Young voters in the United States are seeking Democratic candidates who embrace economic populism and authenticity, according to the new leader of a youth voter mobilisation group. Victoria Yang, interim president of NextGen America, said the party must address everyday financial concerns such as the cost of groceries, rent and education.
NextGen commissioned focus groups with swing voters aged 18 to 26 in battleground states, which revealed anxiety over rising living costs and a sense that the system is rigged against working people. These economic issues far outweighed other topics, including the war in Gaza or cultural debates.
Yang criticised Democrats for failing to focus on pocketbook issues, contrasting them with progressive figures like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who were praised by focus group participants for their authenticity. However, Kamala Harris was seen as inauthentic by many young voters.
Yang, whose family fled Laos and settled in the US, stressed the importance of consistent engagement with young voters. NextGen’s data showed that regular communication significantly boosted turnout among registered young voters. She warned Democrats not to take young people for granted or only approach them late in election cycles.
