Older Voters Led the Charge in This Midterm Election

Key takeaways

• Recognize older voters’ influence on Social Security, health care and economic debates.
• Prioritize protections against Social Security cuts as Congress considers the program’s future.
• Address rising health care, prescription drug and caregiving costs for older Americans.

Summary

Older voters’ election influence is central to debates over Social Security, Medicare, health care and the economy. The transcript reports that Americans 50-plus cast 60% of ballots and made up most voters in several states that shifted from red to blue.

The transcript also points to broad concern about preventing Social Security cuts, rising health care and prescription drug costs, and the financial strain of caregiving. Higher turnout gives older Americans greater influence as the newly elected Congress considers these priorities.

The key takeaways and summary were created with the assistance of generative AI. An AARP editor reviewed and refined the content for accuracy and clarity.

Full transcript

[0:00:04] This week, Americans 50-plus played a key role in the midterm elections, voting

[0:00:09] in lawmakers who will be shaping the debates on issues like Social Security,

[0:00:13] Medicare, health care, and the economy.

[0:00:17] Older voters cast 60% of all ballots in the election that led to an

[0:00:21] historic win for Democrats and control of both the House and Senate.

[0:00:26] Voters 50- plus also made up the majority of votes in several states that swung

[0:00:31] from red to blue, according to data from the nonpartisan research center

[0:00:36] NORC Civic Health & Elections Project.

[0:00:40] Social Security stood out as one issue where older voters

[0:00:44] largely agreed across party lines.

[0:00:47] Ninety percent of voters age 50- plus said preventing cuts to payments is very or extremely

[0:00:53] important, according to the NORC survey.

[0:00:57] AARP opposes any cuts to Social Security and urged lawmakers to

[0:01:02] work together to strengthen the program without cutting benefits.

[0:01:06] And the issue is becoming more urgent for older Americans as Social Security’s

[0:01:11] trust fund reserves are projected to run out in 2032 unless Congress acts.

[0:01:18] Older Americans want the newly elected Congress to tackle rising costs.

[0:01:22] When it comes to affordability issues, almost a quarter of older voters

[0:01:27] cited health care and prescription drug costs as their biggest worry,

[0:01:31] according to the NORC survey.

[0:01:34] New AARP research shows caregiving is another financial strain, resulting

[0:01:39] in up to $2.3 trillion in lost earnings and retirement income.

[0:01:44] Nearly half of voters age 50- plus are current or former caregivers,

[0:01:49] according to an AARP poll.

[0:01:52] Public policy experts say higher turnout among older voters gives

[0:01:56] older Americans more influence on issues that matter most to them.