Nearly 20% Younger US Voters Reject Female President Despite Broad Support for Women in Office

A series of polls from American University and related research reveal that while a strong majority of American voters support electing more women to political office, there remains significant hesitation about electing a woman president, especially among younger voters under 50. Nearly 20-25% of voters under 50, including a quarter of women in that age group, would not vote for a qualified female presidential candidate, compared to just 13% of voters over 50 expressing similar reluctance. The polls highlight a paradox where voters trust women on key issues like childcare, abortion, and gender equality and believe women make government more effective, but persistent biases and double standards persist, with female candidates expected to be both "tough" and "likable." Republican men are more likely to attribute women's leadership roles to quotas or manipulation, whereas women point to structural barriers and negative media scrutiny. Expectations for a first female president are narrowly framed, typically envisioning a married Democratic mother under 65 with political experience. These findings come nearly a year after President Kamala Harris lost the 2024 presidential race to President Donald Trump, which continues to influence perceptions of female electability at the highest levels.