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Silver Wave of Older Voters Important in Midterm Elections

Published in RINewsToday on October 19, 2026

Over the last four months, AARP has released polling results from nine battleground states to gauge candidate preferences, voter motivation, and the aging issues and policies that voters age 50 and older consider important when deciding who to vote for in the upcoming midterm elections.

AARP conducted the 2026 polls in Ohio (June), Georgia (July), Arizona and Michigan (August), Alaska, Maine, North Carolina and Texas (September), and New Hampshire (October).

Now, just weeks before the November midterms, AARP has released its final report, “Targeted Congressional District (TCD) Voter Survey,” highlighting the outsized role older American voters could play in deciding key congressional races. As with its previous nine state polls, AARP commissioned the bipartisan polling team of Fabrizio Ward (R) and Impact Research (D) to conduct the survey.

The 21-page report examines voters in 43 congressional districts rated Toss Up, Lean Republican or Lean Democrat by the Cook Political Report. Its findings show that older voters are particularly concerned about rising prices, especially the cost of groceries and gasoline, as Election Day approaches.

The poll covering 43 competitive congressional districts, found these leading issues among voters age 50 and older:

  1. Rising prices and affordability
  2. Threats to democracy
  3. Immigration

Among persuadable voters 50-plus (21%), the priorities were different:

  1. Rising prices and affordability
  2. Social Security and Medicare
  3. Taxes

“Older voters are the nation’s most reliable voters. They decide elections, so candidates can’t afford to overlook them,” said Nancy LeaMond, AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy Officer, in an Oct. 15, 2026 statement announcing the report’s findings. “Older voters want leaders who will protect Social Security and Medicare, support family caregivers, and ensure everyone can age with financial independence and dignity,” she said.

Research over time has shown that older voters make up a large part of the electorate and have a major impact on election results nationwide. Exit polls found that voters age 50 and older cast 55% of all ballots in 2024 and 59% in 2022. In the last midterm election, more than six out of ten older voters went to the polls, compared to about three out of ten voters under 30.

Latest findings suggest that older voters will continue showing up at the polls. Eighty-three percent of voters age 50 and older said they were extremely motivated to vote in November, compared to 66% of voters under 50. About 21% of older voters are considered “persuadable,” meaning they are not firmly committed to either party’s congressional candidate.

The pollsters also looked at the country’s mood and voters’ financial situations. The findings were not encouraging. Sixty-two percent believe the country is headed in the wrong direction, while 59% are worried about their personal finances.

The report shows Democrats holding a slim 3-point lead (49% to 46%) on the generic congressional ballot in the 43 competitive districts, with 5% undecided. President Trump carried these districts by 6 points in 2016.

But these findings show a clear generational divide:

* Republicans lead by 10 points (53% to 43%) among voters age 50 and older – while…

* Democrats lead by 26 points (60% to 34%) among voters under 50.

Looking at race:

* Republicans hold a 4-point advantage among white voters, while

* Democrats lead among Hispanic voters by 15 points and Black voters by 43 points.

Education also plays a role:

* Democrats are doing better among college graduates than among voters without four-year degrees.

The pollsters found that persuadable voters remain closely divided.

* Democrats lead by 6 points (42% to 36%) among persuadable voters overall, while…

* Republicans hold just a 1-point advantage (39% to 38%) among persuadable voters age 50 and older.

* Another 23% of these older voters remain undecided.

Top Issues of Concern

Not surprisingly, rising prices and affordability top the list of concerns for older voters in these competitive congressional districts, followed by threats to democracy and immigration.

For persuadable voters age 50 and older, the top three issues influencing their vote are rising prices and affordability, Social Security and Medicare, and taxes.

Looking more closely at Social Security, 58% of older voters say the program is or will be a major source of household income. An overwhelming 94% say they would be more likely to support a candidate who ensures they receive the Social Security benefits they earned through a lifetime of work.

On health care, 85% say they would be more likely to support a candidate who expands Medicare’s ability to negotiate prescription drug prices.

Caregiving is another important issue. Half of older voters surveyed say they are or have been family caregivers. At the same time, 77% would be more likely to support a candidate who provides a tax credit to help cover the costs of unpaid family caregiving.

