The Democratic Party is losing its grip on America’s youth, a demographic it once claimed as its own. For years, Democrats positioned themselves as the champions of progressive ideals, promising free college, affordable living, and social justice to resonate with young voters. But somewhere along the way, their message veered into territory that feels increasingly disconnected from the realities most Americans face. Gas prices, job security, and the cost of groceries dominate the concerns of everyday people, yet the party’s focus has shifted to niche ideological battles and radical rhetoric that alienate even the youngest voters.

This disconnect has created a vacuum, and conservative voices are stepping in to fill it. The 2024 election marked a turning point, with President Donald Trump making surprising inroads with Gen Z—a group long assumed to be a Democratic stronghold. Young people, frustrated by unfulfilled promises and a Democratic platform that feels out of touch, are starting to look elsewhere. The party’s reliance on figures like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders, whose radical stances energize a vocal minority but fail to inspire the majority, has only deepened the divide. As Democrats double down on this approach, they’re hemorrhaging support among the very voters they need to secure their future.

The warning signs are clear. Polls from 2024 showed a notable shift in Gen Z voting patterns, with many young people citing economic concerns and distrust of establishment politics as reasons for swinging right. Democrats’ comparisons of Trump to historical villains or their warnings about tech moguls like Elon Musk have fallen flat, coming across as fearmongering rather than substantive critique. Meanwhile, conservative outreach—through platforms like TikTok and podcasts—has tapped into the pulse of a generation craving authenticity and results. If Democrats don’t recalibrate soon, they risk becoming irrelevant to the voters who will shape America’s political future.

A Sinking Ship by 2028?

The Democratic Party could be the “Titanic at the bottom of the ocean” by 2028, predicts 18-year-old conservative commentator Brilyn Hollyhand, who’s quickly becoming a leading voice for Gen Z Republicans. As chair of the RNC’s Youth Advisory Council, Hollyhand is laser-focused on building on Trump’s 2024 gains with young voters. In an exclusive Zoom interview with Fox News Digital, he argued that the Democrats’ current trajectory is a gift to conservatives.

“They’ve actually put up figures like Jasmine Crockett and AOC and Bernie Sanders as their leaders. None of those people are inspiring Gen Z. None of those people are bringing more voters into the party. It’s just making this weird, radical wing of the party be the vocal voices. So, by all means, let Jasmine Crockett, AOC and Bernie Sanders be the voice, the future of the DNC. It’ll make our job easier come the midterms and come 2028,” Hollyhand said.

He pointed to Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2024 loss as evidence of the party’s misstep. “It’s a really weird position that they’ve taken to go more radical than Kamala Harris. And that’s why Kamala lost, because she was too radical,” he explained. Hollyhand believes the Democrats’ embrace of extreme positions is pushing away young voters who are more pragmatic than the party assumes.

Trump’s Youth Strategy

Hollyhand, who doesn’t graduate high school until later this month, has already met Trump five times, most recently on Thursday during the president’s commencement speech at the University of Alabama. Their one-on-one discussion centered on sustaining the momentum Trump built with young voters in 2024. By leveraging TikTok and podcast appearances, Trump flipped the script on the youth vote, which had long leaned Democratic. Hollyhand sees this as just the beginning.

During their meeting, Hollyhand suggested a modern twist on Ronald Reagan’s iconic 1980 campaign question: “Are you better off than you were four years ago?” He proposed a sharper version tailored to Gen Z: “Well, now all you have to do is walk out on that stage and ask Gen Z, ‘Are you better off then you were 100 days ago?’ The resounding answer every single time is going to be, ‘Yes.’ I mean, gas is cheaper, the border’s secure, and the president performed CPR on the American dream. So, I think everybody in my generation can agree, whether you love Trump or hate Trump, he is improving the nation and making life better for us,” Hollyhand said.

He also pitched a 2025 take on Franklin D. Roosevelt’s fireside chats, envisioning Trump addressing voters directly in virtual settings to maintain that personal connection. Hollyhand believes Trump’s greatest asset—his “secret weapon”—is his commitment to delivering on campaign promises. “I said, ‘Mr. President, you’re doing this crazy novel concept in politics called actually doing what the people elected you to do in office and actually keeping your promises. I know we never see politicians doing that, but you’re doing that and Gen Z loves it,’” he recounted.

In contrast, Hollyhand argues that Democrats have misread Gen Z’s priorities. Their offers of free college and lower living costs are overshadowed by inflammatory rhetoric, like comparing Trump to Adolf Hitler or Musk to a monarch. While some young voters rally around Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders, many see through what Hollyhand calls the “false bill of goods from the Democrats.” The Democratic Party is grappling with its identity after 2024, when voters overwhelmingly backed Trump’s policies in a clear rejection of left-wing agendas. High-profile Democrats like Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders have doubled down, hosting anti-Trump rallies and fueling speculation about future Senate or presidential runs.

A Roadmap for Republican Success

Hollyhand believes Trump can solidify his support by touting tangible achievements. He suggested the president publish bullet-point lists of accomplishments ahead of the 2026 midterms—a simple but effective counter to Democratic messaging. “I think that’s going to be a really hard thing to campaign against come the midterms. I think it’s going to be super hard to campaign against this list of accomplishments come 2028. Where the Democrats are trying to … scare Gen Z with these emotions and dangle free things in front of them and say, ‘oh, well, they’re N*zis and they’re Hitler and Elon Musk is trying to be a king.’ And then we come out and just say, ‘Hey, here’s a bullet point list of the things we’ve accomplished in the first 100 days.’ That’s a really hard thing to campaign against,” he said.

Reflecting on his meeting with Trump, Hollyhand described a relaxed and genuine exchange, far from the media’s portrayal of the president. “This guy is genuine. Like the first thing he said was, ‘You’ve been k*lling it.’ He took the time to say, ‘Hey, I actually watched your hit on Fox News this morning.’ He could have been saying, ‘Hey, Brilyn, get these youth numbers up, improve our numbers in this college campus, get more students out there in that arena.’ He immediately turned it to, ‘Hey man, you’ve been k*llin’ it. …. That shows just the testament of who the guy is. And it wasn’t like a serious back and forth. We were laughing, we’re cutting it up,” he said.

As the Democratic Party struggles to redefine itself, Hollyhand and other young conservatives are capitalizing on its missteps. If Democrats continue down their current path, they risk alienating an entire generation—and handing Republicans an advantage that could span many years.

Do you think the Democrat Party is losing momentum with young voters? As always, let us know what you think in the comments below!