In the November 2026 midterm elections, young white men (ages 18–29) predominantly aligned with Democratic candidates, marking a significant shift from 2024 when the same voters largely supported Donald Trump, according to CNN Voter Poll and CIRCLE data. This trend was largely driven by dissatisfaction over the cost of living and inflation, factors that decisively influenced the votes of young white men, even in traditionally Republican states. [1]

The data behind the story

Key political issues for young voters in the United States in 2024, by race and ethnicity

According to a 2024 poll conducted shortly after the elections, young adults in the United States were divided on key political issues such as border security, gun violence prevention, and climate change. However, most young Americans considered the cost of living and inflation as the primary political issues, regardless of race and ethnicity.

  • Asian American
  • White
  • Latino
  • Black

Share of vote

According to a 2024 poll conducted shortly after the elections, young adults in the United States were divided on key political issues such as border security, gun violence prevention, and climate change. However, most young Americans considered the cost of living and inflation as the primary political issues, regardless of race and ethnicity. Complete observations, including unavailable values, are listed in the data table below. 0 18 36 53 71 Cost of living/inflationCost of living/... HealthcareHealthcare AbortionAbortion Education and childcareEducation and c... RacismRacism Free speech and religious freedomFree speech and... LGBTQ+ issuesLGBTQ+ issues Student loan debtStudent loan de... Cost of living/inflation: Asian American 71 Share of vote Jobs and unemployment: Asian American 33 Share of vote Healthcare: Asian American 26 Share of vote Climate change and the environment: Asian American 38 Share of vote Abortion: Asian American 18 Share of vote Immigration: Asian American 15 Share of vote Education and childcare: Asian American 14 Share of vote Gun policy: Asian American 24 Share of vote Racism: Asian American 14 Share of vote Voting rights and democracy: Asian American 11 Share of vote Free speech and religious freedom: Asian American 8 Share of vote Foreign policy (in the Middle East, Ukraine, etc.): Asian American 17 Share of vote LGBTQ+ issues: Asian American 5 Share of vote Student loan debt: Asian American 4 Share of vote Student loan debt: Asian American 4 Share of vote Cost of living/inflation: White 64 Share of vote Jobs and unemployment: White 21 Share of vote Healthcare: White 27 Share of vote Climate change and the environment: White 29 Share of vote Abortion: White 30 Share of vote Immigration: White 26 Share of vote Education and childcare: White 16 Share of vote Gun policy: White 12 Share of vote Racism: White 6 Share of vote Voting rights and democracy: White 16 Share of vote Free speech and religious freedom: White 16 Share of vote Foreign policy (in the Middle East, Ukraine, etc.): White 16 Share of vote LGBTQ+ issues: White 12 Share of vote Student loan debt: White 5 Share of vote Student loan debt: White 5 Share of vote Cost of living/inflation: Latino 65 Share of vote Jobs and unemployment: Latino 28 Share of vote Healthcare: Latino 28 Share of vote Climate change and the environment: Latino 27 Share of vote Abortion: Latino 28 Share of vote Immigration: Latino 30 Share of vote Education and childcare: Latino 14 Share of vote Gun policy: Latino 11 Share of vote Racism: Latino 10 Share of vote Voting rights and democracy: Latino 14 Share of vote Free speech and religious freedom: Latino 15 Share of vote Foreign policy (in the Middle East, Ukraine, etc.): Latino 12 Share of vote LGBTQ+ issues: Latino 9 Share of vote Student loan debt: Latino 5 Share of vote Student loan debt: Latino 5 Share of vote Cost of living/inflation: Black 62 Share of vote Jobs and unemployment: Black 35 Share of vote Healthcare: Black 29 Share of vote Climate change and the environment: Black 13 Share of vote Abortion: Black 19 Share of vote Immigration: Black 12 Share of vote Education and childcare: Black 24 Share of vote Gun policy: Black 17 Share of vote Racism: Black 32 Share of vote Voting rights and democracy: Black 16 Share of vote Free speech and religious freedom: Black 14 Share of vote Foreign policy (in the Middle East, Ukraine, etc.): Black 7 Share of vote LGBTQ+ issues: Black 4 Share of vote Student loan debt: Black 13 Share of vote Student loan debt: Black 13 Share of vote
Source Statista: Top political issues for young voters in the United States in 2024, by race and ethnicity Retrieved 5 Nov 2026
View complete data
Key political issues for young voters in the United States in 2024, by race and ethnicity (Share of vote)
CategoryAsian AmericanWhiteLatinoBlack
Cost of living/inflation71 Share of vote64 Share of vote65 Share of vote62 Share of vote
Jobs and unemployment33 Share of vote21 Share of vote28 Share of vote35 Share of vote
Healthcare26 Share of vote27 Share of vote28 Share of vote29 Share of vote
Climate change and the environment38 Share of vote29 Share of vote27 Share of vote13 Share of vote
Abortion18 Share of vote30 Share of vote28 Share of vote19 Share of vote
Immigration15 Share of vote26 Share of vote30 Share of vote12 Share of vote
Education and childcare14 Share of vote16 Share of vote14 Share of vote24 Share of vote
Gun policy24 Share of vote12 Share of vote11 Share of vote17 Share of vote
Racism14 Share of vote6 Share of vote10 Share of vote32 Share of vote
Voting rights and democracy11 Share of vote16 Share of vote14 Share of vote16 Share of vote
Free speech and religious freedom8 Share of vote16 Share of vote15 Share of vote14 Share of vote
Foreign policy (in the Middle East, Ukraine, etc.)17 Share of vote16 Share of vote12 Share of vote7 Share of vote
LGBTQ+ issues5 Share of vote12 Share of vote9 Share of vote4 Share of vote
Student loan debt4 Share of vote5 Share of vote5 Share of vote13 Share of vote
Student loan debt4 Share of vote5 Share of vote5 Share of vote13 Share of vote