Affordability. And when it comes to rising prices, groceries and gasoline remain the two biggest concerns.

Taking a Look at Gray Power at the Polls

Darrell West, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and former Brown University professor, agrees with the findings of AARP’s latest survey. Older voters have become a crucial swing group that could shape this year’s election, he says.

West explains that seniors don’t vote as a monolith. They regularly shift their votes between Republicans and Democrats. Ultimately, their choices in November may come down to how well candidates protect the programs they rely on most, particularly Social Security and Medicare.

“This invaluable poll illustrates that seniors and older adults matter,” says Max Richtman, President and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (NCPSSM). “Seniors will be the largest block of voters, and politicians ignore them at their own peril,” he warns.

“Seniors, who are more likely to live on a fixed income, have been especially hurt by Trump’s affordability crisis. This underlines the importance of Social Security in this election. This is why we say ‘Social Security is on the Ballot!’” stresses Richtman.

Richtman estimates that voters age 65 and older will account for more than 30% of the electorate. While Republicans have historically enjoyed an advantage among these voters, Democrats have narrowed that gap in recent elections, he says.

“Supporting Social Security is both good policy and good politics,” Richtman claims, pointing to the poll’s finding that 94% of older voters are more likely to support candidates who protect their Social Security benefits.

While AARP is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that does not endorse political candidates, NCPSSM’s political action committee does.

According to Richtman, NCPSSM-PAC has endorsed and supported more than 50 candidates nationwide, including Josh Turek (Iowa), Dan Osborne (Nebraska), Abdul El-Sayed (Michigan), Roy Cooper (North Carolina) and Jon Ossoff (Georgia).

NCPSSM also compiles a congressional scorecard to inform older Americans about how votes in Washington affect Social Security, Medicare and other programs important to them. Based on the organization’s legislative priorities, Democrats generally receive higher scores than Republicans.

Richtman notes that NCPSSM-PAC has been busy educating voters about the stakes of this election through its “Social Security on the Ballot” mobilization campaign. Its message is that the lawmakers elected this November will help determine Social Security’s future and whether beneficiaries receive the benefits they have paid for. The organization is getting that message out through town halls, press conferences, social media, and traditional media appearances. It also works with candidates and campaigns on policy issues affecting older Americans.

Meanwhile, AARP continues its own voter education efforts through its “Social Security, Your Vote, Its Future” initiative, asking congressional candidates how they would protect and strengthen the program.

The nation’s largest organization representing older Americans also provides research and analysis on Social Security policies, works with federal officials and members of Congress, and organizes public education efforts to inform and mobilize its members.

Through its “I Am a Social Security Voter” campaign, AARP encourages voters to prioritize protecting Social Security when evaluating candidates.

AARP’s latest report suggests that in tightly contested congressional districts, the “silver wave” of older voters may be the deciding factor in who goes to Washington and who stays home.

Stay tuned…

The survey was conducted by AARP’s bipartisan polling group, Fabrizio Ward and Impact Research, and interviewed 1,368 likely voters in 43 competitive congressional districts between October 1 and 5, 2026, using a combination of cell phone, landline, and a text-to-web survey in both English and Spanish; the margin of sampling error is ±2.7 percentage points.

Full Survey Results: AARP’s 2026 Targeted Congressional District Voter Poll; go to Targeted Congressional District Voter Survey.

For AARP’s 2026 Midterm Election Polls, go to Older Voters in the 2026 Midterm Elections in Battleground States.

Bipartisan efforts strengthens the Dementia public health infrastructure

Published in RINewsToday on December 2, 2024

In the waning days of the Biden administration, Congress has moved one step closer to assisting states to continue to effectively implement dementia interventions.  Following passage of H. R. 7218 on Sept. 17th, by voice vote on Nov. 21st, the U.S. Senate passed S. 3775, also without objection. At press time, the bipartisan legislation now heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.

Once signed, the new law re-authorizes the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act (P.L.115-406) enacted in 2018, empowering public health departments across the country to implement effective dementia interventions in their communities.

In a March 2024 fact sheet, the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM) calls for Alzheimer’s and other dementias to be considered an urgent public health issue, noting that nearly 7 million seniors across the nation are currently living with Alzheimer’s.

