J.D. Vance Struggles to Connect with Young Voters: Poll Reveals Uphill Battle for Trump’s Running Mate

J.D. Vance Faces Uphill Battle with Young Voters, Poll Suggests

Recent polling data indicates that J.D. Vance, Donald Trump’s running mate, is struggling to gain traction among young voters nationwide. According to the latest Harvard Youth poll, only 18 percent of respondents aged 18 to 29 hold a favorable view of Vance.

Jonathan V. Last, editor at The Bulwark, argues that this figure is particularly concerning for Vance’s campaign. Last drew comparisons to North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson, who, despite a series of controversies, managed to secure higher favorability ratings in a recent Elon University poll.

The Elon University survey, conducted before Robinson’s latest scandal but after several controversial actions, found that 27 percent of female respondents viewed Robinson favorably. This is notable given Robinson’s history of contentious statements regarding the Holocaust, Hitler, and slavery, as well as admissions about frequenting adult entertainment venues and boasting of inappropriate relationships.

Breaking down the Elon University poll further, 15 percent of female respondents found Robinson “very favorable,” while 13 percent rated him as “favorable.” Conversely, 42 percent of female respondents deemed Robinson “very unfavorable.”

In contrast, the Harvard poll reveals that 46 percent of young respondents view Vance unfavorably. This figure surpasses the unfavorability rating of Tim Walz, who stands at 33 percent.

Attempting to contextualize Vance’s poll numbers, Last provocatively suggested that while entities such as the Taliban, Vladimir Putin, or herpes were not included in the poll, they might only marginally outperform Vance in favorability among young voters.

As the campaign progresses, these poll results underscore the challenges Vance faces in connecting with and winning over the crucial youth demographic.