Isabel Lopez
Staff Writer
In 2026, it has become apparent that college students across the political landscape share various core concerns in regards to the political climate, while prioritizing contrasting issues.
Number one concern on a college student’s mind: economics.
According to a survey conducted by Pew Research Center in 2024, economic anxiety ranks as a top concern for college Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike. The survey also indicated that 72% of U.S. adults under 30 identified the economy and current cost of living as an urgent political matter.
And while college Republicans across the country often focus on national issues including inflation, government spending, and taxes, college Democrats, meanwhile, emphasize the impending problem of student loan debt and wage inequality issues.
Similarly, in a 2023 Harvard Youth Poll, 58% of young Democrats were in affirmation of federal student debt cancellation. As for Independents, this cohort largely aligns with affordability concerns in a more broad aspect, with tuition costs and housing shortages often ranking among an Independent’s top priority.
Issue number 2: global warming and climate policies.
For college Democrats, the increasing concern over climate change has become a major issue among the group. A Harvard Youth Poll data determined that 63% of young Democrats believe that climate policy is an urgent problem. Meanwhile, College Republicans often prioritize concepts such as free speech and gun rights. And finally, Independents fall in the middle, as they prioritize some environmental and civil rights policies while avoiding partisan issues.
At FSC, there are a variety of political organizations in which students can be involved in. Elena Canzano, vice president of one of our newest political chapters, Turning Point USA, expresses her passion for hearing other people’s perspectives, especially of those who have differing opinions.
“Our organization loves people that disagree and in fact, we encourage them,” Canzano explains. When asked about her top priorities as a conservative, Canzano mentioned that “the healthcare system, food and abortion” are topics that are of importance to her.
On the other side of the spectrum, Sophia Montes, a member of FSC Democrats, emphasizes that as a country, Americans are a very divided people. She notes that, “we [the Democratic Party] need to organize and we need to find more middle ground than we are.”
Where one falls, or how one leans, politics is everywhere. As college students, meeting fellow students with differing opinions is inevitable. Political division has become intertwined with our nation’s history, but the day that citizens of all parties come together is yet to happen.
