In an unexpected turn of events, Donald Trump secured a second term as president, and he has Generation Z men to partly thank for this achievement.

According to voting statistics from The Wall Street Journal, Trump performed better with Generation Z, those born from 1997 to 2012, compared to his performance in 2020, especially among men, who leaned toward him more than women.

Contrary to the beliefs of many analysts (myself included), it appears that the Trump-Vance campaign’s frat-boy conservatism approach succeeded in swaying voters and played a significant role in securing the presidency.

Republicans Faced Challenges with Gen Z, Until Now

Overall, Generation Z has moved more towards conservative views in 2024, continuing a trend observed over the last three elections. Although Republicans had been gradually gaining traction among younger voters in 2020 and 2022, Trump’s substantial progress this year suggests that the GOP might be more resilient than previously thought.

Between 2020 and 2024, the shift among Gen Z men was notable, with a 15 percentage point move to the right—the largest shift observed among age and gender demographics in this election cycle. Meanwhile, Gen Z women also moved 7 points in the same conservative direction.

However, it wasn’t solely the shift among men that contributed to Trump’s success; he also gained support from minority groups, according to data from NBC News.

Trump exceeded recent pre-election predictions which showed him trailing behind by about 20 points among Gen Z voters, especially among likely voters in this demographic.

This change can largely be attributed to economic concerns, the top priority for Gen Z voters, and one they feel more confident in Trump handling than Vice President Kamala Harris. A significant 31% of Gen Z indicated that the economy was their primary issue before the election, an area where Trump has historically maintained an advantage, despite some recent tightening in polls regarding this topic.

Even though younger voters generally favor Harris due to her character and abortion policies—a major factor during the 2022 elections—Trump’s strong positioning on economic issues made the contest among young people closer.

Gen Z Still Presents a Challenge for Republicans, But a Path to Success Exists

While Gen Z women tend to lean further left compared to men, resulting in Trump losing the overall youth demographic, the significant 15-point swing among Gen Z men this election has lessened the Democrats’ overall advantage.

Young voters are still generally inclined towards Democrats, yet Trump has demonstrated a potential route to victory. Evidently, young men and women prioritize different issues.

If Trump can capitalize on economic improvements, it could solidify much of the appeal he holds with young voters, despite their disagreement with him on social matters. To maintain the unexpected resurgence among younger demographics, Republicans must deliver tangible results on the key issues they consider important.

If Trump fails to meet the economic expectations that he and the GOP have set, Republicans could struggle to explain any ensuing controversies during his second term to the American populace.

At the moment, young Americans are willing to tolerate Trump if the economy remains strong, but this perception could quickly shift if his protectionist trade strategies adversely affect their financial situations.

The support from Gen Z represents a significant aspect of Trump’s reelection success, and he must follow through on the promises made to young Americans.