New Poll: Young People are Dissatisfied with the Country’s Direction, but Politically Engaged and Seeking Meaningful Ways to Make Change
Amid feelings of anxiety and frustration, Gen Z voters recognize their power to influence the political and economic systems that are failing young people.
Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity (URGE), in partnership with HIT Strategies, surveyed young people’s attitudes, perspectives, and priorities ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The poll finds young people are concerned about a broad range of systemic, social justice, and humanitarian issues, namely economic stability and affordability.
“Young people have the leadership and moral clarity to meet this moment and drive the change they want to see in our democracy, ” said Kimberly Inez McGuire, Chief Executive Officer at URGE. “Every day, young people across the South and Midwest are building towards a better world when others want them to stay silent and the odds are stacked against them. We must continue to move resources, opportunities, and decision-making power closer to those who are the most impacted so young people, especially those historically marginalized, can fully exercise their power.”
“Young voters are politically engaged and want to make a difference, yet grappling with a system that they believe is heavily influenced by corporations, the ultra-wealthy, and the Trump administration’s election interference tactics,” said Ashley Aylward, Senior Research Manager at HIT Strategies. “Young voters are struggling to make ends meet and demand accountability for policy decisions that have harmed their livelihoods. Acknowledging young people’s skepticism about institutions is critical to ensure they keep showing up at the ballot box and making change on the issues they care about.”
Key findings from the poll include:
- Young people are anxious and frustrated with a system that’s failing them.
- Eight in ten (83%) Gen Z voters are dissatisfied with the direction of the country.
- The most common emotions when thinking about the state of the country are negative, including feeling anxious (42%), frustrated (41%), and angry (29%).
- 92% are concerned about the power of billionaires. 49% feel less motivated to vote due to corporations and the ultra-wealthy’s influence in politics.
- Young people are struggling to make ends meet.
- Almost half of Gen Z voters (49%) are making just enough to pay bills, and a quarter (26%) are struggling to pay bills.
- A majority have a lot of concern about housing costs (78%), healthcare affordability & accessibility (71%), cuts to Medicaid and SNAP (58%), and affording their basic needs (56%).
- Black women are more likely to have a lot of concern about affording their basic needs (71%). Nearly nine in ten Black women have a lot of concern about healthcare affordability and accessibility (87%).
- Young people’s primary concerns are driven by values, kitchen-table issues, and rollback
sof protections for marginalized groups.- A large share of Gen Z voters (83%) report concern about laws restricting or banning abortion. Three in four (77%) Gen Z voters are personally concerned about themselves or a loved one being able to access abortion or other reproductive care.
- More than three in four Gen Z voters are concerned about discrimination against transgender people (78%), and LGBTQ+ voters are especially concerned about this (92%).
- Gen Z voters are concerned about ICE tactics (80%) specifically, and discrimination against immigrants in general (79%).
- The ending of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies at institutions and companies is also a concern for Gen Z (78%).
- Young people recognize what’s at stake, and they maintain hope in their power to make change.
- Half said they feel Gen Z has power to make change on the issues that matter to them (48% rating between 7-10 on a scale of 10), and most report planning to vote in this year’s midterms.
- 38% say they vote to make change on issues that matter.
- 82% have talked about political issues with family and friends. 50% have boycotted.
The survey included 2,950 registered voters ages 18-30 nationally, with three national oversamples and three state-based oversamples. The survey was fielded from June 24 – July 9, 2026, and the margin of error is +/- 2.85%.
In the lead-up to midterm elections, building on URGE’s largest civic engagement year ever in 2024, URGE seeks to reach 4.2 million young people online and in-person and train at least 750 young people. So far this year, across 27 campus chapters in URGE’s six priority states, URGE staff have conducted over 20 campus chapter visits and trained over 130 members.
Read more about the poll findings here.
About URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity
URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity is a national nonprofit organization that works to build young people’s power around reproductive issues by centering the leadership of young people of color who are women, queer, trans, nonbinary and people of low income across the South, Midwest, and California.
