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Older NYC Voters Want Candidates to Address Affordability Concerns, Protect Social Security
New AARP New York poll finds issues like cost of health care and housing also rank high
AARP (Getty Images, 2)
Key takeaways
- Affordability concerns are widespread, with 88 percent of those surveyed citing cost of living and 83 percent citing housing as serious problems.
- Social Security plays a major role in voters’ lives: 43 percent rely on it, and 92 percent favor candidates who protect full payments.
- AARP New York expects voters 50-plus to make up 65 to 75 percent of the electorate in the Democratic primary in NY-12.
Older Democratic voters in the heart of Manhattan are feeling the same squeeze of higher costs for groceries, health care and general living expenses as voters across the country.
An exclusive AARP New York poll released June 11 found that among Democratic voters 50 and older in New York City’s 12th Congressional district, 88 percent of respondents say affordability is a very or somewhat serious problem in the city, while 83 percent echo the same sentiment about housing.
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The concerns driving them to choose one candidate over another are diverse: Nearly 50 percent said threats to democracy is the most important issue as they prepare to cast a ballot in the state’s June 23 primary. Others mentioned cost of living, the economy, Social Security and Medicare, and health care as issues they are concerned about.
These voters “look to their next representative to be a voice protecting our republic as well as an advocate supporting their struggles with the current cost of living, protecting Social Security and controlling the cost of health care,” says Don Levy, director of the Siena Research Institute, which conducted the poll of 416 Democratic voters 50-plus from May 27 to June 1.
AARP (Getty Images)
The affordability crunch came up in numerous ways throughout the poll. When pollsters asked voters to give their top two concerns when it comes to rising prices, 51 percent said groceries, 48 percent said housing and 46 percent pointed to health insurance. Pollsters also gave voters a list of initiatives relating to affordability, earned payments, health care, housing and more, and asked them to choose their single biggest priority for the next congressional representative. A quarter chose a lower of cost of living, while nearly the same number want an assurance that Social Security payments will be available in full when they need them.
‘This race is so fluid’
These voters are weighing in on who should be the next person to represent the district in Congress, a seat held by Rep. Jerrold Nadler, the longtime representative who is retiring after more than 32 years. The election has drawn attention because of the crowded field and eclectic slate of Democratic candidates vying for his seat.
AARP (Getty Images)
The list includes Micah Lasher and Alex Bores, two members of the New York State Assembly; Jack Schlossberg, a member of the Kennedy family; and George Conway, a former Republican.
“They are not the cut-and-dried career politicians,” says Beth Finkel, state director for AARP New York.
Almost a third of voters surveyed favor Lasher (32 percent), while Bores is garnering support from about 1 in 5 (21 percent) older voters in the district. But the results are far from settled. Finkel points out that 21 percent of respondents are undecided.
“These are people who usually vote,” she says. “That’s why this race is so fluid.”
The winner of this historically Democratic district will go on the ballot in the November midterms, facing off against Republican candidate Caroline Shinkle and several independents. This year’s midterm elections, which take place halfway through a four-year presidential term, could shift the balance of power in Congress. Lawmakers elected this year will make decisions on whether Social Security remains strong, whether family caregivers get more help and other issues that affect the pocketbooks of older Americans.
All 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are up for grabs, while 35 of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate will be contested to decide the makeup of the 120th Congress. There are currently 218 Republicans and 212 Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as one independent and four vacancies. There are 53 Republicans,45 Democrats and two independents in the Senate.
The June poll found that 96 percent of those surveyed said they were almost certainly going to vote or very likely to vote.
AARP (Getty Images)
Older voters heavily influence the direction of elections. In every national election since 2002 — when citizen voting data by age became available — people 65 and older have cast ballots at higher rates than their younger counterparts. This tendency holds true in NY-12. An April 2026 analysis commissioned by AARP New York and conducted by Gotham Polling & Analytics found that voters age 50 and older will make up 65 to 75 percent of the electorate in the Democratic primary in this part of the city.
Finkel expects this trend to continue in 2026.
AARP (Getty Images)
Social Security remains top of mind
Forty-three percent of respondents 50-plus say Social Security is or will be a major source of their income, suggesting that for these older Manhattanites, money is a struggle as they enter their later years. When asked which initiative should be a priority for the next Congressional representative, 75 percent of respondents said they want their representative to ensure Social Security payments will be available in full in the future.
New Yorkers want their representative to protect their earned payments. More than three-quarters of respondents say Social Security is very important in deciding their vote for the primary, while 74 percent say the same about Medicare. The cost of health care ranks even higher, with 79 percent of voters calling it a very important issue as they weigh their options for the primary. Just under half feel this way about the cost of prescription drugs.
A contender who is vocal on Social Security will likely drum up significant support. Ninety-two percent of voters say they would be more likely to support a candidate who advocates for ensuring workers receive their full Social Security payments.
Change is crucial to this group of voters. When asked whether the country is heading in the right or wrong direction, more than 90 percent of respondents said the latter.
“It’s not as if affordability isn’t a concern for these people,” Levy says. “It is.” But this poll shows that fears about democracy are high.
“These are folks who vote in election after election,” Levy says. “When we ask them to describe the state of the country and they put on their political lens, they almost universally say something is wrong.”
Join Our Fight to Make Sure Your Vote Counts
AARP is a nonpartisan organization that never supports or opposes candidates for office. We believe the right to vote is fundamental, and we advocate for policies ensuring that Americans 50 and older can exercise that right without unnecessary barriers. Here’s what you can do to help:
- Learn more about voting in your state this year.
- Pledge to vote for candidates in 2026 who will protect and strengthen Social Security and support family caregivers.
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- AARP is your fierce defender on the issues that matter to people 50-plus. Become a member or renew your membership today.
The key takeaways were created with the assistance of generative AI. An AARP editor reviewed and refined the content for accuracy and clarity.
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