Polling Shows Trump's Support Waning Among Young Men

- Recent polling from the center-left group Third Way shows a significant drop in Donald Trump's approval among men aged 18-29, with only 32% approving and 66% disapproving. This represents a 34-point deficit, a stark reversal from his 14-point lead with this demographic in the 2024 election. - Economic concerns appear to be a major driver of this shift, with 58% of young men stating that Trump has negatively impacted their finances. Furthermore, 65% report struggling to pay their bills or just making enough to get by. - On the generic congressional ballot for the 2026 midterms, registered voters aged 18-29 favor Democrats over Republicans, 54% to 36%. Among likely voters in this age group, the gap widens to 61% for Democrats and 31% for Republicans. - There is a notable enthusiasm gap, with young Republican and Independent men indicating they are more likely to skip the 2026 midterm elections and wait for the 2028 presidential election to vote. - Dissatisfaction extends to specific policies, with 66% of young men being "very concerned" about Trump's $1 trillion cut to healthcare, 63% about his opposition to fully releasing the Epstein files, and 60% regarding the expansion of immigration raids. - Polling from the Speaking With American Men (SAM) project indicates Trump's favorability among young men dropped from 56% in the spring of 2024 to 46% by early 2026. The same poll found that only 27% of young men believe Trump is "delivering for people" like them. - Democrats are actively developing strategies to win over young male voters, acknowledging their previous shortcomings in connecting with this demographic. These strategies include working with online influencers and focusing on more relatable messengers. - Historically, young voters have the lowest turnout rates, though it has increased in recent competitive elections. In the 2020 election, the turnout rate for young men aged 18-24 was 49%.