The 2024 election revealed a striking shift in how Gen Z is engaging with American politics, raising new questions as we head into 2026. Long assumed to be the most progressive generation, Gen Z’s voting patterns defied expectations: turnout dropped, Democratic support weakened, and young men swung towards Republican candidates across the ballot. At the same time, young women moved further to the left, creating one of the widest gender gaps in modern electoral history. These shifts challenge conventional wisdom about the youth vote and prompt a deeper examination of what is driving Gen Z’s evolving political identity.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH "Gen Z and Democracy: Disillusioned and Disengaged?"

The USC Center for the Political Future invites you to a timely conversation on the forces reshaping how young voters approach civic life. Are Gen Z’s changing priorities signs of disengagement, adaptation, or a new political realignment? With the 2026 midterms approaching, this discussion will explore whether Gen Z’s 2024 voting patterns were a one-time disruption or the beginning of a lasting transformation in America’s political landscape.

Panelists include:

• Diego Andrades (moderator) - Assistant Director, USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future 
• Laura Brill - Founder & CEO, The Civics Center; Former Law Clerk for Justice Ruth Bader-Ginsburg
• Maddy Roth - Executive Director, I Am A Voter 
• Jahnavi Rao - President & Founder, New Voters

CLICK HERE TO WATCH "Gen Z and Democracy: Disillusioned and Disengaged?"