The plight of boys and men is now a priority for Democrats

Democratic Governors Wes Moore, Gretchen Whitmer and Ned Lamont are highlighting the plight of men and boys. Experts say it's badly needed and could help the party with male voters.

For Democrats, reaching male voters became a political necessity after last fall’s election, when young men swung significantly toward President Donald Trump.

But for some — like Maryland Gov. Wes Moore — it’s also a personal goal. The first-term governor, who has spoken about his own struggles as a teenager, recently announced plans to direct his “entire administration” to find ways to help struggling boys and men. 

“The well-being of our young men and boys has not been a societal priority,” Moore said in an interview. “I want Maryland to be the one that is aggressive and unapologetic about being able to address it and being able to fix it.” 

Moore’s not the only Democrat vowing to help boys and men. 

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore announced plans to "uplift" boys and men in his State of the State address last month.Leigh Vogel / Getty Images for Congressional Black Caucus FoundationIn her State of the State address, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer shared plans to help boost young men’s enrollment in higher education and skills training. And Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced what he called “a DEI initiative, which folks on both sides of the aisle may appreciate,” to get more men into teaching. The announcements come at a critical time. Researchers have argued that the widening gender gap reflects a crisis that, if not addressed, could push men toward extremism. And Democratic pollsters fret that if liberal politicians, in particular, do not address these issues, the party is at risk of losing more men to the GOP. 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/plight-boys-men-democrats-wes-moore-gretchen-whitmer-rcna197129

---