A new report from Public Agenda explores young Americans’ experiences with democracy, drawing on findings from the Public Agenda Survey of American Men conducted by SSRS.

As the average age of Congress has crept up to 60 (with nearly a quarter older than 70), Gen Z (18-29) is less likely than their Baby Boomer counterparts (65+) to feel represented by their party’s leadership in Congress.

About 70 percent of Gen Z Americans believe politicians don’t care what people like them think, and 65 percent agree that politicians in Washington cannot be trusted to put the interests of the country ahead of the interests of their party.

Despite their skepticism of voting, young Americans are showing up in many settings. They are more likely than older Americans to participate in protests, attend local government events, and reach out to their elected officials.

Survey Methodology

The Public Agenda Survey of American Men was fielded by SSRS from November 4 to November 18, 2025, in English and Spanish, with 3,559 American adults aged 18 years and older. The survey has a credibility interval of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points for all respondents.