Gen Z’s Political Shift: How the Pandemic Split a Generation in Two

Gen Z is not a monolithic generation—and the data proves it. Research suggests it is actually two distinct groups, divided by the COVID-19 pandemic. The younger half, dubbed Gen Z 2.0, is increasingly trending rightward, while the older cohort, Gen Z 1.0, leans left. This split is reshaping how young Americans view institutions, brands, and technology, and it is redefining trust in the political system.

How the Pandemic Created Two Gen Z Cohorts

Rachel Janfaza, author of The Up and Up newsletter, coined the terms Gen Z 1.0 and Gen Z 2.0 based on her work with high school and college students.

• Gen Z 1.0 graduated high school before the pandemic. They grew up without TikTok and witnessed the Black Lives Matter movement as a defining cultural moment.
• Gen Z 2.0 graduated after the pandemic, shaped by masking, quarantines, and remote learning. Their formative years were defined by unprecedented disruption.

"No other generation in modern history has been through this once-in-a-lifetime pandemic," Janfaza tells Axios. "And no other generation has had the core mode of communication and culture shift as quickly as ours."

Amanda Edelman, of Edelman’s Gen Z Lab, notes that Gen Z 1.0 came of age during Donald Trump’s first term and rebelled against the right. However, she says, "with Gen Z 2.0, there has been a tremendous backlash."

Yale Poll Reveals a Dramatic Political Reversal

By the numbers: In Yale’s spring 2026 youth poll, 52% of voters aged 18–22 favored Democrats on the congressional ballot. This marks a dramatic reversal from a year earlier, when the same age group favored Republicans by nearly 12 points.

The one exception to this trend? Young men aged 18–22, the only demographic within this age group that shifted away from Democrats. Edelman attributes this earlier rightward tilt not to true conservatism, but to "rebellion and frustration with the status quo."

"The earlier rightward tilt wasn't driven by true conservatism, but by rebellion and also being very frustrated with the status quo."

It’s worth noting that Yale’s 18–22 subsample skews male, according to the poll’s write-up. Additionally, a larger share of the youngest voters remain undecided (18%) compared to older cohorts, suggesting these numbers may shift again. Yet the broader pattern of volatility persists across polling data.

What Young Voters Are Saying About the Shift

Eli Kalberer, a 17-year-old high school junior and New Voters 250 Fellow, says young Americans are most influenced by politicians who genuinely connect with them.

"I think the ability of either party … to actually show that they're in touch with young people, or to be young people themselves, has a huge impact on the young vote," Kalberer says. He points to the Gen Z fervor ignited by New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani as an example.

Young people, he adds, are prioritizing real issues over "culture war stuff," citing concerns like affordability and the cost of college as top priorities.

Jess Siles, communications director at Voters of Tomorrow and a member of Gen Z 1.0, says disillusionment with democracy cuts across the entire generation. However, she notes that the split between Gen Z 1.0 and Gen Z 2.0 is evident in how each cohort channels that disappointment—whether through voting, organizing, or activism.

The divide extends beyond politics, influencing views on AI, dating behavior, foreign policy, and more. As Gen Z continues to evolve, its fragmentation may redefine the political and cultural landscape for years to come.