Overview

• SAM’s national survey found only 27% of young men view Democrats positively versus 43% who view Republicans favorably.
• Focus group participants said Democrats are seen as overly scripted and cautious while Republicans appear confident and unafraid to offend.
• Many young men feel invisible to the Democratic coalition, believing the party does not care about their concerns.
• Researchers identified a “masculinity crisis” among men under 30 marked by economic anxiety and confusion over modern manhood.
• The report recommends that Democrats “speak the language” of young men through non-traditional digital outreach—such as YouTube ads, in-game placements and influencer partnerships—with a more direct tone.