Newsom Says California Can Better Support Young Boys and Men

Gov. Gavin Newsom called Wednesday for action to strengthen services for young men and boys, and to address what he calls “an alarming rise in suicides and disconnection among California’s young boys.”

“Too many young men and boys are suffering in silence,” Newsom said in a statement, adding that many are “disconnected from community, opportunity and even their own families.”

The directive, which will see state agencies fund programs for young men that focus on behavioral health support, job training and educational services, follows growing recognition among Democrats of a need to better connect with young men and boys ahead of the 2026 midterm election.

More than half of young men between the ages of 18–29 voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election — making a nearly 32% leap from 2020, according to an Associated Press poll.

In May, San Francisco Democrats overwhelmingly passed a resolution calling on their fellow Democrats to do more to address “societal challenges facing boys and men,” emphasizing the need for more job training opportunities, paternal leave and mental health care.

The statistics are bleak: young men are three times as likely to die by suicide than young women, according to a report released by Newsom’s office.

And labor force participation among men without a college degree is at a historic low, along with their college enrollment and completion rates, the report added.

Dr. Ronald Levant, former president of the American Psychological Association, whose clinical work specializes in masculinity, said lonely young men have been tapping into “echo chambers” for direction and an outlet for frustrations.

People like Andrew Tate, he said, an alt-right influencer and self-described “misogynist,” capitalize on resentment toward women for their present position in the workforce and educational field.

“Men have lost the power and privilege of patriarchy to a large extent,” Levant said. “They, white men in particular, do not automatically get the best job and the best salary and all of these things.”

To sincerely tackle the causes of male loneliness, depression, and unemployment, Levant said it’s critical to target the years before college or careers.

“A public education campaign aimed at parents, teachers, and coaches, and anyone who interacts with children from kindergarten on up,” he said. “To allow the boy to be who he is and don’t put these masculine strictures on him.

Focusing on these issues “allows boys to think through all the pressures they’re getting,” Levant said. “It helps them kind of figure out what kind of guy they want to be.”