A new poll shows that congressional Democrats are gaining ground among young men, with economic issues like the cost of living being their main concern. According to a Cygnal poll, Democrats hold a 57%-40% lead in the generic ballot among male likely voters aged 18 to 30. Although President Donald Trump narrowly won this group in the 2024 election, his favorability is now underwater, with 38% of young men viewing him favorably and 55% unfavorably. The Republican Party’s net favorability among this group is at -9 points, with 40% of respondents favoring the party and 49% disapproving. When looking at all registered voters, including those less likely to vote, the Democratic lead is much smaller—44% to 41%. Alex Tarascio, a pollster at Cygnal, noted that the Republican Party is not well-positioned among those most determined to vote. While young men may not be the deciding factor in controlling Congress, their lower turnout compared to women or older voters is a concern for Republicans, who will need to motivate their base ahead of the November elections. Young men in the survey expressed significant concern about economic issues, which were also a key factor in their support for the GOP in the previous election. When asked what issue would most influence their vote, 29% cited inflation and the cost of living, while 14% mentioned housing costs and affordability. When asked about the policies that would most improve their lives, the top answers again focused on the economy, such as reducing the cost of goods, lowering housing costs, and cutting taxes. Many young men also expressed pessimism about their future success. When asked whether the rules in the country favor or disadvantage them, 43% said the system works against them, compared to 47% who felt it works in their favor. This sense of disillusionment extends to political institutions, with both major parties having negative favorability among the group. The current White House is especially unpopular, with Vice President JD Vance at 37% favorability and Trump at 38%, both with significant net-negative favorability. Republicans were successful in targeting young men and low-propensity voters in 2024, in part due to Trump’s engagement with popular podcast hosts and influencers. However, Trump has not returned to these platforms in the same way ahead of the midterms, instead urging voters to imagine he is still on the ballot. Yet, Trump’s influence may be waning, as his net favorability is lower among the least likely to vote (-22) compared to those more likely to vote (-19). The poll, conducted September 15–18 with 800 registered male voters aged 18–30, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.46 percentage points.