A new poll from Harvard University’s Institute of Politics (IOP) indicates that Vice President Kamala Harris is enjoying a significant surge in support among America’s youngest voters, leading former President Donald Trump by a staggering 31 points in the 2024 presidential race. This represents a dramatic shift in sentiment from the spring, when President Biden led Trump by only 13 points among likely youth voters.
The poll, released on Tuesday morning, highlights the growing enthusiasm among young Democrats for Harris, with nearly three-quarters of them stating they will “definitely” vote, compared to 60% of Republicans. This enthusiasm, coupled with a jump in Harris’ approval rating as Vice President (from 32% in the spring to 44% now), has significantly strengthened the Democratic position among young voters.
Harris’ favorable rating now stands at a positive five points, while Trump’s are underwater by 30 points. Additionally, Harris outperforms Trump on key issues and personal qualities, further cementing her strong position among this demographic.
The poll also highlights the impact of social media, with over half of young voters reporting seeing memes about Harris online in the last month. Of those, 34% said the memes positively influenced their opinion. Conversely, 56% saw memes about Trump, with 26% reporting a negative impact.
This trend further illustrates Harris’ growing appeal to young voters, who are increasingly active and engaged online. The poll also reveals a widening gender gap, with Harris leading by 70% to 23% among likely female voters aged 18-29, compared to a 53% to 36% margin among likely male voters. This highlights the significant impact Harris is having on female voters.
John Della Volpe, longtime IOP polling director, emphasized the significance of this youth vote, stating, “Gen Z and young millennials’ heightened enthusiasm signals a potentially decisive role for the youth vote in 2024.” This suggests that Harris’ strong showing among young voters could be a pivotal factor in the 2024 presidential election.
The Harvard Youth Poll, conducted September 4-16, surveyed 2,002 people aged 18-29 nationwide. The poll’s overall sampling error is plus or minus 2.65 percentage points.
