New NextGen America/Data For Progress Poll Reveals Young Nevadans’ Top Issues and Strong Enthusiasm for 2022
Exclusive new polling out of Nevada shows strengthening the economy and raising the minimum wage are top priorities for 18-36-year-olds
Austin, TX — Today, NextGen America and Data for Progress released new research revealing strong enthusiasm among young Nevadans to vote in the upcoming 2022 election and underscoring the importance of enacting policies to strengthen the economy, increase the minimum wage, reform the criminal justice system and cancel student debt.
Among all Nevadan residents aged 18 to 36 surveyed, 25 percent reported being more enthusiastic about voting in 2022 than usual, along with 37 percent who said they’re just as enthusiastic as usual. Overall, the data shows a strong number of young Nevada residents are as enthusiastic or more enthusiastic about voting in the 2022 midterm compared to 2020 — 62 percent overall.
“Young Nevadans are ready to show up in the upcoming election — but they cannot be taken for granted,” NextGen America President Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez said. “NextGen is committed to speaking up for the economic pain young people are facing today, on student loan debt, stagnant wages and more. Young Nevadans are up against some of the biggest challenges in our country’s history and will use their power to exercise their voices.”
The NextGen America-Data for Progress poll also measured the top issues facing young people in Nevada. As young voters look ahead to the next election, they’re sending clear signals on their top priorities and the concerns they believe our leaders should be addressing.
Leading the way are economic issues. A 32-percent plurality of respondents identified “strengthening the economy” as the most important issue facing young people in Nevada, followed by 17 percent who identified “increasing the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour” as the single most important issue and 13 percent who cited “canceling student debt”.
When ranking their top-five most important issues, 66 percent of young Nevadans identified strengthening the economy as a top issue. 58 percent of respondents called raising the minimum wage to $15 as a top-five issue, and 52 percent said reforming the criminal justice system. Young people in Nevada also indicated concern for reducing the cost of prescription drugs (45 percent) and canceling student debt (44 percent).
The cancellation of student loan debt will be a high priority for young Nevadans in advance of the 2022 midterms. Young Nevada residents across the political spectrum and regardless of voter registration status widely support the Biden administration’s move to extend a moratorium on student loan repayment. The outright cancellation of federal student loan debt also proves popular regardless of party affiliation and voter registration status. Sixty percent of young Nevadans overall support the cancellation of student debt, including a plurality of Republicans.
The poll’s release on Wednesday follows NextGen’s program launch in Nevada for the 2022 election and beyond. NextGen is embarking on a $32 million voter-outreach program aimed at reaching 9.2 million voters between the ages of 18 and 35 across eight key states in 2022. In addition to Nevada, the program calls for organizing in Arizona, Texas, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Hampshire and Wisconsin.
More information on the NextGen America-Data For Progress Poll is available here:
- Full Data for Progress poll analysis
- NextGen America-Data For Progress Nevada Poll Topline Results
- NextGen America-Data For Progress Nevada Poll Topline Crosstabs
About NextGen America
NextGen America is the leading national organization for engaging young people through voter education, registration and mobilization. We invite 18-to-35 year olds — the largest and most diverse generation in American history — into our democracy to ensure our government works for them and to find new solutions to the dire challenges facing our society and the world. Since 2013, NextGen America has registered more than 1.4 million young voters and educated many millions more, delivering more than the margin of victory for progressives in key races and building an electorate that will lead American politics for decades to come.