68% of voters aged 18-29 in North Carolina backed the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in the 2026 midterm elections, compared to 29% who supported the Republican candidate, according to data from The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE.
“The 68% support among young people for the Democratic Senate candidate in North Carolina closely mirrors the national trend: 66% of young people voted for a Democratic candidate for the House of Representatives,” explained Alberto Medina, Communications Manager for CIRCLE. Enlace Latino NC.
“Our research suggests that economic concerns, including dissatisfaction with their own financial situation, fueled much of that youthful support for Democrats,” he noted.
“Radical transformation”
According to the report by the independent, nonpartisan research organization, the 39 percentage point difference shows a marked Democratic preference among young people who went to the polls in the state.
The endorsement came in an election in which, at the national level, the youth participation It reached the second highest level for a midterm election in the last 30 years.
“More than 80% of young voters—and more than 90% of those who voted for Democrats—said they want a “substantial change” or a “radical transformation” in the way the country is governed,” Medina said.
Economy and employment
CIRCLE estimates that 27% of young people voted, a proportion similar to its initial estimate for 2022 and surpassed only by that of 2018. The calculation is preliminary and has a margin of error of two percentage points.
The economy and employment topped the list of concerns for young voters across the country: 52% selected them as among the top three national issues.
According to Alberto Medina, the economy, employment, and healthcare were priorities for young voters.
“While the smaller percentage of young people who are getting ahead split their vote fairly evenly between Democrats and Republicans, more than 70% of those who are being left behind voted for Democratic candidates,” he said.
Healthcare ranked second, at 42%, followed by the war in Iran and immigration, mentioned by 27% and 26% respectively.
Supporting Democrats is not a blank check
Medina explained that the support of young people for the Democrats in 2026 was marked by discontent with the government and the situation in the country.
However, he noted that this discontent coexists with low confidence in both parties and in American politics, although young people maintain some confidence in their ability to drive change through voting and civic participation.
Looking ahead to 2028, support for the Democrats will depend on whether young people perceive progress on their priorities.
“Young people evaluate their electoral options based on how well they believe those candidates and parties have listened or could listen to their concerns, address the issues that matter to them, and improve their lives,” Medina said.
gender gap
Although Democratic support extended to various youth groups, a gender gap persisted.
According to NORC's Civic Health and Elections Project, 70% of young women voted for Democratic candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives, compared to 59% of young men.
Among the latter, the result represents a change from 2024, when 56% supported Donald Trump, according to AP VoteCast.
Young women and young people from racial and ethnic minority groups showed a greater inclination toward Democrats.
However, unlike in 2024, young white people and young men also gave strong support to that party.
Democratic support transcends student status
Support was also similar among those who are students and those who are not enrolled in an educational institution: in both groups, 66% voted for Democratic candidates for the House of Representatives.
Among students in universities, trade schools, and vocational training programs, that support was especially strong among those who said they were falling behind economically.
A generation that is still defining its political identity
Medina warned that neither party can take youth support for granted.
“Young people do not maintain unconditional loyalty to a party; they are more likely than older voters to consider themselves independent,” he said.
“They often vote based on the issues at stake, and not on the letter D or R that appears next to a candidate’s name,” he noted.
According to CIRCLE's pre-election poll, two-thirds of young people said their political views had changed in some way.
“This is to be expected in a generation that, in many cases, has just reached voting age and is developing its own political identity,” Medina explained.
"That's why there are always opportunities to reach out to them and involve them," he said.
The challenge of turning the youth vote into lasting support
To determine whether Democrats are building lasting support among young people, Medina noted that it would be necessary to observe greater trust in the party or an increase in identification with or affiliation with it.
“That’s not what we’ve usually seen among young people regarding any party or movement,” Medina clarified.
Even with that low level of institutional trust, Medina indicated that young people can give a party a decisive advantage at the polls.
“Young people have shown, both in 2026 and in previous elections, that they can go to the polls to support certain candidates and give a party a decisive advantage if they believe in the messages of those candidates and have genuine hopes that changes will take place in the country,” he concluded.
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