Young Texas voters demand change as Trump enters second term

SAN ANTONIO – Young voters in Texas are determined to make their voices heard, pushing for the changes they believe will shape America’s future.

At San Antonio College, students shared the issues most important to them as they reflected on the recent election season and looked ahead to President Donald Trump’s second term.

“I want to see a safer environment,” said one San Antonio college student, highlighting safety concerns in the coming years.

Many of the students we spoke to discussed a wide range of issues they hope will be addressed, including immigration, housing affordability and social security.

“I want to see less problems with immigrants, illegal immigrants crossing the U.S. border,” one voter explained. “I want to see a reduction in spending on more affordable homes and lower gas prices.”

Others have expressed concerns about long-term financial security, including welfare reform.

“The main thing I want to see is maybe an update to our social security system,” another student said. “We’re all going to retire eventually, and I want to be able to set some policies or see some policies that will benefit us in the future.”

Despite national trends showing a decline in young voter registration since the 2020 election, Texas has seen a slight increase in young voter participation.

According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), the percentage of registered voters ages 18 to 29 in Texas rose 5% in the run-up to the election.

The growth reflects the growing engagement of the state’s young voters, many of whom are hungry for tangible change.

“I just want to see us in a better place than where we’ve been overall,” said one San Antonio college student, expressing frustration with the current state of politics.

As polarization continues to shape the political landscape, many young voters are calling for a return to civility and cooperation.

“Modern politics, at least while I was conscious, were something like fan clubs,” one student commented. “It’s hatred on both sides. It cannot be said that this is just one party, one hates the other, and vice versa. I think we as Americans should compromise and vote for the best good of America.”

As the 2024 election season unfolds, many young voters are growing weary of the divisions that define much of modern American politics.

“I feel like it really just takes away from what politics is supposed to be about… Politics is really about compromise and doing the best you can to serve the public,” one student noted. “Having fan clubs doesn’t do that.”

These students, part of a larger movement of young voters, want to see real solutions from leaders both nationally and locally.

As the country moves forward, they are watching closely to see how candidates on both sides of the political spectrum will work to solve their problems.

The eyes of America’s youth are on political leaders, and they are determined to hold them accountable for the changes they voted for.

As the country prepares for a new round of elections, the influence of young voters will continue to be a significant force.

Whether their votes will lead to significant policy changes remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: young voters in Texas and across the country are committed to shaping a future that reflects their values ​​and priorities.