Why The Left Lost The Boys, And Is Spending $20 Million To Win Them Back

On election night in 2024, the trend was undeniable: a notable shift to the Right among young men resulted in President Trump securing his second term. 

Legacy media seemed surprised by the significant movement of young men against the woke left and toward Trumpism, but Evie readers and those who have been closely observing the political landscape through the lens of gender issues saw this outcome as inevitable. Throughout 2024, I urged political operatives on both sides of the aisle to understand that young men would determine the election and they needed to engage with them.

That’s because I’ve spent years warning of a problem that many Democrats are just now confronting: Many men are angry and tired of being labeled 'the problem' while their issues and concerns are overlooked. The rise of influencers in the manosphere has provided many men with a sense of visibility and acceptance, while podcasts targeting male audiences, such as those by Joe Rogan and Theo Von, openly supported Trump. Facing these headwinds, anyone who believed Kamala Harris had a chance of winning was, in my view, wishcasting.

One person who clearly got this was my friend and long-time supporter of my advocacy work for boys and young men, Alex Bruesewitz, who serves as an advisor to President Trump, playing a key role in securing the young male vote in the November election. Bruesewitz tells me, “The President had his finger on the pulse of the cultural moment. Not only did he know where and how to reach this demographic, but he was able to relate to them as well. He wanted more than just their votes; he is already actively delivering results for these young men.”

The President and his allies saw an opportunity with young men and weren’t afraid to seize it, and the choice paid off. 

But Team Trump’s efforts to woo young men might not have succeeded were it not for the Democrats who seemed to go out of their way to alienate them. Richard Reeves of the Brookings Institution/American Institute for Boys and Men and author of his latest book “Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do about It” shared his insights with me. “I think young men were pushed away from the left as much as they were drawn to the right” he explains. “Almost a decade of discussions of toxic masculinity have created a culture where many men were ready for political leaders who seemed to actually like them.”

In the wake of their defeat in November, Democrats are in the process of reevaluating their strategy and determining how to move forward as a party.

Since the election and President Trump's return to the White House, I’ve noticed a significant shift. If you had told me seven years ago, when I first embarked on my mission to advocate for boys and men, that by 2025 I would find myself in discussions with eager Democrats seeking my insights and recommendations, I wouldn’t have believed you.

For years, I faced skepticism on Capitol Hill, often being dismissed as I championed the cause of boys and men, an issue that was at the bottom of the priority list for politicians, especially the Democrats. Truth be told, my advocacy came after a long line of women and men—Christina Hoff Sommers, Dr. Warren Farrell, Mark Sherman and many others—whose warnings about this rising crisis largely went unheeded. 

But now, the political landscape has changed. After enduring another stunning electoral defeat, it seems that Democrats have come to recognize the urgent need to address these issues. Finally, they are ready to engage and tackle the challenges facing boys and men. There is a new battle in Washington for our guys. 

Democrats have been humbled, and they’re admitting it today. And it’s not limited to white men; they dropped the ball when it came to young men of all ethnicities and backgrounds. In the wake of their defeat in November, Democrats are in the process of reevaluating their strategy and determining how to move forward as a party. A recent report by The New York Times revealed that they are even allocating $20 million toward a study titled “Speaking with American Men: A Strategic Plan.” This initiative aims to analyze the language and content that effectively captures the attention and engages male voters. But is that enough?

I don’t think it is. They will have to do some major damage control to repair what they’ve done. Everyone knows that the Democrats have a long list of identities they champion, but ‘Men’ is certainly not among them.  

The efforts to win back men aren’t just taking place on Capitol Hill. Changes are happening at the state level as well. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, all Democrats, addressed the issues in their State of the State addresses.

Unfortunately, though, the mainstream media doesn’t seem to have learned their lesson. Instead of reflecting on society’s actions over the past few decades to understand the growing anger and frustration among young men, they appear to believe that doubling down on their established views is the best course of action. This only exacerbates the very issues that have driven some young men towards the fringes.

During a recent segment on The View, the women were discussing the $20 million investment by the Democrats, and Joy Behar scoffed “You know what I think? I think it’s a waste of money. Maybe these guys should spend their money on teaching men to not be such sexists!” The audience erupted in applause.

Joy isn’t the only problem, though. The media and many on the Left are conflating the crisis surrounding boys and men with the Andrew Tate phenomenon. Tate, as problematic and troubling as he is, is not the fundamental problem. His rise is merely a symptom of a deeper-rooted issue: our prolonged neglect of boys and men that has fostered a backlash and opened the door for bad actors to step in. 

We have diminished the role of fathers and stripped away men’s sense of purpose without providing meaningful alternatives. We have made it all too easy for them to access pornography, addictive video games, fast food, and drugs, simultaneously shaming them for it, while chanting “The future is female!” 

