Harris Surges in New Poll Among America's Youngest Voters

A new poll released by Harvard University reveals surging support for Vice President Harris among the youngest voters, aged 18-29, as she prepares for a 2024 presidential showdown against former President Trump.

The Independent Institute of Politics (IOP) at the Harvard Kennedy School released a survey on Tuesday indicating a dramatic shift in support among young Americans. Vice President Harris now leads Trump by 31 points (61% to 30%) among likely voters aged 18-29 in the upcoming presidential election.

This represents a significant change from Harvard's spring survey, which showed President Biden leading Trump by just 13 points among the same demographic. The previous numbers raised concerns among Democrats, who have traditionally relied on youth voters as a key part of their base.

Harris Surges in New Poll Among America's Youngest Voters

Since Biden dropped out of the race and Harris replaced him as the Democrats' 2024 nominee, she has enjoyed a wave of enthusiasm and momentum. "This poll reveals a significant shift in the overall vibe and preferences of young Americans as the campaign heads into the final stretch," said IOP polling director John Della Volpe.

Harris' lead over Trump among young voters exceeds Biden's roughly 25-point margin in the 2020 election. The latest Fox News national poll also indicates Harris topping Trump by 17 points among voters under age 30.

Harris Surges in New Poll Among America's Youngest Voters

The IOP poll attributes Harris' strong position to several factors, including a significant enthusiasm gap among young Democrats and Republicans regarding the upcoming election. Additionally, Harris' approval rating as vice president has jumped from 32% in the spring to 44% now.

Harris also outperforms Trump on key issues and personal qualities mentioned in the survey. She holds a 53%-36% margin among likely male voters aged 18-29, while her lead surges to 70%-23% among likely female voters.

Harris Surges in New Poll Among America's Youngest Voters

One notable finding is the impact of social media on young voters' perceptions of the candidates. Over half of young voters surveyed reported encountering memes about Harris online in the last month, with 34% indicating it positively influenced their opinion. Conversely, 56% reported seeing memes about Trump, with 26% reporting a negative impact.

The poll also highlights a widening gender gap, with female support for Harris eclipsing male support by a 30-point margin.

Harris Surges in New Poll Among America's Youngest Voters

Della Volpe emphasized that the heightened enthusiasm among young voters "signals a potentially decisive role for the youth vote in 2024."

The Harvard Youth Poll has been conducted since 1997, providing insights into the political opinions and voting trends of young Americans. The latest survey was conducted Sept. 4-16 with 2,002 people aged 18-29 nationwide, with a sampling error of plus or minus 2.65 percentage points.