While partisan bickering has reduced the number of bills passed during the 118th Congress, Democratic and Republican lawmakers seek solutions for containing the skyrocketing costs of care, finding a cure for debilitating brain disorders, and supporting caregivers. 

The nation spends more than $360 billion per year, including $231 billion in costs to Medicare and Medicaid. Barring any major breakthroughs to prevent, slow down, or cure Alzheimer’s, the number of Americans with Alzheimer’s is expected to double by 2060, costing the nation more than $1.1 trillion per year, says AIM’s Fact Sheet.

Congress continues funding of Dementia effective interventions

In the Senate, S. 3775 was spearheaded by Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and cosponsored by Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse.  It’s companion measure, H.R. 7218, was introduced in the House by Reps. Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Chairman of the Health Subcommittee of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, along with Chris Smith (R-NJ), Paul Tonko (D-NY), and Maxine Waters (D-CA).

With its enactment in 2018, P.L. 115-406 accelerated a multi-pronged public health approach to reduce risk, detect early symptoms, advance care, improve data, and ultimately change the trajectory of this devastating disease.

Headed by the Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC), the reauthorization would authorize $33 million per year, in line with current appropriations, over the next five years to support:

1.  Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Public Health Centers of Excellence dedicated to promoting effective Alzheimer’s disease and caregiving interventions, as well as educating the public on Alzheimer’s disease, cognitive decline, and brain health. 

2.  Public Health Cooperative Agreements with the CDC that are awarded to State Health Departments to help them meet local needs in promoting brain health, reducing risk of cognitive decline, improving care for those with Alzheimer’s, and other key public health activities. 

3.  Data Grants to improve the analysis and timely reporting of data on Alzheimer’s, cognitive decline, caregiving, and health disparities at the state and national levels.

Since the original Bold Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act passed, the CDC has made 66 awards to 45 state, local and tribal public health departments to help them implement effective dementia interventions such as reducing risk, increasing early detection and diagnosis, and supporting the needs of caregivers.

“Alzheimer’s disease is one of the greatest and most under-recognized public health threats of our time. Nearly seven million Americans—including 29,600 Mainers—are living with the disease, and that number is soaring as our overall population grows older and lives longer,” said Maine Sen. Collins, a founder and Senate co-chair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease in a statement announcing the passage of the legislation.  

“The passage of this bipartisan legislation is a tremendous victory for families and communities nationwide. By reauthorizing the BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act, we are reaffirming our commitments to providing the tools needed to fight this devastating disease, and to not let Alzheimer’s be one of the defining diseases of our children’s generation as it has ours,” says Collins.

“Since the original BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act passed, public health departments have been able to improve brain health across the life course in their communities,” said Robert Egge, Alzheimer’s Association chief public policy officer and AIM president. “The BOLD Reauthorization Act will help public health departments implement effective strategies that promote brain health, address dementia, and support individuals living with dementia and their caregivers,” said Egge. “We urge the President to support the Alzheimer’s community and swiftly sign this bipartisan bill into law,” he says.

Rhode Island response

“Getting this bill across the finish line is a win for the 25,000 Rhode Islanders living with Alzheimer’s, their adult children who work tirelessly as unpaid family caregivers, and for the health and economic needs of the next generation too.  We must continue the progress we’ve made against Alzheimer’s.  We’ve got to find better treatments for Alzheimer’s and related dementias. The federal government must do its part to reduce risk, detect early symptoms, and advance care while lifting the burden on unpaid caregivers,” said RI Sen. Reed.

Since the original BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act passed in 2018, Reed noted that the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) has been awarded $3.8 million in BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act grants from the CDC. RIDOH has used the federal BOLD grant funds to help to implement effective Alzheimer’s interventions, including boosting early detection and diagnosis, reducing risk, and preventing avoidable hospitalizations, he says.

Victoria O’Connor, program manager at the RIDOH’s Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (ADRD), who chairs the state’s Advisory Council on ADRD, agrees with Sen. Reed’s assessment about the positive impact of this federal grant on state-wide public health interventions for those caring for persons with dementia.

