Today the Institute of Politics released the 39th Harvard Youth Poll. Here are key takeaways from the most comprehensive analysis of young Americans' political opinions.

1: Joe Biden leads Donald Trump among all young Americans (51%-28%) and those most likely to vote (60%-30%).

2: Only 8% of 18-to 29-year old Americans believe that the country is working as it should be. The majority of young Americans prefer reform over the replacement of existing institutions to address present-day problems.

Full results: http://iop.harvard.edu/harvard-youth-poll

3: Two-thirds of young Americans disapprove of President Trump’s job performance — and by a two-to-one margin, they say the President has made their lives worse.

Full results: http://iop.harvard.edu/harvard-youth-poll

4: COVID-19 and health care top the list of national issues for young Americans. Concern over the economy and the environment are close to the level they were in the Fall 2019 survey, while health care has risen two-fold, from 8% to 17%.

Full results: http://iop.harvard.edu/harvard-youth-poll

5: Two-thirds of 25- to 29- year olds carry debt (57% of all 18- to -29- year olds), and 63% of all young adults under 30 are concerned about the impact housing costs will have on their future.

Full results: http://iop.harvard.edu/harvard-youth-poll

6: More than three-in-five young Americans agree that the outcome of the 2020 presidential election will make a difference in their lives. 43% of young Democrats say that they are more politically active as a result of President Trump

Full results: http://iop.harvard.edu/harvard-youth-poll

7: Young Americans are divided sharply along racial lines in identification with, trust in American institutions. 64% of whites surveyed agree that “America was built for people like me." Less than half of young black Americans say the same.

Full results: http://iop.harvard.edu/harvard-youth-poll

“Well before COVID-19 struck, we knew this to be a generation anxious about their future. The pandemic brought these anxieties into focus...Self-defense, in 2020, is one of the primary motivations for voting.”
— @dellavolpe on how young Americans will engage with the 2020 campaign

“Our analysis was informed by talking with young voters in New Hampshire & South Carolina... Starting with these intimate conversations, we dug deep into the roots of their political attitudes & desire for generational change.”
—Cathy Sun '22, Harvard Public Opinion Project Chair

Those are just the highlights of the Spring 2020 Harvard Youth Poll! For more information — including the full results and methodology of the poll — visit our website: http://iop.harvard.edu/harvard-youth-poll