Poll: Young US voters least likely to support female president

A new poll conducted by American University reveals a stark disconnect in voter attitudes toward women in politics: while most Americans support electing more women to public office, younger voters are significantly less open to seeing a woman in the White House.

The survey of 801 registered voters, commissioned by the university’s Women and Politics Institute and first shared with POLITICO, uncovers ongoing gender bias in the highest levels of political leadership.

It found that nearly one in five voters said they or someone close to them would not vote for a female presidential candidate. That reluctance was most prominent among younger voters, with 25 per cent of women under 50 and 20 pe rcent of men under 50 saying they would not support a qualified woman for president.

In contrast, only 13 per cent of voters over 50, both men and women, said the same.

“This survey reveals a powerful paradox,” said Viva de Vicq, the lead pollster. “Voters trust women on the issues that matter most and want to see more women in office. Yet when asked about the presidency, bias and narrow expectations resurface.”

Despite these contradictions, the poll shows that a majority of voters believe women in office help government function more effectively. Respondents said they trust female politicians more than men to lead on issues such as women’s equality, abortion, and childcare. However, when it comes to global conflicts and national security, more voters said they trusted male politicians.

Female candidates also face persistent double standards. Respondents said women running for president are expected to be both “tough” and “likable,” a balancing act not typically demanded of male candidates.

The findings come nearly a year after former Vice President Kamala Harris lost her 2024 presidential bid to Donald Trump, a defeat that has reignited debate over female electability. More than 40 per cent of independent voters believe Harris’ campaign made it more difficult for future women candidates — a sentiment echoed across Democratic political circles. Harris lost by wider margins than Hillary Clinton did in 2016.

The survey also explored media influence, finding that one-third of voters listen to “bro culture” podcasts. Among those listeners, four out of five said such content influenced the 2024 election.

Economic pessimism also emerged in the poll, particularly among women under 50, who reported a 15-point increase in negative views of the economy compared to last year.

Looking at barriers to political participation, respondents cited the “old boys club” culture in politics as the most significant deterrent for women running for office, followed closely by negative portrayals in the media.

The poll had a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points and was conducted in September.

By Sabina Mammadli