Almost half of the youth surveyed in 2024 believed that their vote didn’t matter. What steps need to be taken to push back against this perception?
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Part of the answer to this has to do with the candidates themselves. As the 2026 elections draw nearer, both political parties, Democrats and Republicans alike, are in a race to recruit the youth vote. Insights from the November elections may prove valuable as we look to the future.
For example, in New Jersey and Virginia, youth support was strong for Mikie Sherill and Abigail Spanberger. The New York mayoral election also serves as a powerful moment to consider what factors in a candidate’s campaign influence voter participation. The victory of Democrat Zohran Mamdani—the 34-year-old who became the second youngest mayor in New York City’s history—is largely due to youth turnout. Voters aged 18-29 had the highest turnout of any age group at over ⅓, about double their turnout from 2021.
Image Credit: Karamccurdy from Wikimedia
The spike in youth voter turnout may be due to a handful of reasons. Two of these are his age and the values he represents. His victory is a landmark for the youth of the city and America. Many young people feel inspired to see someone of their age in office, as it gives them hope that they can also share their voices.
Additionally, young people are drawn to change. Many have experienced firsthand that grocery and housing prices are still exorbitantly high. In this context, Mamdani emerged as a symbol of change and a departure from the status quo.
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The Issues They Stand For
Furthermore, Mamdani’s campaign was centered around quality-of-life issues, particularly affordability. At a time when the Democratic Party faced criticism for being “out of touch with the mainstream efforts of young people across the board,” Mamdani’s campaign resonated deeply with many (Harvard Kennedy School). Over 40% of Americans under the age of 30 note they are “barely getting by” financially. Mamdani successfully connected with blue-collar workers, even as Democrats have struggled to align themselves with the needs of this demographic.
Methods of Outreach
Additionally, canvassing plays a critical role in the way candidates secure votes. In an era dominated by social media and digital interaction, Mamdani effectively leveraged online platforms alongside traditional canvassing methods to reach a wider audience and more deeply connect with youth.
In the first few months of Mayor Mamdani’s term, he has already signed an executive order to establish an Office of Mass Engagement with the goal of encouraging public participation in civic matters.
Image Credit: Trump and Mamdani meeting from Wikimedia
However, Mamdani’s victory is not a definitive telltale for future outcomes. As a senior high school student living in New York City articulated, “Reactions to his victory felt very split depending on community and background.”
This observation underscores the fact that, although youth turnout was strong, there is still tension among different groups within the youth demographic.
“For some, his win feels like a sign that new, younger voices and different priorities are starting to matter more in local politics,” the student stated. “At the same time, there’s a strong sense that these conversations aren’t happening evenly everywhere.”
