Young voters are leaning harder left and souring on President Donald Trump, according to fresh data from the Yale Youth Poll. The survey paints a picture of widening generational divides and offers early clues about the 2028 presidential landscape.

A Noticeable Leftward Shift

The poll, which surveyed 3,426 registered voters between late October and mid-November, found that 46% of adults under 30 now call themselves liberal—up significantly from 39.3% just months earlier in the spring. The moderate middle has nearly evaporated, with only 13% of 18- to 22-year-olds and 18% of 23- to 29-year-olds identifying that way. Conservative identification remains substantial at 40% and 38% for those age groups, respectively, but the trend lines are clear.

Trump's Standing Takes a Hit

Trump's approval among young voters has cratered. The poll shows 64% of 18- to 22-year-olds and 66% of 23- to 29-year-olds now disapprove of his job performance. That's a dramatic swing from earlier this year when younger voters were roughly evenly divided on the president.

This isn't entirely new territory. Back in 2018 during Trump's first term, an Associated Press-NORC/MTV poll found most young people viewed him as "racist," "generally dishonest" and "mentally unfit" for office. The current numbers suggest those perceptions haven't softened.

The Engagement Gap Persists

Here's the catch: ideological leanings don't always drive political participation. An AP-NORC poll from August 2025 revealed that while nine in 10 older adults say voting is very important, only about six in 10 young adults agree. A third of younger adults admit they barely follow U.S. politics at all.

Early 2028 Preferences Emerge

Looking ahead to 2028, the Yale poll shows voters under 34 view Vice President J.D. Vance and California Governor Gavin Newsom as viable contenders. But within party primaries, preferences diverge. Democrats under 30 lean toward Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, while many Republicans would still back Trump if he were eligible for a third term.

Cost of living tops the issue list for voters under 34, followed closely by democracy and corruption. These priorities have remained consistent throughout Trump's second term, including in earlier polling where young Americans favored Joe Biden or Kamala Harris over Trump and expressed doubts about the country's direction.