In communities of all kinds, voters in their 20s and 30s are confronting a financial reality of rising costs, mounting debt and minimal wage growth. But how is this changing their political views?
It’s a question that NPR put to readers. We received more than 1,100 submissions from across the political spectrum from almost every state in the U.S.
Many described a similar reality — one where economic worries loom large over their everyday lives and erode their faith in the ability of those in power. Taken together, their responses paint a portrait of a generation of voters discouraged by what they see in Washington and who increasingly feel as if they have no political home.
It is important to note that the responses are not from a representative sample of all young voters. But what readers shared helps highlight a steep challenge facing Democrats and Republicans alike as they work to win over these voters, who are collectively expected to make up more than half the electorate in 2028. Here is a snapshot of what readers shared.
I grew up in a very conservative area. The people in my demographic only want to see change. The right wing government under Trump has been robbing the future blind with zero regard for anyone, but the sentiment I keep hearing is a perception that something is happening. “He’s deporting the criminals,” “he’s saving our jobs,” “he’s making other countries pay us,” “he’s making America safe,” ergo the idea that progression in any direction is progress. People are stupid and short sighted when they are struggling. So the adoption of populism makes a lot of sense to me
Another anecdote, there was a guy I used to work with that would say “we have to go all the way right to come back to center” and they actually believe that would happen lol
Anyway I hate this shit so much, have a good day
I also live in a very conservative area with no hopes of moving any time soon. Your comment is spot on, they think he’s actually trying to help when he is literally doing the opposite. However, it does appear that grocery prices going way up at the same time he’s building a ballroom has kinda broken through to them a little bit. I’m sure they’ll forget it in a week though like always :/
I’ve seen this theorised as being one of the key reasons that Harris lost. Obama campaigned on “change” and won. So did Trump. So did Biden. And Harris’ pitch was kind of “I’m going to keep doing what Biden was!”
Any political novice could see there was no right answer there.
You can’t promise change when you yourself served in the government 4 straight years as VP. They’d question why you didn’t do any of this stuff already