KALAMAZOO, Mich. — As the midterm elections approach, young voters at Western Michigan University (WMU) display a complex and divided political landscape, reflecting broader national trends among Generation Z.
At a homecoming tailgate party on campus, 21-year-old Cass Staniec voiced strong support for Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Michigan. Staniec, a junior recovering from multiple concussions, praised El-Sayed’s advocacy for Medicare-for-all and cited his personal healthcare struggles as a major factor in his decision. Nearby, 20-year-old Mak Kreps, who voted for Donald Trump in 2024, expressed reservations about the current Republican lineup but remains aligned with GOP economic policies, supporting the party’s emphasis on open markets and planning to vote for Republican Mike Rogers, El-Sayed’s opponent.
The divide at WMU mirrors shifting voting patterns across the United States. Former President Donald Trump garnered 47% of voters under 30 in 2024, achieving his party’s strongest performance among this group in decades, and outpaced Democrats notably among young males. However, recent polling by the Pew Research Center indicates that Democrats now lead by 28 points among Gen Z voters, a wider margin than their overall eight-point lead across all age groups. This change partly results from growing criticism of Trump by prominent conservative influencers, who have taken issue with his immigration policies and foreign conflict stances, including the escalating war in Iran—an unpopular issue among younger voters who were drawn to Trump’s earlier "America First" pledge to avoid prolonged overseas engagements.
Tyler LaFaive, 24, who voted for Trump in 2016 but has since abstained, said he feels disillusioned with both major parties and does not intend to vote this year. LaFaive, who returned to WMU for homecoming from his hometown of Petoskey, cited frustrations with political polarization and the perceived lack of middle-ground positions.
WMU, with about 17,000 students and a notable aviation program, tends to lean Democratic, although not as strongly as larger Michigan universities. The campus Democratic chapter is active, while conservative students often join Christian groups or Turning Point USA. In the 2024 presidential election, Democratic nominee Kamala Harris carried the two Kalamazoo precincts encompassing the campus by double-digit margins, though many students maintain voter registrations elsewhere.
Despite a general low level of political engagement among students juggling academics and work, El-Sayed’s campaign has gained traction. Several students at the tailgate were familiar with his advertising, contrasting with limited visibility of Rogers’ campaign on campus. El-Sayed’s visit for a town hall last month included a notable exchange with 19-year-old communications major Valentino Deneau, who identifies as "pro-life" and conservative-leaning but engaged respectfully with the candidate. El-Sayed framed universal health care as a measure to support life, a response that received widespread applause and circulated widely on social media.
Deneau, from nearby Portage, acknowledged the strength of El-Sayed’s reply but remains undecided in the Senate race. He intends to vote for Republican Rep. Bill Huizenga in the competitive congressional contest and expressed skepticism about Rogers due to his acceptance of political action committee funds. Abortion remains his paramount concern, and he criticized El-Sayed’s stance on the issue. Deneau also pointed out Trump’s use of Christianity as political cover and revealed he had voted for a libertarian candidate rather than Trump in the 2024 presidential race, reflecting the unsettled nature of young voters’ political affiliations.
The mix of perspectives at WMU illustrates the ongoing challenge political parties face in capturing the attention and support of young voters, who remain divided over key issues such as healthcare, economic policy, social values, and America’s role abroad.