US midterms: 66% of voters aged 18 to 29 back Democrats, worrying Republican camp

Early figures from the 2026 US midterm elections show a big shift in American politics. The numbers have created concern in the camp of former President Donald Trump and his Republican Party. Gen Z voters aged 18 to 29 have moved in large numbers from the Republican Party to Democratic Party candidates. The youth trend is expected to deal a major blow to Trump's future calculations.

CIRCLE, a body at Tufts University, has carried out an early analysis of the vote. According to it, about 66 per cent of young voters aged 18 to 29 voted for Democratic candidates. Republican candidates got only 31 per cent of the votes of young people.

Two years ago, in the 2024 presidential election, the gap between Democrats and Republicans in youth support was only 14 points. In the 2026 midterms the gap has widened into a lead of 35 points. This change in the thinking of young voters in just two years is being seen as a major milestone in American politics.

A notable feature of this election is that Democratic support has risen not only among young women but also among young men. In 2024, 51 per cent of men under 30 backed the Democrats. In 2026 the figure has risen to 59 per cent. Among young women, Democratic support has gone from 61 per cent straight to 70 per cent.

Among young white voters too, 63 per cent preferred the Democrats, while the Republicans got only 34 per cent. The figures make it clear that different social and economic sections of Gen Z have expressed anger at Republican policies and shown trust in Democratic policies.

The changed trend has had a direct bearing on results in key states. In a traditionally Republican state like Texas, 76 per cent of voters under 30 backed Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico. Gina Hinojosa, the candidate for governor, got 73 per cent of the votes of voters in this age group.

In Georgia, Democratic candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms is estimated to have the support of about 70 per cent of young voters. In states such as Ohio and Iowa, young people had voted for Trump in 2024. There, the Republican Party's hold appeared to loosen in the 2026 midterms.

Voters aged 18 to 29 are considered highly decisive in the United States. Young people's support appears to be shifting on issues such as rising prices, jobs, social rights and climate change. The unease among young people over the policies of the Trump administration has come out as votes in this election. Political analysts believe that in the coming years this young generation will influence the entire political equation in the United States.