WASHINGTON – A new poll released on Tuesday shows that Vice President Kamala Harris is quickly gaining traction with young voters, which may reduce former President Donald Trump’s chances of winning back the White House this November.

The Harvard Youth Poll, carried out from September 4 to September 18, reveals that among likely voters aged 18 to 29, Harris enjoys a substantial 31-point lead over Trump, with figures showing 61% for Harris and 30% for Trump. Seven percent are considering a third-party candidate or are undecided.

Among registered voters in the same age group, Harris leads Trump by 23 points, 52% to 29%. Nineteen percent of respondents either did not know their voting intentions, refused to respond, or opted for a third-party candidate.

This momentum appears to stem from Harris’s “Brat Summer” campaign, which targets younger voters, as well as endorsements from major celebrities such as Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish, alongside her active engagement on social media like TikTok.

“In just a few weeks, Vice President Harris has sparked considerable enthusiasm among the youth electorate. The shift toward Harris is substantial, mainly driven by young women. Our poll dives into the values of this generation that will motivate them to participate in the November elections,” remarked Anil Cacodcar, Chair of the Harvard Public Opinion Project, in a press statement. “Harris is benefiting from a combination of personal appeal, supportive policies, and effective social media outreach.”

The survey included responses from 2,002 young adults across the nation, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.65 percentage points.

Here’s a more detailed breakdown of the findings from the Harvard Youth poll.

Analysis of Candidates’ Issues and Characteristics

When asked to describe their first impression of Harris, 33% of young voters mentioned positive attributes like capable, hopeful, young, or a breath of fresh air.

Conversely, only 17% of young voters associated Trump with positive terms such as leadership, strength, or patriotic sentiments linked to MAGA (Make America Great Again).

Negative associations were significantly lower for Harris, with 28% of young voters expressing negative thoughts about her compared to a striking 63% expressing negative sentiments about Trump.

On various issues, including abortion, climate change, education, healthcare, gun control, and democracy protection, Harris maintains a lead of over 20 points against Trump among young voters, as outlined in the Harvard Youth Poll’s findings.

“This poll highlights a notable change in the attitudes and preferences of young Americans as the campaign nears its conclusion,” stated John Della Volpe, IOP Polling Director in the press release. “Vice President Harris has bolstered the Democratic outlook among young voters, surpassing Trump on key issues and personal characteristics. The increased enthusiasm from Gen Z and young millennials suggests youth votes could play a decisive role in the 2024 elections.”

The latest poll results signify a shift for Democrats compared to their previous standing with young voters, particularly in relation to support for top-tier candidates while President Joe Biden was still in the race. Biden exited the race in late July after a poor debate performance against Trump.