In rural America, Gen Z and millennial voters grapple with economic hardships like rising prices and limited opportunities, feeling overlooked by politicians. Personal stories from Virginia, Alabama, and Pennsylvania highlight their frustrations as they approach a pivotal role in future elections. By 2028, these generations are projected to form more than half of the electorate.
Andrew Tait, a 36-year-old warehouse supervisor and farmer in rural Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, embodies the struggles of many young rural Americans. He lives with his partner Hannah Coogan and their two daughters on a small farm, managing factory shifts alongside daily chores like feeding sheep and collecting eggs. Despite steady work, Tait says they barely scrape by. "I have a mortgage, and it's paid every month. But the thought of my children's birthdays or holidays terrifies me," he told NPR. "What if the grocery bill goes up again? I mean, I'm on a shoestring."
Tait delayed marriage to preserve Medicaid access for his family, as his job's healthcare is unaffordable. In his essay "Living in the Shadow of the American Dream," he wrote, "I'm not ashamed of our life. It's honest work, and it's full of love. However, I am ashamed that in a country as wealthy as ours, people like us are left out in the cold." He expressed voter fatigue: "I'm really just tired of voting for who I hate least," and called for inspiration on issues like food, healthcare, and education, regardless of party.
Experts note these sentiments fueled support for President Trump's economic message among young voters in 2024. Lee Miringoff of Marist University said Trump connected with the dissatisfied by promising disruption. Nicholas Jacobs of Colby College added that rural economic woes persist, but Democrats seem inattentive: "They do not feel like the Democratic Party even thinks about these problems."
Paul Staley, 35, from a small town near Birmingham, Alabama, contrasts his life with his father's: as a butcher, his dad afforded a new Corvette, but Staley, a college-educated engineer, cannot. Previously a Trump voter, he now leans centrist, drawn to Sen. Bernie Sanders and Zohran Mamdani for action on costs and worker protections. "Hard work needs to mean more," he said.
Julie Hill, 22, in rural northwest Pennsylvania, feels similarly ignored. Unemployed and in mental health rehab, she voted for Kamala Harris but dreams of homeownership with land for horses—a goal seeming unattainable. "It can be hard to kind of feel like we're being seen," she said. "The story of Sisyphus and the rock, that's kind of what it feels like."
Broader data underscores these concerns: a Marist poll found seven in 10 Gen Zers and nearly six in 10 millennials say jobs are hard to find. Pew Research shows both generations doubt the American dream's viability. The median first-time homebuyer age rose from 28 in 1991 to 38 last year, per the National Association of Realtors. These pressures push some toward populism, leaving many unsatisfied with leaders.