The Democratic Party is seeing a noticeable dip in support from one of its most important groups—young voters—according to a new survey.
Brett Cooper, host of The Brett Cooper Show, says this shift isn’t surprising. Speaking on Fox & Friends, she explained that many people in her generation feel the Democratic Party no longer speaks to their values or priorities. “They’ve lost touch,” she said, “and they’re starting to feel outdated. People on both the left and right want new, younger voices in Congress.”
She pointed to long-serving lawmakers like Senator Dick Durbin, who recently announced his retirement, as examples of how out-of-step some leaders feel to younger Americans. “When your representatives are twice your age, it’s hard to feel like they really get where you’re coming from,” Cooper added.
She also highlighted a growing divide within the Democratic Party itself—between the progressive wing and the more centrist members. “If you’re anti-Trump, you feel like Democrats aren’t doing enough to stand up to him. But if you’re more moderate, you’re uncomfortable with how far left some parts of the party have gone. It’s leaving a lot of people feeling politically homeless.”
Supporting this sentiment, a new poll from the Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics found that just 23% of young voters approve of how congressional Democrats are doing—a big drop from 42% in 2017. Republicans, meanwhile, received 29% approval among young people, which, while still low, is higher than usual for the party with this age group.
Interestingly, Donald Trump’s approval rating among young voters in the same poll was 31%, consistent with his past numbers.
Cooper suggested that younger, more media-savvy Democrats—like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez—might have the potential to reconnect with Gen Z voters. “They’re going to have to change their approach. People want authenticity, not just slogans and selfies,” she said.
A recent Data for Progress poll backs up her theory. When asked about a hypothetical 2028 primary race between Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and AOC, 55% of New York Democrats said they would vote for Ocasio-Cortez, compared to just 36% for Schumer.
That same poll showed AOC ranking as one of the most popular figures among Democrats, trailing only Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris, and Elizabeth Warren. Schumer, on the other hand, came in last among Democratic leaders.
All of this is happening at a delicate time politically. Schumer recently worked with Senate Republicans and President Trump on a spending bill, a move that angered many progressives who feel Democrats should be fighting harder against the former president’s growing influence.
In fact, 84% of Democrats in the poll said they believe party leaders aren’t doing enough to stand up to Trump and the MAGA movement—a clear sign that change may be on the horizon.