It’s increasingly clear that a resurgence of patriotism has taken hold among America’s youth. Youth turnout in 2024 helped cement President Donald Trump’s victory and exposed a serious crack in Democrats’ long-held grip on young voters. Trump’s gains with this demographic didn’t just shift an election; they helped set the tone for a new golden age in America.
Compare this to the 2020 election, where democratic candidate Joe Biden won the youth vote by 61%. Vice President Kamala Harris and the failed policies of their administration shrank the lead to only around 50% in 2024. As a Harvard analysis put it, “Two key issues for Gen Z voters, dissatisfaction with the economy and the way immigration is being handled, most likely influenced the drop.” For many young voters facing high costs of living and economic uncertainty, those concerns outweighed partisan social fads.
The shift we saw is meaningful, but it also comes with a reality check heading into the midterm elections. Young voters simply can’t be relied on to push us over the edge in 2026. They may turn out in a presidential year when everything feels urgent, but participation drops off fast two years later. It’s important to build a winning midterm strategy around a bloc we will be able to count on. If the continued goal is winning, the GOP’s focus has to be on our most dependable voters in the midterm electorate: our seniors.
Seniors vote. AARP found that 91% of older voters in Ohio rated their motivation to vote in the 2024 presidential election a 10 out of 10, enthusiasm that drops steadily with age, down to 69% among the youngest voters. That same year, voters 50 and older backed Trump over Harris 52-47, and he campaigned on making seniors’ lives more affordable, protecting promised benefits, and improving care — issues directly aligned with their priorities.
Because seniors turn out at the highest rates and support Trump on their key issues, they are the GOP’s most reliable path to winning key margins and shaping the 2026 map in swing districts.
That’s precisely why we launched Seniors Matter for America. We are advocating Trump’s work and his dedication to safeguarding promised benefits, putting more money in seniors’ pockets, and securing long‑term care. We’re here to help our party amplify Trump’s seniors first, affordability wins, so every American knows that our president honors his commitments to our aging generation.
From Day One, Trump has been crystal clear on his commitments to seniors. In just the first year of his presidency, Trump has already begun the fight on every key issue seniors care about: preserving Social Security, protecting Medicare and Medicare Advantage, improving care, and making America affordable again.
In the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the president and Republicans implemented a $6,000 tax deduction for seniors. He has announced historic commitments by pharmaceutical companies to lower drug costs. And in August, the president strengthened Social Security by ending taxes on the program, modernizing customer service and technology for easier access, reducing backlogs, and tightening accountability so the system serves seniors, not bureaucracy.
“We’re going to make America’s seniors — every single day we’re going to fight for them — we’re going to make them richer, better, stronger in so many different ways,” Trump said. And he meant it.
Americans in their golden years built this country. They started businesses, raised families, served their country in uniform, taught our children, kept our communities safe, and paid into the systems the rest of us rely on. They love America, and they support Trump because he protects their promised benefits. They’ve done so much for us, and now our administration is making good on Trump’s promise of a Golden Age for America’s seniors.
Better yet, Americans agree with what Trump is doing to protect seniors and their benefits, especially healthcare. Trump’s own pollster, Tony Fabrizio, found that voters in contested congressional districts oppose cuts to Medicare and Medicare Advantage and are far less likely to support a candidate who works against the president and cuts these benefits.
Seniors are key to Make America Great Again victories in swing districts across the country this fall. They will be monumental in keeping our Republican trifecta, and it’s time we rally alongside them.
EDITORIAL: DAVOS SHOWS THAT TRUMP STILL DOESN’T GET IT
This is a moment for clarity and courage. Seniors stood up for America their entire lives; now America must stand up for them. Trump is a champion for seniors, and we are proud to support him in this effort.
Seniors Matter for America is ready to deliver results for the ones who will help us keep going in the fight. Let’s stand with Trump, honor our commitments, and get this done for the Americans who built this nation, because protecting these priorities matters for this generation and generations to come.
