Why many Gen Z voters say today’s Democratic messaging feels “tone-deaf” or “out-dated”
We are not paying attention!
I recently volunteered to support our neighborhood’s newly elected Democratic Precinct Chair, a dynamic 21-year-old UT student who’s already knocking on doors to introduce himself and energize voters ahead of 2026 and 2028. His commitment is truly inspiring.
Yet many of his Gen Z peers feel disconnected from the Democratic Party, not voting at all. When I ask why, I often hear: “All politicians are liars,” “My vote doesn’t matter,” or “The future holds nothing for us so what’s the point?” It’s heartbreaking to realize the cynicism we’ve allowed to take root.
Digging deeper, I’ve uncovered several “friction points” that dampen young people’s enthusiasm. It’s on us to remind them that the nearly 250-year-old experiment we call American democracy is priceless…and perilously fragile. Without our collective engagement, the institutions that safeguard our rights, our Constitution, and even an independent judiciary cannot endure. We cannot sit idle while extremism of this regime erodes our liberties and siphons public resources. Participation is the antidote, and we must empower the next generation to claim their rightful place in shaping the future.
According to Malcolm Kenyatta, Vice Chair of the DNC, we have to “Make Life Better. That starts by getting real about what’s gone wrong inside the party, and not just pointing fingers.”
“Better for the working mom whose struggle to pay the bills keeps her from truly spending time with her kids.
Make life better…for workers, by making it easy to join a union, raising the minimum wage and passing universal paid leave.
Make life better…for the young couple who wants a home they can afford, in a neighborhood where they feel safe, with schools where their kids can thrive.
Make life better…no matter who you are, what you look like, or who you love.
In just over 100 days, Malcolm traveled over 20,000 miles across eight states - and even overseas to meet with our Democrats Abroad chapters - listening, lifting up local organizers and helping to sharpen our strategy. He’s shown up to town halls in ruby-red areas and to big events across the states he’s visited, meeting people where they are and making the case for how the Dems can win.
1. Kitchen-table economics. “Talk to me about rent and take-home pay, not GDP.” Young voters who didn’t back Harris in 2024 named pay-check stretch, housing and student-debt relief as their top unmet needs; culture-war slogans or progressive buzzwords barely registered. Vox.
2. Aging leadership breeds distrust.“How can people in their 80s know what my life is like?” (Although there is something to be said for wisdom!) A May 21 San Francisco Chronicle piece notes the share of under-30s who approve of Hill Democrats has collapsed from 42 % in 2017 to 23 % in 2024, with age cited as a prime reason. San Francisco Chronicle.
3. Digital style feels staged.“Cringey Instagram carousels ≠ authenticity.”Gen Z lives in meme culture and algorithmic echo-chambers; Politico reports they trust comment threads over mainstream news and are highly vulnerable to TikTok misinformation, making polished party content look corporate and unrelatable. Politico.
4. Micro-generation & gender split.“Gen Z isn’t a bloc…18 - to 21-year-old men are drifting right.” Yale Youth Poll shows 18-21-year-olds favor GOP by 12 pts while 22-29-year-olds back Democrats by 6 pts; the party was “caught flat-footed” by this divide. Politico.
5. Incrementalism on core values.“Cautious half-measures on climate, Gaza, LGBTQ and debt forgiveness make Dems look performative.”A March Teen Vogue op-ed says young progressives see rainbow-flag photo-ops but “hollow in substance” action on climate, trans rights and student debt. Teen Vogue.
6. Activism has moved online but Dem outreach hasn’t.“We mobilize in Discord and TikTok, not marches or canvass scripts.” Two-thirds of Gen Z activism is now digital; POLITICO Nightly found major protests this spring were dominated by 30-somethings while Zoomers stayed home and on their phones. Politico.
Take-aways for Democratic communicators
Meet material reality first. Lead with near-term cost-of-living fixes (rent caps, debt relief tranches) before macro success stories.
Show—not tell—generational change. Elevate credible Zoomer & Millennial surrogates, give them message control, and highlight policy wins they championed.
Shift digital tone from broadcast to participatory. Raw-cut TikToks, collaborative Discord AMAs, meme-ready infographics beat slick templates.
Tailor content by micro-cohort. Younger Gen Z men respond to economic-mobility frames and institutional skepticism; older Gen Z women still prioritize abortion and climate.
Demonstrate bold, values-based leadership. Visible movement on climate, Gaza cease-fire advocacy, and decisive LGBTQ protections signal urgency Gen Z expects.
Failing to adapt risks repeating 2024’s outcome, when youth turnout was respectable but Dem advantage shrank to just +4 because messages didn’t land where Gen Z actually lives or worries. Vox.
You want to evolve and grow the party? We’ve got some work to do. Talk to people who feel left out of it. Bring in new voices. Support local candidates. Knock on doors. Run for something. Volunteer. Speak up.
And, right now, everyone must contact their Senators to squash this outrageous budget bill. Mine, sadly, will not pay attention but I will write and call them every day to kill this bill that will see many end up with no health care, food aid, or child tax credits. (see chart below)
Oh, and did you know the bill also includes a tax break on the purchase of a “silencer” for your gun? That’s a priority?
With determination and hope for the next generation,
Donna
Dinner conversation topic:
Who’s the youngest person you know who’s already leading something cool, and what can the rest of us learn from them?
Spotlights inspiring Gen-Z energy without getting into voter-file statistics.