White House Photo by Daniel Torok / Flickr
A growing number of young men are turning away from the Democratic Party, citing perceptions that it is weak, out of touch, and dismissive of their concerns, according to new findings from a major research initiative reported by Politico.
The “Speaking with American Men” (SAM) project, a two-year, $20 million effort, released its first wave of findings June 4, drawing from 30 focus groups and a national media consumption survey.
According to Politico, “Participants described the Democratic Party as overly-scripted and cautious, while Republicans are seen as confident and unafraid to offend.”
“Democrats are seen as weak, whereas Republicans are seen as strong,” Ilyse Hogue, co-founder of the SAM project, told Politico. “Young men also spoke of being invisible to the Democratic coalition, and so you’ve got this weak problem and then you’ve got this, ‘I don’t think they care about me’ problem, and I think the combination is kind of a killer.”
SAM’s national survey also revealed just 27% of young men view the Democratic Party favorably, while 43% hold a positive view of Republicans — a stark indicator of the ongoing political shift among younger male voters.
Focus groups also revealed deeper frustrations with how Democrats frame masculinity. One participant noted that Democrats promote “fluid masculinity,” while Republicans embrace “traditional masculinity of a provider.”
Others criticized Democratic campaigns for prioritizing celebrity appearances over real policy solutions. One Latino man from Las Vegas pointed to former Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2024 campaign, which featured appearances with Beyoncé and Lady Gaga.
“It just kind of felt like, what does that have to do with me? I’m trying to move up in life,” the participant said, according to Politico.
By contrast, President Donald Trump’s direct policy promises — such as eliminating taxes on tips and overtime — reportedly resonated with voters as practical and action-oriented.
The SAM findings align with broader national trends. A CNN poll released June 1 found that 40% of Americans identify Republicans as the party of strong leadership, compared to just 16% for Democrats. Republicans also led by wide margins as the party that “gets things done” and drives “change.”
Additional polling underscores growing Democratic disillusionment. A survey last month found that only one-third of Democratic voters felt optimistic about the future of their party — a sharp drop from nearly 60% in July 2024.
