# Gen Z Trump voters express regret as support fades

> Nearly two years after backing Trump, some young voters say everything got worse and plan to switch parties in the midterms.
- Title: Gen Z Trump voters express regret as support fades · NPR
- Summary: Nearly two years after backing Trump, some young voters say everything got worse and plan to switch parties in the midterms. Gen Z voters who backed Trump in…
- Keywords: gen z, trump, 2024 election, 2026 midterms, young voters, voter regret, navigator research, republican party, democratic party, news, Gen, voters
- Source: NPR — https://npr.org/2026/10/16/nx-s1-5993835/gen-z-trump-voting-support
- Published: 2026-10-16T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: gen z, trump, 2024 election, 2026 midterms, young voters, voter regret, navigator research, republican party, democratic party, news
## Gen Z backed Trump in 2024
Generation Z Americans were a key part of President Trump's winning coalition in 2024. Nearly two years later, with early voting underway for the midterms, some youth support has faded.
## Focus group reveals voter disappointment
Navigator Research, a left-leaning polling group, conducted a focus group last week with eight Generation Z Trump voters aged twenty to twenty-nine from Florida, Mississippi, Ohio, Texas and South Carolina.
## Most gave Trump a failing grade
When asked to grade the president's job performance, six out of eight participants assigned him either a D or F, while two selected C. Many reported unhappiness and disappointment over politics.
## "Everything got worse"
John, a twenty-nine-year-old Black man from Florida who voted for Trump since twenty sixteen, gave the president an F. He said he now plans to support Democratic candidates this fall.

> I just feel like nothing went correctly. I just feel like everything got worse.
## Rising costs drove his switch
John cited strain from rising costs as his main reason for switching parties. He said he is willing to give Democrats a chance, hoping even small changes might benefit him.

> I'm willing to give the other side a chance. But things are just horrible right now for me.
## Regret extends beyond the focus group
Navigator polling released in August found that nearly a third of Gen Zers under age thirty regret voting for Trump, higher than older generations do.
## Trump lost ground with key groups
Trump has also lost ground with independents and Latino voters who shifted right in twenty twenty-four. It is unclear whether his expanded coalition from two years ago can show up at the same strength now.
## Some Gen Z voters remain loyal
Four of the eight focus group participants said they still planned to back Republicans this year. Matthew, a twenty-five-year-old Black man from Texas, gave Trump a C and credited him with closing the border.

> I feel like he's done a really good job closing the border.
## Growing distrust of both parties
Courtney, a twenty-year-old white woman from South Carolina, does not regret her Trump vote but has grown distrustful of both major parties, particularly on foreign policy and spending priorities.
## Young voters moving to the middle
Melissa Toufanian, managing director at Navigator, said many Gen Z voters are moving to a middle ground where they trust neither party. Both Republicans and Democrats face a growing challenge repairing ties with this generation.

> A lot of people are moving to this middle, this category that 'I don't trust either party.'
## Key takeaway

Gen Z voters who backed Trump in 2024 are expressing regret and frustration, with some now planning to vote Democratic in the midterms, though others remain uncommitted or loyal to Republicans.