Gen Z's political views: A look into 2020 voting patterns

Gen Z, the most well-educated and diverse generation to date, has begun shifting voting toward the left.

Voting trends, as well as the generation’s values, have revealed that Gen Z will likely continue to favor candidates with more progressive and pro-government ideals.

Emma Bittner, Texas Healthcare Policy Fellow for Young Invincibles and a senior at the University of Texas at Austin with a double major in journalism and communication and leadership, said social issues were her top priority when looking for a political candidate. 

“There are a lot of things to look for, not only their experience and their knowledge on topics, but also what they have to say about everything,” said Bittner. “So I look, for me personally, really closely at social issues, those are a lot of things I care about. Health care, voting, LGBTQ and a lot of things that align closely.”

Inclusion, equity and fairness resonate deeply with Gen Z’s core values and those attitudes are what drove some to the polls in 2020. Democrats recognized their appeal to those beliefs, which ultimately aided in winning over many of Gen Z's votes.

Aidan Wells, a senior studying government at Harvard, said his generation will vote if given a purpose. 

“If you give them a reason to vote, they're going to vote, but the question is what do young people care about,” said Wells. “How do you get them to show up and do it when we tend to be more cynical than a lot of other generations.”

Gen Z shaping its political opinions

With wider access to information on the internet and social media, Gen Z has begun to develop its political values through research using online tools.

Not only have technological advancements played a role, but also the fact that Gen Z is currently the most highly educated generation has shaped its views.

Bittner explained her connection to higher learning and politics as she gained new life skills when beginning her college career. 

“I definitely believe that going to college has shaped my political opinions,” said Bittner. “I grew up in Frisco, so in the suburbs you are a little sheltered growing up… Being pushed into a position where I was extremely uncomfortable and new and being forced to see things that are happening that weren't necessarily talked about in the suburb I grew up in really pushed me to care more and use my voice to make change.”

IGeneration, as Pew Research Center has appropriately dubbed Gen Z, has constructed its political identity from its connection to technology. A study from Axis titled "Understanding Generation Z Culture" explained Gen Z’s relationship to technological advancements. 

“Technology is one of the first aspects of the modern world that comes to mind when asking what major cultural events have shaped Millennials and Gen Z,” according to Axis. “During both generations’ lifetimes, the internet became a key part of everyday life. Social media followed in the early 2000s, which was in turn followed by the smartphone.”

The internet being part of Gen Z’s everyday life makes it natural for the generation to use it as a tool to obtain information, especially when trying to form an opinion. Scott Elliott, a senior studying economics, said his political opinions are mostly shaped by researching on the internet.

“I think just reading articles and I have friends who lean right or left, I like to hear everybody's opinion, and just try to gain all the information that I can,” said Elliott. “Then based on my personal views and my personal values, I base my decisions off of the information I've gathered from friends from family and then also from articles from the internet… trying to gain a lot of different perspectives, just to be able to analyze and make a decision for myself.”

Generational comparisons

As new generations form, their values begin to change from previous generations. Non-white population growth and increasing gender equality are just two factors that are leading Gen Z to a more progressive identity.

Some members of Gen Z feel their ideals are set apart from older generations, while some feel that they align closely. 

Bittner said there are some overlapping beliefs between Gen Z and previous generations in her family, especially between the women. 

“I think I have political views that align very similarly with a lot of women in my family, we all care a lot about women's health and reproductive health,” said Bittner. “But I also think there are some social issues, as things have changed over time, naturally my views have differed there from older generations… So I think, while some have changed naturally over time as all of our opinions and views do, I think some of it is still rooted in how I grew up and how I was shaped.”

Elliott said his political opinions tend to be neutral, which he believes sets him apart from other generations in his family.

“I would say they're different,” said Elliott. “When you decide on what party you have been voting for whether it's Republican or Democrat, they usually stick by that with each election, and they usually back those candidates within each debate. Like I said before, I'm more about personality and more about the person, rather than what party they're part of. So I am different, in that regard.”