Americans Feel Stronger Political Connection by Generation
A recent CNN poll indicates that many Americans feel a deeper political connection with others in their age group than with individuals of their own race or gender. The poll, released on Friday, reveals that nearly 60% of American adults report having “a lot in common” with people their age. In contrast, less than half (43%) express a political connection to individuals of the same gender, and only 39% feel similarly about others of their race.
For example, Gabriel, a 21-year-old college senior from California, shared his perspective, mentioning that his generation seems to be the first to anticipate a more challenging economic future than that of their parents. He remarked, “With affordability, homeownership, growing up during a pandemic, and all those issues, what’s important to my generation is probably a lot different than older generations.”
The survey also highlighted generational differences in political connection; respondents aged 65 and older were 10 percentage points more likely than those under 35 to feel a connection to their generation. Furthermore, the study found that one in five Americans felt politically aligned across all three areas: generation, gender, and race. Interestingly, 46% of participants reported feeling connected across these various demographics.
Samara Klar, a political scientist at the University of Arizona, contributed to the discussion, noting that people often identify differently throughout the day and with varying social groups.
The poll suggested that women are slightly more inclined than men to view gender as a politically significant factor, with 46% of women compared to 40% of men expressing this sentiment. Additionally, it revealed that a majority of Black Americans (64%) and 55% of Latinos feel they share political concerns with others of their race, whereas only 28% of white adults feel the same.
In related findings, a Yale Youth Poll from April 2025 noted a shift among college-aged Americans, showing that more now support the Republican Party over the Democrats. Criticism has also emerged from former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who mentioned that some members of the Democratic Party view everything through an identity lens.
According to a poll released on December 4, only 13% of young Americans believe the country is on the right track, with 57% saying it is headed in the wrong direction, while 28% remain uncertain.
This CNN poll was carried out by SSRS between August 21 and September 1, 2025, involving a random sample of 2,077 U.S. adults. It included online and phone interviews with live interviewers, resulting in a margin of error of plus or minus 2.7 percentage points.
