Time and time again, young Americans are prioritizing the economy as their #1 issue in 2024
Despite a hyper-fixation on campus protests, a new poll of young voters conducted by Democratic firm Blueprint shows the economy is top of mind.
Despite a hyper-fixation on campus protests across the country for the past month, recent data shows that when it comes to the key issues top of mind for young voters ahead of November, the economy is top of mind.
Out today, a new poll of young voters ages 18-30 by Democratic firm Blueprint shows that "the top issues among young voters are inflation (73%), healthcare (71%), jobs and the economy (70%)." The poll was conducted from April 27-29, meaning it was in the field at the peak of the campus protests and police activity on campuses.
As Christian Paz reported about the Blueprint poll for Vox, "Across every kind of young voter asked — Democratic, independent, or Republican; Black or Latino or white; college-educated or not — some variation of an economic concern was a top electoral issue.”
Read Paz’s full piece here: What young voters actually care about
This isn’t an isolated survey
In polls surveying young Americans over the past many months, the economy ranks the #1 issue time and time again.
Asked their top "national issue" in the Harvard IOP spring 2024 youth poll, "about a quarter (27%) of young Americans volunteered something related to the economy."
The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts (CIRCLE) found in their pre-2024 election survey that "far and away, inflation and the cost of living is young people’s number one concern, with 53% of youth selecting it as one of their top three issues."
Anecdotally, in listening sessions across the country, I've found the same to be true. I'm regularly told "the cost of living" or "life affordability" is a major concern.
"It's impossible to even try to own a house or own property over here. Most people now, young people I talk to, they’re thinking about getting trailer homes,” a young voter in Miami told me last month.
Putting the protests in perspective
Back to Blueprint’s poll, despite the chaos on college campuses, when asked how important certain issues are ahead of the 2024 election, the young voters polled in this survey listed 10 issues above "Israel and Palestine," including “inflation,” “healthcare,” “jobs and the economy,” “government spending,” and “education,” “abortion,” and “crime.”
The poll also found that the registered young voters identified across the political spectrum: moderate (31%), liberal (36%), or conservative (33%).
When it comes to Israel and Palestine in particular, the poll found that while 56% of young voters had heard about the recent campus protests over Israel's war in Gaza, 83% had not attended a protest in support of either Israel or Palestine.
Similarly, a Generation Lab survey shared with Axios earlier this month found that college students listed eight issues, including “healthcare reform,” “educational funding and access,” and “economic fairness and opportunity” ahead of “the conflict in the Middle East.” Of all nine issues the students were asked about, the conflict in the Middle East ranked last. Moreover, just 8% of students surveyed in that poll said they had “participated in either side of the protests,” according to Axios.
The sway of celebrity endorsements, shared first with The Up and Up
Additional data from the Blueprint survey, shared first with The Up and Up, analyzes the role of celebrity endorsements with young voters and shows which celebrity endorsement would have the most sway.
According to Blueprint, fresh off her starring role in the movie Challengers, Zendaya holds the most clout with young voters: 24% of voters ages 18-30 said her endorsement of a candidate would make them more likely to support the candidate in question.
The following data was shared from Blueprint.
“For young Democrats, the top five most influential celebrity endorsers are Zendaya (38% say her endorsement would make them more likely to support the candidate), Beyoncé (38%), Billie Eilish (31%), Megan Thee Stallion (28%), and Dua Lipa (25%).”
“With young Republicans, the top five celebrity endorsers are Kevin Hart (26%), Taylor Swift (25%), Lebron James (24%), Kanye West (22%), and Lil Wayne (22%).”
“With young independents, the top 5 celebrity endorsers are Eminem (23%), Mr. Beast (22%), Tom Holland (22%), Harry Styles (20%), and Kendrick Lamar (19%), who may help a campaign with a signature diss track about the opponent.”
“The most influential endorser for young men is LeBron James (30%), and for young women, it is Zendaya (24%).”
“41% of young Black voters say they would be more likely to support a candidate endorsed by Lil Wayne.”
“40% of young Latino voters say the same about LeBron James.”
“Celebrity endorsements help show voters which campaign has momentum and can be a shot of adrenaline for volunteer, campaign workers, and supporters alike,” Alyssa Cass, lead strategist for Blueprint, said in a statement shared with The Up and Up. “In a year where enthusiasm with young voters’ is at a new low, celebrities and credible messengers will be crucial to getting young people off the couch, and both the Trump and Biden campaigns are keenly aware of that. Whether Zendaya will have a say in this election is yet to be seen, but we are looking forward to watching how these two ‘Challengers’ work to win over celebrity endorsements.”