In Chicago, Sam Liu juggles two part-time jobs, logging 40 hours a week without health insurance. He hasn't seen a dentist in two years. After a five-month job search, the urban planning graduate finally secured a full-time position. "A lot of people are hurting, especially working-class people," Liu said. "Even the middle class is getting squeezed."
A Generation Under Pressure
Liu's story echoes across the country as young Americans prepare for the Nov. 3 midterm elections. Interviews in Chicago, the San Francisco Bay Area, and New York reveal a generation facing similar struggles to build careers, yet divided on how to engage with politics.
Some young voters plan to support Democrats as a check on President Donald Trump. Others, identifying as conservatives, express disillusionment with the president. A third group distrusts both parties and may abstain from voting altogether.
Discontent, Not Enthusiasm
National polls indicate Democrats have an opportunity with young voters, but experts caution that discontent does not equal enthusiasm or guarantee turnout. The challenge for both parties is to convert frustration into action.
For many young people, the midterms are less about party loyalty and more about survival. Economic anxiety, student debt, and job insecurity dominate their concerns. Liu, who earned his master's degree in May, worries about long-term stability. "I'm glad to have a job, but it's not enough," he said. "I need to think about savings, about a future."
Political Doubts
In the Bay Area, tech worker Maya Chen, 28, says she voted for Trump in 2016 but is now undecided. "I don't recognize the Republican Party anymore," she said. "But I'm not sure the Democrats have answers either." In New York, community college student Jamal Brooks, 22, plans to vote for the first time. "I need to see change," he said. "If voting can help, I'll do it."
As the nation heads to the polls, the choices of young Americans like Liu, Chen, and Brooks will shape not only the midterm outcomes but also the future political landscape. Their message is clear: they want solutions, not just rhetoric.