We’ve blamed them for their mental health issues, suggesting their masculinity is at fault and, contradictorily, that they simply need to ‘man up.’ We’ve been telling them to ‘open up’ and ‘shut up’ at the same time.

This societal neglect has paved the way for figures like Tate to rise, filling a vacuum created by the absence of attention to the real issues facing boys and men. By our institutions ignoring these challenges, we opened the door to truly toxic voices that have since influenced the direction of men and masculinity, for the worse. The opportunists have entered the battlefield to win over men, and we let them in.

I’m not saying we don’t have significant issues within areas of the manosphere. I have personally witnessed a troubling rise in misogyny, both online and in real life, directed at me, Evie magazine and others.

But here’s the good news: Research shows few young men actually follow Andrew Tate religiously, and most hold very non-misogynistic views today. Richard Reeves tells me, “I don't see any serious shift in opinion among young men on policy issues, so I think this is all still very movable; we're seeing reactions to reactions to reactions to reactions…” 

After years in this space, I can honestly say that there has never been a better day to advocate for the wellbeing of our men and boys. If we take proactive steps now, we can realign the need for healthy, masculine role models to better perspectives and build more understanding.

I speak to many women, especially moms, who are concerned for their sons, partners, fathers, brothers and friends. I recently returned to Washington, DC, ready to meet with lawmakers to enact meaningful change. 

I refuse to only engage in online drama and know that boots on the ground in our nation’s Capital will help guide the conversation in a healthier manner. I pride myself in approaching these issues in a nonpartisan way.

I met with the office of Senator Chris Murphy, the Democratic Senator from Connecticut, who has been addressing the crisis facing men and boys well before the recent election results. We also share a strong desire to put an end to school shootings, although he focuses on gun control and I focus on boys’ and young men’s mental health and other proactive school safety measures. 

We’ve finally entered an era where the focus has shifted from a war against boys to a political tug-of-war for the boys. 

Sen. Murphy, who has sought guidance on these issues from Richard Reeves, has said “You’d be foolish to ignore the fact that men and boys are going through something right now that’s really troubling and really hard… This issue of what men are going through today is important and relevant, so I’m not afraid to talk about it.” 

After additional meetings with Senator Murphy’s team, I firmly believe he cares deeply about the issues and he could be the leader for young men that the Left needs. Politically speaking, Democrats had better hope that Murphy and his fellow Democrats are sincere about tackling this problem. 

However, Alex Bruesewitz tells me it’s President Trump and the Republican Party, not the Democrats, who are positioned to lead on the issues facing boys and men. They didn’t just win their vote; they’re already taking action. While Democrats are still brainstorming how to win men back, Republicans have hit the ground running.

“President Trump got to work right away delivering for young men.” Alex tells me. “First, he put an end to DEI initiatives. Many young men were against DEI, viewing it as another form of discrimination. After encountering this firsthand in their classrooms, they reached their breaking point. President Trump took notice and is now working to restore a sense of fairness for young men.”

Alex tells me that providing young men with more economic pathways is a top concern of this administration. “President Trump supports increased vocational training and programs designed to help young men enter the workforce. He just signed an executive order to invest more in this cause. He understands the various obstacles young men face, and he is committed to providing them with more opportunities for success.”

But, above all, Alex informs me that the President is prioritizing his support for young men by advocating for peace. “The President wants to end wars.” He says. “Do you know who will be sent to fight in wars? Our young men. The President does not want that. He wants peace, and he will work very hard to make that happen.” 

Some may question the President's commitment to peace following recent military actions in the Middle East, but until or unless there are boots on the ground, this is an argument that might resonate.

Just last week, President Trump took a very public stand for men, releasing a Presidential Proclamation for National Men’s Health Week. He said “This National Men’s Health Week, I make a solemn pledge to honor the men in America: we will always have your back—and we will never waver in our promise to embolden you to lead long, healthy, and safe lives. Under my leadership, we will relentlessly pursue a healthier future for the men of our nation. We will always lift you up rather than tear you down, and we will champion the voices, values, and wellness of hardworking American men across our country.”

It’s remarkable for a politician, especially a President, to take such a bold stance in support of men. I eagerly anticipate what this administration has planned moving forward.

Now, it’s time for the Democrats to step up their game.

We’ve finally entered an era where the focus has shifted from a war against boys to a political tug-of-war for the boys. 

I’m encouraged to see changes beginning to take shape. 

Supporting our boys and men not only benefits them, but also benefits society as a whole, including girls and women. It’s time for both sides of the aisle to dive deeper into the underlying causes of the challenges facing our young men today, not just for votes, but because it’s the right thing to do. They need us, and we need them.