In a surprising turn of events, the traditional divide between older and younger voters in American politics seems to be shifting in the 2020 presidential election. Typically, older voters tend to lean Republican while younger voters lean Democrat. However, recent polls are showing a different trend.
According to exit polls from the 2020 election, Democrat Joe Biden won voters under 50, while Republican Donald Trump won voters over 50. This is a departure from past elections where younger voters have consistently supported the Democrat candidate.
In battleground states like Pennsylvania, a new Marist poll shows a tight race between Trump and Biden, with Trump making inroads with voters of color and younger voters. However, older voters are gravitating towards Biden, breaking the traditional pattern.
This shift is not isolated to one state, as a nationwide Quinnipiac University poll also showed Biden having an edge among voters 65 and older. This trend is a departure from past results and is causing both campaigns to adjust their strategies.
Despite this shift, older voters still have reservations about Biden’s age. A February poll showed that nearly three-quarters of registered voters ages 65 and older believed Biden was too old to be effective as president. However, Biden’s policy wins, such as pushing for lower drug costs in Medicare, are appealing to seniors.
In order to overcome questions about his age and secure the support of older voters, Biden will need to rely on his peers. This demographic shift in voter preferences is reshaping the political landscape and will likely have an impact on the outcome of the election.