Election Poll Shows Seniors Prioritized Economic Concerns

On November 15, AARP released a poll of voters from the 43 most competitive congressional districts in the 2024 election season.

Voters ages 50 and older were key in the election. Data shows that across the country, older voters made up 55% of the electorate, and that winning the 50+ vote was key to winning races up and down the ballot around the country.

AARP's survey found House Republicans won voters 50+ by a 50% to 47% margin while these districts were a dead heat among voters overall, allowing Republicans to maintain a narrow advantage in the House of Representatives.

"Our polling showed that older voters were the most motivated to cast their ballots, and they showed up in an outsized way on election day," said Nancy LeaMond, AARP executive vice president and chief advocacy and engagement officer.

"A majority of older voters said a personal economic issue – inflation, jobs and the economy, or Social Security – was top of mind as the most important issue in determining their vote this year."

In AARP's poll, 8% of older voters were swing voters – those who split their ticket between parties for President and for Congress. Among these swing voters, the top issues were economic issues, and specifically inflation, jobs and the economy.

Other key takeaways from the poll among voters ages 50 and older include:

• Security issues - immigration/border security, jobs and the economy, and threats to democracy.

• Economic issues – jobs, inflation, and Social Security – stood out as major motivating factors for Hispanic and Black 50+ voters, along with swing voters.

• A majority (55%) of older voters said that Social Security is or will be a major source of their income, and 80% said it was an extremely or very important issue in determining their vote.

• Among older voters, Democrats in Congress had a two-point advantage when asked who voters would trust most on the issue of Social Security.

• The group of older voters that said Social Security would be very or extremely important to their vote trusted Democrats in Congress over the GOP to address Social Security by a six-point margin and vote for the Democratic candidate by a three-point margin.

• 31% of older voters self-identified as a family caregiver. These voters narrowly preferred Kamala Harris and their Democratic candidate for Congress, and prioritized Social Security and threats to democracy as their top issues for how they decided to cast their ballots.