🌻🇨🇦🌊

Cha

(311,131 posts)
92. Thanks, John... They're trying to Destroy America. .
Wed May 21, 2025, 11:57 PM
Wednesday

I'm thinking that everything that's being Done, now and all the Lies surrounding it are Done for Vlad Putin.. getting ready eventually for the Massive Takeover.

Why do you think Mumputin wants Greenland besides the Minerals? And Canada.. besides being a Greedy Nazi wannbe.

Too bad the "young voters" listen to those who have only themselves in mind And Not America and her People:

We saw that in 2016 When Fascism Entered Our WH in 2017. like you said earlier. And, those Mump Voters Didn't have enough of it then so they Voted for It Again.

The Stupid Burns White HOT

JohnSJ

(98,746 posts)
93. I don't like being too pessimistic, but what happened was a perfect storm against Democracy, and I think
Thu May 22, 2025, 12:07 AM
Thursday

a lot of people will be hurt before this is all over.


Cha

(311,131 posts)
95. I don't like it, either... always looking for
Thu May 22, 2025, 12:29 AM
Thursday

the Silver Lining. But realistically I think a lot of Patriots can see what's happening.

That Doesn't mean I'm not hoping for Miracles that It Can BE STOPED!

Terry_M

(797 posts)
88. 3 democratic congressmen died in office so far this year
Wed May 21, 2025, 11:02 PM
Wednesday

3 have been at this until they were 70-77 years old and kept doing this till the last minute.
Whatever defensive statements you're thinking of - this definitely leaves an impression of an aging party, doesn't it?

W_HAMILTON

(9,013 posts)
113. Do you think congresspeople are anointed rather than voted in by their constituents?
Fri May 23, 2025, 03:00 PM
Friday

If young people want to take the political reins, they need to do the hard work to win over the voters in order to do so.

AOC already laid out the plan, and for all my criticisms of her, she definitely put in the work to earn her seat. If a relatively unknown like herself can defeat a 10-term incumbent that was mentioned as a potential successor to Nancy freaking Pelosi, then anyone that actually puts in the effort and wins the votes can do the same to just about any other congresspeople.

But that involves putting down their phones and getting off their asses and putting in the work required.

Do you think people are going to vote out political leaders they have voted in for years and years in favor of some young person that has no experience and no record?

As the young people say, "you have to give voters a reason to vote FOR you, not just a reason to vote against someone else."

Terry_M

(797 posts)
114. Thanks for the opening.
Fri May 23, 2025, 08:24 PM
Friday

No - they're not anointed. They come in via primaries that are handled by the super engaged tiny minority and then you are left with no real choice, either the D that the super engaged put in or the R that the super engaged selected or stay home.
If the super engaged people do what they have been doing and selecting boring candidates like they have been, boy are we headed for a strong 2028 loss to Steve Bannon who will run a solid campaign as a smarter trump.

W_HAMILTON

(9,013 posts)
115. "They come in via primaries that are handled by the super engaged tiny minority"
Fri May 23, 2025, 08:46 PM
Friday

And no one is to blame for that but the voters themselves.

And, yes, if voters continue to screw themselves over and resort to the lazy whining that they don't like their options when they are not doing a damn thing to actually change what their options are, they have no one to blame but themselves. Their lives will continue to get worse and they will continue to complain about things they could potentially change but instead choose to be lazy and just whine about on the internet.

It's giving:

Terry_M

(797 posts)
116. Yes. Their fault, absolutely
Fri May 23, 2025, 09:07 PM
Friday

But I don't see them suddenly engaging in the next round of primaries and so what WE can do is select candidates that are more likely to appeal to them. Or they stay home again =/

AZProgressive

(29,518 posts)
99. Losing young people was an own goal for the Democrats
Thu May 22, 2025, 06:50 AM
Thursday

Democrats should have had blue wave after blue wave if they held on to the young voters.

Bernie Sanders in 2020 had the young and hispanic people behind him in the primary which are two groups the Democrats are losing the most which could have gave them a blue wave in 2024 if they held on to them. It is too late to go back and nominate him but I think someone like AOC can bring back the young voters.

betsuni

(27,934 posts)
100. No, people are losing Democrats and gaining Republicans. I'm sure they'll be very happy together.
Thu May 22, 2025, 07:18 AM
Thursday

Johnny2X2X

(22,886 posts)
102. Corporatists vs fascists
Thu May 22, 2025, 08:51 AM
Thursday

That's the way too many young people see Dems, they see Dems as self dealing corporatists. They are cynics, so the Republican idea that the government is corrupt and needs to be eliminated has a hint of truth to them.

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