“The RIDOH Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Program leads a statewide Advisory Council, convening critical partners, subject matter experts, and people with lived experience to advise implementation of the BOLD funded workplan as well as oversee the Rhode Island State Plan on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders 2024-2029. This collaborative approach has led to successful implementation of public health interventions statewide that aim to empower all individuals impacted by dementia to achieve their best quality of life.” says O’Connor.

Other congressional actions to combat Alzheimer’s  

Earlier this year, Sen. Reed helped pass the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) Reauthorization Act and the Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act (AAIA).  Sen. Whitehouse was also a cosponsor of the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA) Reauthorization Act.  Both bills were signed into law by President Biden. 

The NAPA Reauthorization Act (P.L.,118-93) reauthorizes NAPA through 2035, considered a roadmap to coordinate federal efforts in responding to Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.  Since NAPA was first passed in 2011, Alzheimer’s research funding has increased seven-fold.  Today, funding for research into Alzheimer’s and other dementias totals over $3.8 billion.

The Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act (P.L. 118-93) would require the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to submit an annual budget to Congress estimating the funding necessary to fully implement NAPA’s research goals.  This will help ensure Congress can make a well-informed decision to determine necessary Alzheimer’s research funding levels.

We have made tremendous progress in recent years to boost funding for Alzheimer’s research, which holds great promise to end this disease that has had a devastating effect on millions of Americans and their families,” said Sen. Collins, who authored NAPA and AAIA.

“These two bills will maintain our momentum and make sure that we do not take our foot off the pedal just as our investments in basic research are beginning to translate into potential new treatments. We must not let Alzheimer’s to be one of the defining diseases of our children’s generation as it has ours,” she says.

And as a member of the Appropriations subcommittee that oversees funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Sen. Reed helped provide a $275 million increase for Alzheimer’s disease research in the fiscal year 2025 Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and related Agencies Appropriations bill.  In 2019, NIH awarded Brown University researchers, along with Boston-based Hebrew SeniorLife (HSL), over $53 million in federal research funds  to lead a nationwide effort to improve health care and quality of life for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, as well as their caregivers.

Talking political turkey during Thanksgiving dinner

Published in RINewstoday on November 25, 2024

We face increased demands of family obligations planning for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. Baking and cleaning to host dinner, and even unrealistic expectations about our families, or having a dysfunctional family, can produce extra stresses, feelings of anxiety, isolation, and depression.  

Especially after this year’s presidential election that continued to polarize the nation, expect more holiday stress caused by political sparring at the dinner table.  Heated political conversations over the results of the recent presidential election, even debates over divisive policy issues like abortion, immigration, the economy, and health care can lead to family conflicts and boycotting the traditional holiday celebration. 

Just cruise the internet and you will find a popular meme that clearly illustrates the damage that can be caused by the discussion of politics at Thanksgiving or family gatherings.  “I just saved a ton of money on Christmas gifts discussing politics during Thanksgiving dinner,” says the meme, noting that it can be explosive at best and fracture family relationships. 

Post-Election stress creeping into Thanksgiving

Weeks after the 2024 presidential election, the stress of political disagreements continues to strain family dynamics just in time for Thanksgiving. According to Gray News, a new survey from Raleigh, North Carolina-based Spruce reveals how post-election tension threatens to derail the holiday season, with families feeling emotionally exhausted from political debates. 

The Spruce survey looked at 2,000 people across all 50 U.S. states, equally split among men and women. Adults aged 25-65 who regularly celebrate Thanksgiving were surveyed, says the statement announcing its findings.

“Elections stir deep emotions, especially when they tap into our fears and values,” says Tony Spencer, CEO and family relationship expert at Spruce. “Left unmanaged, post-election stress can create rifts that spill over into personal relationships, making Thanksgiving feel like a political battleground. But with a bit of intentional effort, we can shift the focus back to what really matters—family,” he says.

According to Spruce’s recently released survey, 64% of respondents reported that election-related stress is affecting their holiday planning and 59% say they are worried about political disagreements causing tension at their Thanksgiving gatherings.

The survey findings note that 52% admitted to already having arguments with family members about political differences since the election. While 32%  are looking forward to discussing politics, 68% of respondents want to avoid politics talk completely this Thanksgiving. Moreover, 49% want to have a total politics conversation ban for all guests and family members.

