Trump has a family appeal.
The 2024 presidential exit polls reveal a notable shift in voter preferences among parents with children under 18, with a significant swing toward former President Donald Trump. According to the exit polling, 53% of parents with minor children supported Trump, while 44% backed Vice President Kamala Harris. This marks a reversal from the 2020 election, where Biden received more support from this group. The shift is especially noticeable among men, 60% of whom supported Trump this year, compared to 37% for Harris. Women with children also saw a decline in support for Harris, from 56% in 2020 to 51% in 2024.
This shift can be attributed to growing concerns among parents about their children’s education, particularly regarding parental rights. Over the past few years, parental involvement in education has become a central issue in U.S. politics, with many parents confronting school boards over issues like sexual content in school materials and gender identity discussions. School choice advocates, like Corey DeAngelis, argue that the Republican Party has successfully positioned itself as the party supporting parents’ rights in education. The rise of organizations like the 1776 Project PAC reflects this political movement, aiming to elect reform-minded conservatives focused on protecting parental rights.
The Biden administration’s handling of parental protests also played a role in shaping the political climate around education. In 2021, the Department of Justice responded to the National School Boards Association’s request for federal intervention, suggesting that threats against school board members and teachers be treated as potential acts of domestic terrorism. This move sparked controversy, particularly among parents who were speaking out at school board meetings. Lawsuits have also been filed in response to policies that allow children to explore gender identity at school without parental consent, intensifying the debate over the rights of parents in the education system.
In his 2024 campaign, Trump emphasized the protection of parental rights, pledging to cut federal funding for schools that teach politically charged content like Critical Race Theory and gender identity discussions. His campaign also proposed a “Parental Bill of Rights” to ensure curriculum transparency and promote school choice. These promises reflect broader Republican concerns about removing political influence from education and returning focus to core subjects. Trump’s stance on parental rights has become a central theme of his platform and mirrors his party’s broader commitment to addressing the growing concerns of parents about their children’s education.
This issue of parental rights also played a significant role in Virginia’s 2021 gubernatorial election, where Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe’s comments about parents not having a say in school curricula were seen as a key factor in his defeat. The political focus on parental involvement in education continues to shape electoral outcomes and is likely to remain a prominent issue in future elections.
