Young people turned out in near-record numbers for the 2026 midterms, with the economy top of their minds
Whether they went to college or not, young voters heavily favored Democrats.
In the 2026 midterm elections, a record number of young voters turned out, with the economy being their top concern. According to research from CIRCLE at Tufts University, 27% of young people aged 18 to 29 cast their ballots, marking the second-highest youth voter turnout in the past three decades. Although being a college student didn't influence voting preferences, educational attainment did play a role.
Those with only a high school diploma or less voted Democratic by a 24-point margin, while those with at least some college education backed Democrats by a 42-point margin. Young male college students also voted for Democrats by a 24-point margin, while female college students favored them by a 45-point margin. Among non-college students, a similar gender gap existed, with young women supporting Democrats by a 45-point margin.
Overall, 66% of young people voted for Democratic House candidates, the highest support for Democrats among any age group.
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