As the 2026 US midterms approach against a backdrop of growing political uncertainty, a generation once dismissed as disengaged is finding its voice – even as nearly 50 million Americans aged 18 to 29 remain eligible to vote, yet almost half are unregistered or civically inactive, according to US Census Bureau data. From the cost-of-living crisis to immigration enforcement and the lingering shadow of January 6, young voters across the spectrum are defining their priorities ahead of the ballot box, shaping an electorate that could yet swing tight races in key states.
Pocketbook Pain and the Cost of Living
For many young Americans, everyday economics dominate the campaign conversation. Tyler, a 24-year-old working at a community church in Richfield, Minnesota, sums up a sentiment echoed across swing states: “ICE, inflation and worries about [Donald] Trump’s military force have been … huge factor[s] in voting this year.” He adds, “I like going to the grocery store but I don’t like seeing the price increase amid this unpopular and illegal war,” noting that “fascism is taking hold and I want there to be some semblance of accountability, and I want to make sure that we actually have a real opposition party that we’re not seeing at the moment, aside from some candidates.”
In Ohio, library worker Charlie, 22, frames the choice around healthcare and affordability. “Advocating against universal healthcare indicates, to me, a deep disregard for the actual wellbeing of the American people. Also, the wealth disparity in the US is astronomical, so advocating for a greater tax on the ultra-wealthy is important to me as well. People who have to work to survive are doing so poorly right now, all I want is to see life become affordable again.”
A 25-year-old maintenance worker in Connecticut puts the personal cost plainly: “I do want to vote, but that depends on how accessible it is. If I have the time and energy I go out and vote. I do work a lot. I have a lot of bills to pay – car, car insurance, rent, utilities, student loans, medical bills. It is hard to find time to do just about anything.” Frustration with the candidates on offer is acute. “The problem is I am worried that if I vote, I will vote wrong because I don’t really trust any of the people up for office … I don’t want to vote for a Republican, but I also don’t want to vote for [Connecticut governor Ned] Lamont because his track record of doing what he said he would (even trying) is not very good and he has put more money into corporate pockets than into the working class.” They warn that “any meaningfully good legislation will have bullcrap logrolled into it for things that our communities don’t want. I also worry that the almighty American dollar will blind every politician in the race and none of them will have actual integrity.”
Immigration, Borders and the Policing of Polls
Immigration policy remains a sharp dividing line, particularly in states where federal and local enforcement intersect. Matthew Doutt, a 26-year-old accountant in Knoxville, Tennessee, links the climate crisis to broader guardrails: “This administration has done deep damages to the guardrails meant to defend against climate change, and we need someone – anyone – to get us back on track … Unfortunately, with me being in a conservative state that’s been heavily gerrymandered, no one stands out in my state in a positive way.” He also expects a visible presence at the polls. “Tennessee is one of several states that has partnered with ICE for local enforcement. I’m expecting to see ICE at polling locations to supposedly prevent against undocumented immigrants [from] voting but I expect it to be more about intimidating liberals.”
For Niamh Catterall, an 18-year-old university student from Texas currently studying in Ireland, the election is a first-time exercise. Voting by mail, she lists the war, cost of living, protections for minorities and immigrants, and the separation of church and state among her main concerns. “I am hopeful of a break from party politics and a renewed focus on how a candidate can help a society or individual. In the case of many of the candidates who I support, such as [Gina] Hinojosa or [James] Talarico, their platforms go beyond experience or big picture, federal politics like being aligned with Trump and actually focus on what groups within the state need, whether that is healthcare or cost of living.”
Nathan, a 21-year-old computer science student in Texas, brings LGBTQ+ rights and datacenter expansions into the mix. “It really excites me to see how well Talarico is doing! The idea of a blue Texas is mind-blowing to me,” he says, adding, “I know that Democratic candidates in southern states almost always lose. I also really wish that more people my age voted.”
Election Integrity and the Ghost of January 6
The spectre of election subversion colours even victories. Tyler worries that “there will be some trickery and subversion of results or another version of January 6,” suggesting that even a Democratic win may not quell fears about the mechanics of
