Gen Z Divide: Younger Voters Lean GOP While Older Peers Stick With Democrats

A surprising generational rift is emerging within Gen Z. New polling reveals an 18-point partisan gap between the younger and older halves of America’s youngest voters — with those aged 18–21 favoring Republicans, while their older peers lean Democratic. Analysts say the divide traces back to how each subgroup experienced the pandemic and their online influences — from TikTok to Trump-era counter-culture. As 2024 election data continues to be unpacked, one thing is clear: Gen Z is not a monolith.