Preliminary CIRCLE analysis of the November 3 midterms found that about 66% of voters aged 18 to 29 chose Democratic House candidates, compared with 31% who chose Republicans—a 35-point gap and the largest Democratic margin of any age group.

The economy and job opportunities were young voters’ top concerns, followed by healthcare and the Iran war, with all three linked to cost-of-living pressures.

That focus reflects a shift in young voters’ priorities: social issues such as racism, climate change and gun control were prominent in 2020, while economic concerns rose in 2022 and led in 2024 and 2026.

Democratic support varied by race, reaching 81% among Asian American and Pacific Islander youth, 79% among Black youth, 71% among Latino youth and 61% among white youth; 36% of white youth voted Republican.

Young women were more likely than young men to vote Democratic for House candidates, 70% to 59%, a gap also seen among college students and present since at least 2024.

Men under 30, who had leaned more toward Trump in 2024, showed greater support for Democrats in 2026; the figures do not establish that individual voters changed their views, since turnout and voter composition can differ between elections.

Education was also associated with different levels of Democratic support: young people with a high school education or less favored Democrats by 24 points, compared with a 42-point margin among those with at least some college, while college enrollment itself made little difference.

At St. Anselm College, students described concerns about the economy, student debt, home ownership and immigration policy; some remained supportive of Trump, while others questioned their earlier choice.

Young Americans’ views remain varied, encompassing immigration, foreign policy, civil rights, climate change and democracy, alongside dissatisfaction with Democrats’ responses on living costs, housing and employment.

Ron DeSantis said Republicans had pushed young people toward socialism by favoring “crony capitalism,” arguing that many compare socialism with government-backed business interests rather than free enterprise.

On “The Sage Steele Show,” DeSantis also cited university education as a factor in young Americans’ views and warned that some may prefer socialism to cronyism, even if the “socialist” label deters committed Republicans.

Republicans had tried to tie vulnerable Democrats to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist, but the midterm results suggested the label did little to stop Democratic gains.