When the Speaking with American Men (SAM) study was released, it sparked backlash across the political spectrum and the Democrats behind the effort faced ridicule. But beyond the mockery lies a stark reality: Democrats are losing the support of young men and risk losing even more ground without serious shifts. SAM aims to understand American men not just as voters, but as people. To regain trust and power, Democrats must build a coalition that includes all kinds of people, and more importantly, show that they care about all people
The SAM Project is a two-year, $20 million study in which Democrats aim to learn about young men, 18-29 year-olds, and how to effectively connect with them. The initial round of research included 30 focus groups and a national media consumption survey. The focus groups found that young men are overall in a time of deep anxiety, feeling as if reaching their economic goals and “traditional milestones,” such as buying a home or starting a family, are “impossible,” an analysis of the research stated.
Men also feel as if they are in a time of crisis, struggling with what it means to be a man in 2025. Through the national media consumption survey, SAM found men felt as if they were in a “no-win situation around the meaning of ‘a man’” based on conflicting media portrayals. Ilyse Hogue, co-founder of the SAM Project, told Politico, “Democrats are seen as weak, whereas Republicans are seen as strong.” The opposing characteristics of both parties place men in a confusing position, as many agree with progressive ideals, but still want economic security and national strength.
Liberal media and supporters have been mocking the SAM Project, insinuating a disregard for the male electorate. Only 13 percent of young men reported feeling represented by the Democratic party; a subset of them believing that the party doesn’t care about them at all. “Young men also spoke of being invisible to the Democratic coalition,” Hogue said, “and so you’ve got this weak problem and then you’ve got this, ‘I don’t think they care about me’ problem, and I think the combination is kind of a killer.”
The 2024 general election saw an exodus of men from the Democratic Party, sparking the creation of the SAM project. Their national survey found that only 27 percent of young men view the Democratic party favorably, and the gender gap of the general election reached 13 percent nationally, up 9 percent from 2020. Kamala Harris only received 42 percent of men’s vote, the lowest on record in recent history.
Despite the backlash from both Democrats and Republicans, learning how to gain male support is crucial to winning elections. In a time of extreme polarization, coalition building between demographics can be a very effective way to secure electorate support. Moreover, the Democrats’ policies do inherently benefit men in spite of their failures to communicate this.
Equal leave policies, a major aspect of the Equal Rights Amendment backed by most Democrats, have been proven to create impressive economic incentives. Businesses that implement equal leave policies receive a significant return on investments, including increased employee retention and reduced turnover costs. In addition, these policies have proven to boost employee well-being, which corresponds with increased productivity and profitability.
Equal leave, an idea painted as the “liberal agenda” and harmful to men’s economic prosperity, has been proven to be extremely beneficial for both men’s mental health and economic status. It’s critical for the Democratic Party to effectively communicate these facts to the male electorate, and the SAM Project may be the path in understanding ways to reach young men.
Many of the Democratic Party’s ideas and legislation are beneficial to the young male electorate, but their current communication practices are continuously losing male support. Although many men disagree with the controversies of the Trump administration, they feel more seen by their rhetoric and campaign promises. In order for Democrats to regain power and make real policy changes, not only do they need to understand the male electorate, but they need to take them as seriously as any other population of potential voters.