They are anxious, angry, and could impact the midterm elections like never before, says CIRCLE Director Leela Strong
Leela Strong noted that 60% of young people say they intend to vote in the midterms. “Just because they are frustrated with the system doesn’t mean they don’t recognize the importance of participation,” she said. Photo: Shutterstock
As we enter a midterm election full of economic unrest and uncertainty, perhaps no group faces more anxiety than young people. Coming into adulthood facing a shaky job market and sky-high housing and healthcare costs, voters aged 18 to 29 are feeling more disenfranchised than ever.
At the same time, they have an unprecedented opportunity to impact the course of the country, says Leela Strong, Newhouse Director of the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) at the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life. Over the past year, her team has conducted research and polling on this crucial voting group, examining voting trends and participation by young people. Her conclusion: Candidates ignore them at their peril.
What is the mood among young people right now?
Across the board, young people are skeptical about our political system—and can you blame them? Every two to four years, we engage them in a transactional way in which we ask for their support and make a lot of promises we don’t keep.
But just because they are frustrated with the system doesn’t mean they don’t recognize the importance of participation. About 60% of young people said they intend to participate in the midterms, which is very high. While that doesn’t mean all those young people will vote, getting even close to that would blow previous records for youth voter turnout in midterm elections out of the water—but it all depends on whether we help them show up.
What kind of impact could that have if they do?
There are nearly 50 million young people between the ages of 18 and 29 who will be eligible to vote in 2026. Nearly half are youth of color, and one in five are LGBTQ—so this really is a hopeful opportunity for the most diverse generation in our history. So many local elections are decided by a few thousand or even a few hundred votes, so imagine the power young people have to change their communities. Even a 1% change in youth showing up to vote represents hundreds of thousands of people. When you think of 50 million young people with the capacity to vote, that’s huge.
What does your research show is motivating young people politically?
They remain very issues-based, rather than having a specific political identity. Across the board we’re seeing economic issues as the primary set of concerns. More than half of young people say they’re struggling financially and having trouble making ends meet. So cost of living, healthcare, and housing are the three issues at top of mind for young people coming into the midterms. That’s even stronger for Black and Latino youth who feel like they are really struggling in this economy. After that, climate change and gun control are bigger issues for young people than for the general public. Immigration is up there with Republican-leaning young people, and abortion is up there, especially with young women. But it really does come back to food, shelter, and healthcare as the primary concern.
How have young people changed politically since the last election in 2024?
About two-thirds of youth have changed their political views, with a larger percentage of young people shifting left rather than right—28% versus 15%. Across gender, that’s even stronger for women, with 31% of young women becoming more progressive compared to 22% of young men. At the same time, young men have been more likely than young women to move to the right, 21% versus 9%, so we are continuing to see a consistent gender divide. But it really is candidate-dependent more than it is about political party and identity.
How have you at CIRCLE been part of the political process?
We’re quintessentially non-partisan and we pride ourselves on playing well with others, sharing information with campaign managers, national nonprofits, and research organizations across the political spectrum. Science is science, data is data, and we believe it’s in the public good to share information broadly.
What message are you telling campaigns about how best to engage with young voters?
Young people are not a monolith—they are by far the most diverse generation in American history, and politicians need to approach them as such. They need to learn how to ask questions and stop telling them what to think and feel, to show up and be okay with sitting in their anxiety and frustration without offering a way to fix it.
Thankfully, we are seeing a shift now in how politicians and campaigns are engaging with young people, which is really exciting to see. They are seeking out conversations and recognizing the power of this part of the electorate. They are not just asking for their vote, they are saying you have a lot of power, and now is your time to shine.
