Kamala Harris Leads Trump on Almost Every Key Issue Among Younger Voters

Kamala Harris is pulling ahead of Donald Trump among younger voters on nearly every major issue, according to recent polling data shared with Newsweek. The poll, conducted by The Independent Center between October 18 and 22 among 1,200 likely voters aged 18 to 44, shows that Harris leads Trump on seven key issues, including the economy, healthcare, and social issues. The only issue where Trump has the lead is immigration. Harris' biggest lead was over Trump is on healthcare, where she leads him by 16 points, on 49 percent to his 33 percent. Nineteen percent of voters said they would trust a politician more who works with both sides of the aisle. Healthcare has not featured prominently throughout the campaign. In a Fox News poll conducted between October 11 and 14, only 8 percent of voters, including 8 percent of people under 45, said it was the most important issue in deciding their vote. According to a report by the Congressional Budget Office from June 2024, the uninsured share of the population will rise over the course of the next decade, largely as a result of the end of COVID-19 pandemic–related Medicaid policies, with the largest increase in the uninsured population expected to be among adults ages 19–44. However, both campaigns have been vague about their plans for Medicaid, with the Harris campaign committing only to using tax credits to bring down premiums on plans offered through the Affordable Care Act, while Trump has steered clear of discussing the act. Other issues where Harris performed well were the environment, where she has a 13-point lead, and education, where she leads by 12 points. On the economy, international issues, and political polarization, she leads by between 1 and 7 points. However, although Harris only leads by a small margin on these issues, the polls marks a departure from national surveys, which have largely shown that voters trust Trump more on economic and foreign policy issues. Nonetheless, Harris' lead on the economy is good news for the vice president's campaign, after polls have shown that it is the most important issue to young voters. Meanwhile, on social issues, which includes reproductive rights, crime, equality, and civil liberties, Harris has a 12 percent lead, with 47 percent of young voters trusting her more, compared to 35 percent who chose Trump. Abortion has been a key issue for the Democrats in this campaign, particularly among female voters. Throughout the campaign, Harris has positioned herself as a staunch advocate for reproductive rights, leading the Democratic Party's efforts on the issue, and launching a nationwide campaign for reproductive freedoms earlier this year. In contrast, Trump has struggled to shake of his association with the repeal of Roe vs. Wade by the Supreme Court in 2022 after appointing three conservative justices to the court during his term. He has also supported abortion rights being left to the states and has not said whether he would veto a national abortion ban. Harris Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign rally on October 24, 2024, in Clarkston, Georgia. Harris leads Trump on almost all the key issues among younger voters. Mike Stewart/AP But there is one issue where younger voters trust Trump more than Harris, the poll shows. On immigration, which has been the cornerstone of Trump's campaign, the former president has a 1-point lead over Harris, with 42 percent to her 41 percent. For more information, visit us at https://www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com/.