There is no doubt America is currently undergoing a major political realignment. The recent unexpected victory of democratic socialist New York mayor, Zohran Mandami, reflects the shifting ideological tides of Gen Z. However, the established partisan structures and coalitions have failed to mobilize this young generation. Therefore, politicians should disregard traditional political frameworks and focus on specific issues to better adapt to the nuanced views of Gen Z.
Much of Gen Z’s hesitation to join coalitions stems from their lack of faith in their capability. Government sophomore Tia Chatterjee shared her generation’s disappointments with the current political status quo.
“I think a lot of Gen Z is more frustrated with the inactivity of the previous generations in politics,” Chatterjee said. “Both camps want to see actual change occur.”
Another major source of frustration is the influence of lobbyists. The willingness of politicians to accept funds causes voters to question their motivations.
“They take more money from corporations than they do people, which is why I think there’s a large disconnect,” Chatterjee said. “If they’re making $50,000 and they’re getting paid a million dollars by a lobbyist, who are they actually voting for?”
Additionally, the nuanced policy positions of Gen Z can be another reason they are hesitant to align with larger coalitions. Nowadays, it is certainly not unheard of to be an economic conservative with liberal social views or vice versa. As a more progressive generation, Gen Z transcends party lines on several issues.
“I feel like more people our age seem to have a lot of similar views on women’s rights or gender and sexuality,” said biology freshman Sophia Jarlowe.
Similarly, Gen Z has taken a more progressive stance on economic programs.
“I think the acceptance of socialized programs like subsidized education and healthcare is more widely accepted,” Chatterjee said.
The complexity of political views is a key factor as to why many members of Gen Z are unwilling to define themselves fully with one party.
“A lot of people are just scared to pick one side or another because there are so many contradicting and conflicting views nowadays, and there are so many complex ways to solve or to look at so many issues,” Jarlowe said.
Thus, the inability of politicians to connect personally with Gen Z on specific issues, such as affordability and healthcare, is a major contributor to their ineffectiveness. To combat this, politicians must restore their trust with these young voters and utilize new tools for outreach.
To resolve issues with voter trust, officials can choose to refuse lobbyist funds and instead pursue grassroots efforts.
“A lot of candidates that refuse (political action committee) money I seem to feel more connected to,” Chatterjee said. “They are actually working for the people that they represent rather than the lobbyists that are paying them to vote on certain issues.”
Meanwhile, politicians can also improve their relationship with Gen Z with greater use of social media. This provides a greater opportunity for outreach and even supports the appeal of a more grassroots effort.
“You’ll see (politicians) on Facebook or sometimes even on TikTok, and that does give them a wider platform to reach out to more kids our age or to young voters,” Jarlowe said. “The best thing they can really do is just expand themselves on social media more.”
What Gen Z truly seeks and what the political establishment currently lacks is relatability. Gen Z wants to feel that their concerns, nuances and experiences are heard. And for that, the politicians may need to let go of the glory and glamour and simply be authentic.
Stark is a chemical engineering freshman from Orange County, California.
