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 con