The question of whether women should have the right to vote in the United States has resurfaced, driven by comments from conservative influencers and public figures. Braeden Sorbo, the 24-year-old son of actor Kevin Sorbo, claimed on a far-right YouTube show that many young women wish they had never been granted suffrage. He suggested a voting system based on Christian morals, where married couples would have one joint vote.
Sorbo’s remarks, while initially appearing fringe, have gained traction due to his large social media following—1.9 million on TikTok. His views are increasingly echoed by powerful figures. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently shared a video on X where pastors argued women should not vote individually, captioning it “All of Christ for All of Life.” When contacted by Slate, the Pentagon did not clarify his stance but noted his affiliation with Pastor Doug Wilson, a Christian nationalist.
Tech billionaire Peter Thiel, who backed JD Vance’s political career, wrote in 2009 that extending the franchise to women may have been an error, linking it to the rise of welfare beneficiaries. Although he later clarified he did not advocate disenfranchisement, his original essay has been cited by those questioning universal suffrage. Elon Musk has also amplified tweets undermining universal suffrage, though he has not explicitly argued against women voting.
These developments suggest a growing discourse in the US that challenges the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote in 1920. Critics argue that such views, once dismissed as extreme, are now being legitimised by influential platforms and individuals.
