If a new poll is any indication, both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party should be worried about the youth vote in the 2026 midterm elections.

According to polling from the University of Chicago, about 60% of Gen Z and millennial voters are dissatisfied with both political parties. This includes 25% of Republican voters ages 18-42 who have an unfavorable view of the GOP, as well as 36% of Democrats in that age range who have an unfavorable view of their party.

None of this is really surprising, given that polling across age ranges has shown that voters are unhappy with both political parties. What might surprise party leaders, however, are the specific issues that Generation Z and millennials are worried about.

As our elected officials cling to power, many of them past their prime, the trope of blaming young voters for their apathy and laziness is tired and overdone. Both political parties have lost the plot, and young voters know it. It’s time to shift the blame from voters to the party officials who fail to keep them engaged.

When we break down the data, it’s........

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