This week's election had a new and highly engaged electorate that made a big impact in turning New Jersey from solidly blue to purple, and that was the vote of young people in particular young men.

Raven Santana spoke with several college students and representatives of Republican youth organizations, who shared with her how president elect Trump was able to secure their votes.

This time around.

Tuesday's presidential election results have brought mixed emotions among youth voters here in new Jersey, as Donald Trump heads back to the white House to serve as the 47th president of the United States.

I voted on Tuesday.

I woke up the next day and I honestly felt sick, like I felt sick to my stomach.

I was, you know, I was surprised to see called so fast.

But I was happy to see that the former president was reelected.

It was definitely very saddening, very heartbreaking, as my parents are immigrants and a lot of my family is immigrants.

So it kind of hit home for me in all.

Trump won 12 of New Jersey's 21 counties, including three he lost his first two races Atlantic, Cumberland and Passaic.

Young men, particularly white and Latino men, lean further towards the right than their female counterparts, both nationwide and in new Jersey.

Oh, I'm not going to lie, I was actually soft.

Especially, like, I think a couple of weeks beforehand, someone had said something about, Puerto Rico.

So I think after experiencing four years of the Trump administration and then experiencing four years of the Biden-Harris administration, they had a direct comparison to make a decision.

Was my life better off today than it was four years ago?

And it looks like a resounding no.

Based on Trump's landslide victory.

Brian Fitzherbert is chairman of the Atlantic County Young Republicans and executive director for Young Republican Federation of New Jersey.

Fitzherbert says it's clear there has been a shift, especially amongst young men like himself.

According to the Associated Press, men aged 18 to 29 in particular were vital to the Republican's comeback victory.

His sentiments are echoed by Sean Denning, who is president of the Ocean County Young Republicans.

I think that this cycle really has encouraged young people to be a part of the process and to know that young people, those under 40, have actually played a significant role in electing a president.

I think further encourages young people that, yes, your vote matters.

Your input matters.

Get involved.

Work on campaigns, recruit your friends that this isn't you're not left out.

Oscar Meres is a Rutgers student, Republican county committeeman and treasurer for the Rutgers Republicans.

His parents immigrated here from Pakistan.

He says young voters aren't deterred by Trump's controversial comments.

Oh, well, I think along with other people I was disappointed with the Trump made with the comments made Trump's rally.

But at the end of the day, I think the American people know that I'd rather have a guy who maybe isn't the politest or the nicest, but I can afford to buy a home in a couple of years.

I can afford to settle down.

I can afford to buy groceries, put gas in my car.

And I think that's what came out.

And I think a lot of people in new Jersey, but also across the country, if we seen having the same concerns and whether they lean left or right, all the young voters I spoke with say social media played a key factor when it came to getting information on candidates in both parties.

So I definitely I would say I definitely do get my most of my information from social media just because I'm on it all the time and it's just going to pop up on my feed and stuff like that.

But yeah, I think a lot of people my age are looking at social media more than looking at news sites.

That's partially because of attention span.

It's easier to read a tweet than an article, to watch an Instagram reel, than it is to watch a segment on TV.

I do know people who made their decision after Joe Rogan.

I think it's less about the information that you get and it's more of the affirmation, especially young men, as we saw in this cycle, that he wants to be one of us and he's going to come on.

The media outlets that matter to us lost that as we've gone to traditional TV.

You only see what the producers want you to see.

But on a live podcast, you know, that's 2 or 3 hours.

It makes it much more authentic and I think harder to control a narrative or to make it fake, really a narrative that is resonating with the younger demographic and has seemed to work for Republicans who are now hoping to keep the momentum going as they prepare for New Jersey's gubernatorial race in November 2025.

For Energy spotlight news.

I'm Raven Santana.