Gender gap in 2024 election smaller than expected

The 2024 election was expected to be one of the most sexually polarized in U.S. history, with women voting largely for Harris and men for President-elect Donald Trump. However, initial exit polls showed that the polarization was not as large as expected.

According to the Washington Post, the gender gap was 11 points — significant, but mostly in line with previous elections.

The outlet reported that the results “suggest this wasn’t largely about men being unwilling to vote for a woman.”

Other estimates had the gap even narrower — the Associated Press had the gap at just 7 points, with women voting 53% for Harris and 46% for Trump. Women voted more than men, making up 54% of the electorate.

Trump also grew his lead with married voters. In 2020, married voters narrowly chose Trump by a 7-point margin, 53%-46%. This year, that margin grew to 13 points, 56%-43%, according to NBC exit polls.

Trump actually won married women of all races by 3 points, 51%-48%.

Notably, young men and women swung decisively for Trump compared to 2020. Young men went from 19 points for President Joe Biden in 2020 to 14 points for Trump in 2024. Young women went from 33 points for Biden in 2020 to 18 points for Trump in 2024.

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Trump’s strategy of targeting young men was noted throughout his campaign. He appeared on several popular podcasts and streams with a large young male audience. His appearance on the world’s biggest podcast, the Joe Rogan Experience, racked up dozens of millions of views. The strategy appears to have worked, helping to swing young men while not alienating young women.

One of the streamers’ whose stream he appeared on, Adin Ross, earned a shoutout from UFC CEO Dana White at Trump’s victory speech.