The US presidential election is just weeks away and one essential voting bloc is getting a lot of attention from both parties: young voters. But it’s economic woes – from inflation to housing – that could drive them to the polls.
Contents
Gen Z election
It’s Isabella Morris’s first presidential election, and the 21-year-old mum from Rosenberg, Texas, said she’s listening closely to what both candidates have to say. Recently married with a two-year-old, Isabella works part-time to supplement her husband’s full-time income. She stays at home with her child while her family rents a small one-bedroom apartment.
The plan seemed solid—two incomes, no mortgage, or daycare costs—but it’s not enough.“Our debts are paid off, but we can’t afford any mistakes. We have no savings, nothing. One job used to be enough to live on, even at a minimum wage. Now it feels like we’re barely scraping by,” she said. Economic fears about her future will drive her to vote in November, but when she spoke to the BBC, she was still undecided which candidate she would support.
“As these elections draw closer, we cannot possibly fathom a candidate not addressing the economic crisis right now,” she said.Isabelle is one of 8 million young people who will be voting in a presidential election for the first time. Comprising about a third of the US electorate, voters under 35 are being fought over by both parties, and polls show the economy is their top priority this election season.
Though reproductive rights, the war in Gaza and gun violence have dominated headlines when it comes to young voters’ policy priorities, 18-26 year-olds rank economic growth, income inequality and poverty as the most important problems facing the country, according to a Gen Forward Survey conducted by the University of Chicago and released in September.
That’s in contrast to the 2020 election, when COVID-19, racism, and healthcare outranked the economy as the main issue driving young voters to the polls, according to the same survey.
‘The situation has degraded’
Isabella’s concerns reflect the broader challenges facing young voters, who are entering a world of high rents, unaffordable homes and slowing job creation – not to mention a once-in-a-generation surge in prices, according to economics Tiktoker Kyla Scanlon. Last month, the Federal Reserve lowered interest rates for the first time in more than four years, a decision which could lead to lower borrowing costs on mortgages, credit cards and saving rates for millions of people. But it remains to be seen whether the change in rates will change people’s outlook on the economy.
“The overall situation has degraded,” Ms Scanlon, 27, told the BBC, noting that young people today have it worse than previous generations – even millennials who entered the workforce after the 2008 financial crisis. A Gen Z-er herself, Ms Scanlon often turns to TikTok, where she has more than 180,000 followers, to educate young people about the economy.
Economic Anxiety Takes Center Stage
For many Gen Z voters, the economic challenges they face are personal and immediate. The soaring cost of education, housing, and healthcare has left many young people struggling to make ends meet, even as they try to build careers. Student debt, in particular, is a huge burden for many in this generation. As a result, they’re paying close attention to how candidates address these issues.
We need representation’
Economic woes aren’t just driving people to vote, they’re lighting a fire in some young people to run for office themselves. Gabriel Sanchez, 27, a Democratic candidate for the Georgia state legislature, said he’s running for office to try to help ease the financial strain on his generation.
As a waiter at a sports bar, he said rent hikes have forced him to move repeatedly. He is concerned that essentials like stable housing are becoming a privilege for many young Americans.
“Most of us aren’t able to own a home, afford healthcare or buy the basic things we need,” Sanchez said in a TikTok posted on his campaign account.
Job Market and Wages
Gen Z is entering a job market that is rapidly changing, with automation and technology reshaping many industries. While the U.S. unemployment rate remains low, many young people feel that available jobs don’t provide the wages or stability they need. Issues like income inequality, affordable housing, and the gig economy are top of mind for these voters.
Climate Change as an Economic Issue
For Gen Z, the economy and climate change are deeply intertwined. They see environmental sustainability as not only a moral issue but also an economic one. Many are calling for green jobs and investment in renewable energy, believing that addressing climate change could create new economic opportunities. Candidates who present policies that tackle both the economy and the environment are likely to gain their support.
stay connected with fact and us for more such news.