The Politics of Gen Z: How the Youngest Voters Will Shape Our Democracy

Progressive activism today is increasingly spearheaded by the nation’s youngest voters. Gen Z--those born between 1997 and 2012--has come of age in a decade of upheavals. They have witnessed the election of Donald Trump, the murder of George Floyd, and the Dobbs Supreme Court decision, and they have lived under the constant threats of mass shootings and climate change. In response, left-leaning Zoomers, particularly women and LGBTQ people, have banded together to take action.

This book tells the story of Gen Z’s growing political participation--and why it is poised to drive U.S. politics leftward. Bringing together original data and compelling narrative--including nearly one hundred interviews with Gen Z activists and several national surveys--political scientist Melissa Deckman explores the world of youth-led progressive organizing, highlighting the crucial importance of gender and sexuality. She reveals why women and LGBTQ Zoomers are participating in politics at higher levels than their straight male peers, creating a historic ＂reverse gender gap.＂ Deckman takes readers inside Gen Z’s fight for a more inclusive and just future, sharing stories of their efforts to defend reproductive rights, prevent gun violence, stem climate change, and win political office. A deep dive into the politics of Gen Z, this book sheds new light on how young voters view politics and why their commitment to progressive values may transform the country in the years ahead.

Melissa Deckman is the CEO of PRRI, the Public Religion Research Institute. A political scientist who studies gender, religion, and American political behavior, she was previously the Louis L. Goldstein Professor of Public Affairs and chair of the Department of Political Science at Washington College. Deckman’s books include Tea Party Women: Mama Grizzlies, Grassroots Leaders, and the Changing Face of the American Right (2016).