Young Men's Support for Trump Cools Ahead of Midterms

Softening support from young male voters threatens Republicans' hopes of retaining slim majorities in Congress.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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A group of young men who voted for former President Donald Trump in 2024 expressed mixed views on his performance, with some criticizing his administration's harsh immigration enforcement tactics and frustration over rising prices. This sentiment mirrors a broader shift in national polling that shows Trump is losing ground with young male voters, threatening the Republican Party's chances of retaining control of Congress in the upcoming midterm elections.

Why it matters

Young male voters were a key demographic that helped propel Trump to victory in 2024, but their growing dissatisfaction with his policies and leadership style could undermine the GOP's hopes of maintaining its slim majorities in the House and Senate. This shift in support from a crucial voting bloc could have significant implications for the midterm elections.

The details

The article profiles a group of six young men at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire who voted for Trump in 2024. While some still broadly support the president, others expressed disappointment with his handling of economic issues like inflation and the cost of living. Several also criticized the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement tactics, citing incidents of U.S. citizens being killed by ICE agents. Nationally, polling shows Trump's approval rating among men aged 18-29 has dropped from 43% in February 2025 to 33% last month, posing a threat to Republican hopes of retaining control of Congress.

  • In February 2025, Trump's approval rating among men aged 18-29 was 43%.
  • Last month, Trump's approval rating among the same demographic had dropped to 33%.

The players

Tyler Witzgall

A 20-year-old sophomore at Saint Anselm College who voted for Trump in 2024 but expressed disappointment in the president's efforts to tackle domestic economic issues.

Ian Pomfret

A 20-year-old sophomore at Saint Anselm College who broadly supports Trump but criticized the administration's aggressive immigration enforcement tactics.

Chris Pappas

The Democratic frontrunner for an open Senate seat in New Hampshire, who has been working to build a following on TikTok and engage with younger voters.

Scott Brown

A former Republican senator from New Hampshire who is seeking the GOP nomination for the open Senate seat and is trying to connect with younger voters through his hobbies and social media presence.

Tyler Delaney

A 19-year-old freshman at Saint Anselm College who said the divisiveness of Trump's approach will come back to bite him if the Democrats take control of the House after the midterms.

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What they’re saying

“I'm still going to graduate and be in an enormous amount of debt. I won't be able to buy a home for a while.”

— Tyler Witzgall, 20-year-old sophomore

“The ICE thing is a huge problem. I feel like there is a better way of going about it than raiding and killing and instant deportation.”

— Ian Pomfret, 20-year-old sophomore

“If you ask someone in their 20s about owning a home, that seems like a far-off notion. We've got to make that dream within reach of more people.”

— Chris Pappas, Democratic Senate candidate

“It's not a stretch for me to walk in and start playing hoops with somebody or get up on stage and jam with some teenagers.”

— Scott Brown, Republican Senate candidate

“It gets to a point where you need to have some bipartisanship, and I think that's gonna hit Trump hard after the midterms.”

— Tyler Delaney, 19-year-old freshman

What’s next

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The takeaway

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