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According to recent polls, former President Trump now leads Biden among 18-34 year old voters in swing states, in contrast to Biden winning this group in 2020.
Economic issues appear to be driving this shift.
Where in 2020 only a minority of young people cited the economy as a top concern, now nearly half do as inflation has increased costs of living.
The pandemic disrupted young people’s job and housing prospects as they entered adulthood.
Biden’s policies have exacerbated economic woes through massive spending, restrictions on domestic energy production, and allowing high levels of illegal immigration, all of which increase competition for starter jobs and affordable housing.
Between 2020-2024, rent and home prices jumped sharply.
“That concern is being reflected in polls,” Bloomberg wrote. “Trump is currently leading the president 47% to 40% with voters 18-34 in swing states, according to a March Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll.”
“By contrast,” Bloomberg added, “Biden won 61% of voters under 30 last cycle.”
In contrast, the economy had recovered strongly until Biden took office.
Mandatory personal finance education in high school could better equip young people to manage finances, but such a program does not align with the priorities of those currently controlling public schools.
“They had a more severe impact of Covid itself in a direct economic way,” said Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg, Newhouse director of Tufts University’s Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. “Whether it’s gas, or housing, or rent or health care, they’re having a really hard time having affordability for that because of the lack of stored wealth.”
