Young men aren’t just rejecting the Democrat Party — they’re rejecting the party’s most prominent face.
A new Yale Youth Poll finds Donald Trump sits at a +7 net favorability among 18 to 21 year old men. Meanwhile, his opponent in the 2024 presidential race, former Vice President Kamala Harris, scored an abysmal -48 net favorability among the same cohort.
“Harris isn’t just unpopular,” writes Yale Youth Poll Data Director Zachary Donnini, “She’s radioactive with young guys.”
Among 18–21 year-old men:
🟢 Donald Trump: +7 net favorability (52-45)
🔴 Kamala Harris: -48 net favorability (24-72)That’s a 55-point gap according to @YalePolling. Harris isn’t just unpopular — she’s radioactive with young guys.
— Zachary Donnini (@ZacharyDonnini) April 21, 2025
Indeed, in print and video alike, Harris emits a lethal anti-charisma. Her speech is prone to dissolving into cryptic and nonsensical aphorisms. Imagine a sphinx perched atop a coconut tree, stumping all who wish to pass with this simple riddle: “What can be, unburdened by what has been.” Kamala’s cackle, too, is perfectly suited to an evil stepmother in a children’s story, but probably not ideal in a politician.
Or so one would think.
Despite a resounding “no” from the American people, levied across all seven swing states, Democrats can’t bring themselves to let Harris out to pasture. Rumors regarding the failed candidate’s political future abound. Could she contend with the current governor of California, Democrat Gavin Newsom, in an upcoming gubernatorial election? Is she founding an “institute for policy and ideas”? And will such an institute have any openings for a Venn-diagram analyst?
The greatest question remains: Will Harris launch a bid for the 2028 presidency? (RELATED: ‘Red Flashing Warning’: Chris Cillizza Explains Why ‘Kamala Harris Absolutely Should Not’ Launch 2028 Bid)
The Yale Youth Poll itself shows Harris outperforming other Democrats in a hypothetical presidential primary. 27.5% of Democrat and Democrat-leaning voters would support Harris if the primary were held today, the poll reports. Trailing Harris was Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez with 21.3% of the vote.
Though Harris is a terrible candidate, the Democrats are hardly suffering from a glut of better options. There’s Newsom, burdened by years of impressively awful leadership in California. There’s Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who herself enjoys a good “word-salad.”
But what’s a Dem to do, if not fail upwards?
Follow Natalie Sandoval on X: @NatalieIrene03
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