Midterm elections ended with unexpected results for Republicans, due at least in part to the 27% of young people who cast their ballots. The turnout marks the second-highest youth voter rate in the past 30 years.
What's driving them to the polls? Ashley Clark, political director of Voters of Tomorrow, and Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg, Newhouse director of Tufts CIRCLE, said issues such as climate change, abortion and gun violence are top of mind for Gen Z voters.
"Young people who may not have thought of voting in midterms seemed to come out in a larger number and decidedly chose a Democratic candidate, particularly in House and Senate and governor races," Kawashima-Ginsberg said on Greater Boston.
Clark said Gen Z is a unique generation that has lived through 9/11, the 2008 recession, the COVID-19 pandemic and more. She said young voters want their voices heard.
"We as a generation have said enough is enough. We are here to have our voices heard and we are fighting back against these issues that we've been growing up with our entire life," Clark said.
WATCH: Youth voter turnout soared in the 2022 midterms. How did it impact the election?
