Focus group: Gen Z's 2026 warning signs for Democrats
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Illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios
Nine months into Donald Trump's presidency, young people in a Pennsylvania focus group were apathetic about the midterm elections and didn't display much enthusiasm for the Democratic Party.
Why it matters: Young people helped power Democratic victories in 2018 by turning out in historic numbers. But in 2024, the bedrock constituency of the Democratic Party turned to the right — an erosion that Democrats must stop next year to win.
The big picture: A handful of the 17 people in the focus group — which took place in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, a swing area that both parties pour huge sums of money into during election season — said unprompted that they are Republicans or don't fit into either of the two main parties.
- None volunteered during the event that they were Democrats, although some voiced progressive views.
Zoom in: The panel of 18- to 25-year-olds was asked if they were paying attention to the statewide judicial races this year and congressional elections in 2026. Many indicated they were not.
- "I'm pretty out of touch," said Isabella, a 20-year-old independent. "I personally don't remember learning much about going out and voting for these specific elections, only the presidential election."
- "There's a huge wave of our generation who does not go out and vote in our local elections," said Margaret, a 23-year-old Democrat.
- Mikayla, a 20-year-old Democrat, said "both Biden and Trump" had upset voters by breaking campaign promises.
The Lehigh Valley is home to one of the most critical House races in the country, where Democrats are looking to oust first-term Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-Pa.).
How it works: Axios watched a focus group Thursday night facilitated by Keep Our Republic, a nonpartisan group focused on restoring Americans' trust in elections. Chris Borick, a Pennsylvania-based pollster, moderated the event.
- While a focus group is not a statistically significant sample like a poll, the responses show how some voters are thinking and talking about current events.
- Organizers told Axios after the event that seven of the participants were Democrats, six were independents, and four were Republicans, information they obtained in a registration survey that asked them what best describes their political affiliation.
Zoom out: Gen Z has come of age during multiple political and cultural earthquakes, including the rise of AI, COVID-19 and the second Trump era.
- Research has shown that the generation suffers from high levels of mental health issues and loneliness.
- The focus group in the Lehigh Valley reflected those dark undertones.
Between the lines: Many of the young people at the event said that they were extremely worried about political violence and expected it to increase.
- Several also said that they felt freedom of speech was constrained and expressed concerns about the state of democracy.
- TJ, a 22-year-old Republican, said people should be allowed to "question" the 2020 election. "I don't think it was stolen personally, but you should be allowed to ask that question," he argued. "It's your First Amendment right."
- Some participants said they were dissatisfied with the two-party system and felt that candidates weren't focused on the issues that affected their lives.
The bottom line: Some of them are choosing to tune out news and social media, partly over political tensions.
- David, a 22-year-old Democrat, said he "completely stopped paying attention" to social media because "it's either virtue signaling or it's intentionally inflammatory."
- Asked where he gets his news, he responded, "I don't."
