Voting Right: A Political Awakening among First-Time Voters
By Dawn Sturmon
It’s 2024, and amidst the whirlwind of political debates, rallies, and social media sparring, a new crowd is stepping up to the plate— first-time voters. Remember the thrill of getting your driver’s license or sneaking into a rated R movie before you were of age? Voting now carries that same level of excitement but with far more at stake. And if you think this group is just tagging along, think again— many are diving in headfirst, fueled by a conservative fervor that’s impossible to ignore.
You may have expected Gen Z to lean a little left, right? TikTok trends, climate protests, and all that jazz. And sure, you’ve got pop icons like Taylor Swift trying to sway the youth vote leftward with Instagram posts and stadium shoutouts, but it seems to have backfired. First-time voters for 2024? They’re showing up in droves with a clear-cut sense of conservatism, and, dare I say it, they’re loud and proud about it.
Where’s the Pulse of the New Right?
This isn’t just anecdotal evidence plucked from your social media feed. (Though, let’s admit it— some of the political discourse over there is wild.) Today’s first-time voters are drawing from a deeper well of values— patriotism, traditionalism, and that old-school Americana vibe. It’s almost as if a silent majority has woken up, dusted off its baseball cap, and decided, “We’ve got something to say too.” They’re rallying behind causes that echo what their parents and grandparents championed: lower taxes, national security, economic stability— no longer just buzzwords from a Reagan-era pamphlet but front and center for the 2024 voter.
What drives this seemingly unshakeable pride in conservative values? It’s not just parental influence or dinner table politics. For many, it’s about seeking consistency in a chaotic world. This generation grew up amidst political polarization, the pandemic, inflation fears, and social media shouting matches. “All I know is that life was less expensive and I felt safer when Trump was in office,” says Jake, 20, from North Carolina, echoing a sentiment shared by many of his peers. Ava, 19, from Texas, sums it up: “I feel like our generation has had enough of the instability. We don’t want the government taking half our paycheck to fund endless wars. We want a closed border and a country that isn’t so divided. Voting conservative just makes sense to me.” For these voters, conservatism isn’t rebellion— it’s a return to something familiar, rooted, and reliable.
Who Are These New Conservatives?
These first-timers aren’t exactly showing up in cowboy hats, quoting Dwight D. Eisenhower. Some of them are, well, unexpected. Picture the stylish young adult with a penchant for Sabrina Carpenter’s latest hits and an Instagram feed full of brunch pics and travel snaps— yet they’re all in for limited government, fiscal responsibility, and a closed southern border. Surprised? You shouldn’t be. Reece, 18, from Arizona, puts it bluntly: “I don’t believe a word Kamala says. I see right through her acting. Kamala is a scam. Trump is our man.”
This contrasts sharply with Kamala Harris’s remark, “What else do we know about this population, 18 through 24? They are stupid.” Voters like Reece, however, are proving otherwise. They’re carving out a new kind of conservatism— contemporary in style but traditional in ideology. This voter base isn’t about staunch dogma; it’s about merging values with today’s lifestyle. They love small businesses (support your local café, please), care about freedom of speech, want to make money and pay fewer taxes, and are wary of what they see as government overreach. They’ve made it clear: they want control over their own destiny, and they’re voting to make sure it stays that way.
Voting in 2024: A Badge of Honor
For many first-time voters in 2024, the act of voting is more than just fulfilling a civic duty; it feels like a political coming-of-age moment. There’s a profound sense of pride in being part of something bigger, especially among conservative voters. Charlotte, 19, from New York, captures the sentiment: “I am a student athlete, and the road we’d go down if Kamala is elected is very scary.” In an era of digital noise and constant polarization, casting a ballot that aligns with their values feels almost revolutionary.
Think about it: Gen Z has disrupted every industry they’ve touched— fashion, music, media, and now politics. They’re not easily categorized, and their brand of conservatism might catch you off guard. They’re socially connected, tech-savvy, and relentlessly future-focused, but that doesn’t mean they’ve ditched the values of the past. Jack, 18, from Rhode Island, sums it up: “Trump is a businessman. Our country needs him. The world needs him.”
A Defining Moment
For many young people, 2024 marks a political awakening— their first chance to help decide who leads the country. These first-time voters aren’t reluctant participants; they’re eager to make their voices heard. For them, it’s not just about casting a ballot; it’s about making a statement.
So, the next time someone assumes first-time voters are leaning blue, point them to the polling data, the rallies, college campuses, or that quiet kid in class sporting a vintage Reagan-Bush '84 cap. Not everyone’s going left; in fact, more and more are stepping confidently to the right, determined to shape the future.
A freelance writer, Dawn has crisscrossed the country in a unique path— from holding cue cards on Saturday Night Live to working on Super Bowl commercials. A lover of truth, interior design, french fries, and fashion, you can find her dressed in a hoodie or for the Met Gala— there’s no in-between.
