The American dream feels impossible for many young voters, who see no political fix

The American dream feels impossible for many young voters, who see no political fix

Elena Moore

Rahul Mukherjee

Anusha Mathur

October 31, 2025 / 2:00 am

For many young voters, the future doesn't feel quite so bright. Gen Z and millennial Americans are feeling increasingly demoralized about their economic prospects, and some say their concerns have gone unaddressed by elected officials.

In communities of all kinds, voters in their 20s and 30s are confronting a financial reality of rising costs, mounting debt and minimal wage growth. But how is this changing their political views?

It's a question that NPR put to readers . We received more than 1,100 submissions from across the political spectrum from almost every state in the U.S.

Many described a similar reality — one where econ