The data behind the story

Most important political issues for young people in the United States of America, June 2026

According to a 2026 poll, young adults in the United States of America were divided on key political issues. However, approximately 28% of Americans aged 18–29 considered the cost of living and inflation to be the most important political issue.

  • Share of respondents

Share of respondents

According to a 2026 poll, young adults in the United States of America were divided on key political issues. However, approximately 28% of Americans aged 18–29 considered the cost of living and inflation to be the most important political issue. Complete observations, including unavailable values, are listed in the data table below. 0 7 14 21 28 Inflation/pricesInflation/price... Civil rightsCivil rights Health careHealth care AbortionAbortion National securityNational securi... Taxes and government spendingTaxes and gover... GunsGuns Foreign policyForeign policy Inflation/prices: Share of respondents 28 Share of respondents Jobs and the economy: Share of respondents 22 Share of respondents Civil rights: Share of respondents 10 Share of respondents Climate change and the environment: Share of respondents 7 Share of respondents Health care: Share of respondents 6 Share of respondents Immigration: Share of respondents 5 Share of respondents Abortion: Share of respondents 5 Share of respondents Civil liberties: Share of respondents 4 Share of respondents National security: Share of respondents 3 Share of respondents Crime: Share of respondents 3 Share of respondents Taxes and government spending: Share of respondents 2 Share of respondents Education: Share of respondents 2 Share of respondents Guns: Share of respondents 1 Share of respondents Foreign policy: Share of respondents 1 Share of respondents
Source Statista: Most important policy issues for young people in the United States as of June 2026 Retrieved 5 Nov 2026
View complete data
Most important political issues for young people in the United States of America, June 2026 (Share of respondents)
CategoryShare of respondents
Inflation/prices28 Share of respondents
Jobs and the economy22 Share of respondents
Civil rights10 Share of respondents
Climate change and the environment7 Share of respondents
Health care6 Share of respondents
Immigration5 Share of respondents
Abortion5 Share of respondents
Civil liberties4 Share of respondents
National security3 Share of respondents
Crime3 Share of respondents
Taxes and government spending2 Share of respondents
Education2 Share of respondents
Guns1 Share of respondents
Foreign policy1 Share of respondents
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Politics
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USA

Sources

  1. GQ Are Young Men the New Kings of the Swing Vote?