In small towns and rural communities, young voters say they feel unseen by leaders
toggle caption Kirsten Luce for NPR
Andrew Tait has a long workday. He bookends shifts as a warehouse supervisor for a nearby factory with early morning and late night chores on his family's small farm in rural Shenandoah Valley, Virginia.
He's quick to call himself lucky. But no matter how much the 36-year-old father of two young girls works, he says they barely scrape by — and the goalposts for success keep moving.
"I have a mortgage, and it's paid every month. But the thought of my children's birthdays or holidays terrifies me," Tait said. "What if the grocery bill goes up again? I mean, I'm on a shoestring."
toggle caption Kirsten Luce
He's among a generation of young Americans confronting a daunting reality: one of inflated prices and growing concerns about their financial futures. It's an experience facing Gen Z and millennial voters throughout the U.S., each in their own unique ways. For those living in rural communities and small towns, it's left many feeling as if their hardships have gone unseen and unaddressed by politicians vying for their support.
Sponsor Message
Ove
Continue Reading on NPR
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.