Data from the 2026 midterm elections indicates a decline in support for President Donald Trump among voters aged 18 to 24. According to CNN data analyst Harry Enten on Thursday, November 12, the president's net approval rating within this demographic fell to 15 percent this year, down from a 43 percent vote share in 2024.
This shift follows a period where the Republican party had narrowed the gap with younger voters. In the 2020 election, the Democratic candidate held a 25-point lead in this age group, which decreased to a four-point margin during the 2024 contest between Trump and Kamala Harris. Research from Tufts University’s Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement noted that Trump specifically gained ground with young men in 2024, winning that subgroup by 14 points.
Enten reported that the 28-point decline in standing over the last two years contributed to a shift in voting patterns toward the Democratic party. He stated that while many younger voters were willing to consider Republican candidates after 2024, that support has since reversed. In a "60 Minutes" interview following the midterms, Trump suggested that his administration's immigration crackdown might have been perceived as "too tough" by some voters.
The analyst attributed the change in sentiment to voter dissatisfaction with administration policies regarding healthcare, rising living costs, and the war in Iran. These factors reportedly drove high turnout among younger voters, which Enten identified as a primary reason for Democratic successes in the midterm elections.
For these individuals, the reported shift in sentiment is tied to concerns including the cost of healthcare and general consumer prices. Younger voters would have noticed these economic pressures in their expenses leading up to the election. The source indicates that dissatisfaction with these costs, along with the administration’s handling of the Iran war, led this group to favor Democratic candidates in "overwhelming numbers."
The long-term impact involves a reversal of the gains the Republican party made with young men during the 2024 campaign cycle. By moving back toward the Democratic party, this voting bloc established a turnout that analysts suggest was central to the midterm results. While specific legislative deadlines were not reported, the result is a changed political landscape. Following the election results, the president has acknowledged that his immigration policy may have contributed to this shift.