In recent weeks, many liberal outlets have been puzzling over polling results, some of which show that men between the ages of eighteen and twenty-nine are leaving the Democratic Party. These stories fit within a well-worn genre of political writing, wherein some formerly loyal group of people starts to teeter. This election is rife with these would-be prodigal sons: Muslim and Arab American voters, Black men, and Gen Z men, all facing scrutiny for their voting patterns.
I typically find this type of framing both annoying and incurious because it begins with the assumption that any veering from the liberal consensus stems from dysfunction or coercion. This perspective positions young men, who are increasingly disillusioned with mainstream politics, as if they are wayward and in need of correction. The comments reflect a broader concern about the direction of the Democratic Party, suggesting a disconnect between its leadership and the values of younger voters.
The big-picture explanations for young men leaving the Democratic Party are quite simple: they feel alienated from progressive policies that don’t resonate with their needs or experiences. This dissatisfaction is exacerbated by a lack of targeted outreach from the party, leading to the perception that their concerns are dismissed. Rather than catering to these demographic shifts with understanding, the response has been one of incredulity and disappointment from liberal commentators.
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