Young people’s economic concerns and pessimism about the future have fueled protests in several countries, but discontent can also be expressed at the ballot box. In the United States, surveys suggest that voters under 30 could use the November 3 midterm elections to send a message to President Donald Trump.
Harvard University’s latest Youth Poll shows that fewer than one in ten young people believe the country is moving in the right direction, the lowest figure recorded in the survey’s history. For the first time, more young respondents also believe they will be financially worse off than their parents than believe they will be better off.
Among young people who say they are likely to vote, 63% say they intend to do so to oppose Trump and his policies. That marks a significant change from 2024, when the Republican reduced the Democrats’ traditional advantage among voters under 30 and even won among young men, helping his return to the White House.
Rejection of the president is now high even among young men. Nearly seven in ten disapprove of his performance, while opposition rises to 74% when respondents are asked specifically about his handling of the economy. The main concerns include the cost of living and campaign promises that young voters believe have not been fulfilled.
Cryptocurrencies are one example. Trump strongly appealed to crypto enthusiasts during the 2024 campaign, but after Bitcoin’s value rose following his victory, prices returned from late 2025 to levels similar to those recorded before the election. Several cryptocurrencies supported by the president subsequently suffered major declines.
Young voters also appear to be moving away from some influencers associated with the so-called manosphere, which helped promote Trump during the last campaign. A survey published by Puck News found that the popularity of figures such as Joe Rogan and Andrew Tate has fallen considerably in recent months, although Rogan remains especially popular.
The main question is whether dissatisfaction will translate into significant turnout. Historically, voters under 30 participate less in midterm elections. In Harvard’s survey, only one-third say they will vote, while another 14% say they will probably do so, leaving the group below the 50% threshold and likely to remain the age category with the lowest participation.
There are, however, indicators that could benefit Democrats. Young women and students or university graduates are the most likely to say they will participate, and these groups generally support progressive candidates more strongly. A substantial turnout could prove decisive in closely watched Senate races in Texas, Michigan and Georgia, where James Talarico, Abdul El-Sayed and Jon Ossoff have attracted particular interest among young voters.
Democrats nevertheless face a fragile electorate. A Gallup study found that young Americans are the age group most likely to identify as politically independent: 56% describe themselves that way, compared with 27% who identify as Democrats and 17% as Republicans. Among baby boomers, the share of independents is 33%.
Young voters’ partisan loyalties are therefore less stable, and many make their choice primarily to reject one party rather than to support another. In Harvard’s survey, more than half of the young men who plan to vote Democratic say their decision is motivated by opposition to Republicans.
A gender gap also remains among young Americans. Young women are more likely to hold liberal views and to support progressive candidates out of conviction. For Democrats, the current backlash against Trump represents an opportunity to regain support among young men. If they fail to consolidate that support, Republicans could make further gains among this group by 2028 or later.
Sources: El País Internacional.