Boycotting the family dinner is an option for some to reduce family tension.  Twenty-three percent are even considering skipping Thanksgiving altogether to avoid family stress.

When the dust settled after the election, supporters of the winning and losing candidates were stressed out.  Fifty two percent say President-elect Trump supporting family members are the source of their election and Thanksgiving anxiety, while 48% say VP Kamala Harris supporting family members cause them anxiety. About equal.

Finally, the survey found that 63% plan to set boundaries around political discussions. With the right strategies, families can still preserve the holiday spirit.

Practical strategies to preserve the Holiday spirit

“This year’s holidays may be uncomfortable because so many people either are going to love or hate the election results. It will be hard to ignore the election over Thanksgiving because it is so recent and people still feel so intensely about the results,” said Darrell M. West is a senior fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution and a former professor at Brown University.

“There should be no gloating or ‘I told you so’ over the holidays” says West, this reducing family antagonism. “Winners should be gracious and understand their gal/guy won and they shouldn’t rub the noses of opponents into the ground. Those on the losing side probably want to avoid detailed discussions of politics,” he says, suggesting that there should be informal ceasefire rules in effect for the holidays with a cessation of hostilities for Thanksgiving. 

During her 45-year career as a licensed practicing psychologist in Los Angeles and at State College, Pennsylvania, Elaine Rodino, Ph.D., a fellow and former president of the American of the American Psychological Association’s division of psychologists in independent practice, has had a longstanding interest in the holiday blues and has helped many of her patients cope with this issue over the years. 

“It is a challenging year for families who are getting together for holidays who differ politically, says Rodino. Defusing tension can be as simple as asking guests to refrain from talking about politics and/or the election results, says Rodino.

“If you think your guests are going to have a difficult time “refraining” from talking about politics – make it a hard and fast RULE – “I would love for you to come to our dinner, but only if you will promise not to talk about or engage in any conversations about politics,” suggests Rodino.

Rodino warns Thanksgiving Day hosts to be alert during the dinner to conversations and if they hear any that seem to be approaching the forbidden topic intervene immediately and ask them to please stop or redirect the conversation.

Why not make a game or contest to see if people can refrain from talking about politics, says Rodino, or even charge a fine to anyone mentioning politics or the election. Prizes will be given to the winners and the losers will be asked to leave, she adds, noting that everyone would need to agree to these actions before coming.  Or, something like that.

Some may even be cancelling their Thanksgiving plans, notes Rodino. “This may not be the year to host/hostess a Thanksgiving gathering of politically different family and friends. Think about taking a weekend trip and skip the festivities this year,” she says.

No right or wrong answers

“If folks would prefer to avoid these topics and all can commit to holding their tongues, that’s perfectly reasonable,”  says Todd Schenk, an associate professor and chair of the Urban Affairs and Planning Program at Virginia Tech. “However, many families—like my own—can’t ever seem to avoid politics” he adds, noting that many want to have these conversations both because of their convictions and they want to understand their loved ones. That’s perfectly reasonable too. 

“Research strongly suggests that healthy discourse can foster empathy, and thus restore those relationships,” notes Schenk. “Whether its friends, family, neighbors, or beyond, political tension is, at least in part, about differences in values, interests, and priorities on important policy matters. While consensus is rarely easy and not always possible, healthy dialogue can help us to better understand the complexities associated with these issues and seek solutions that are more accommodating to various groups,” he says.  

“We often do want to persuade others, which is absolutely understandable. Persuasion is, however, typically a long-term process that requires sustained dialogue; it usually involves gaining a strong understanding of how those you are engaging with feel and, more importantly, why, and then working to find ways in which the position you are seeking to sway them to actually reflects their own values,” adds Schenk.  

Finally, Schenk shares the following six tips as to how we can talk to others at the Thanksgiving table who have differing political viewpoints.  

1) Start with the explicit acknowledgement that you both/all want to have the conversation in a healthy way. It might sound silly, but, especially if you think it could get heated, it can help to establish some informal ‘ground rules’ up front. These don’t have to be complicated, just things like ‘no interrupting’, ‘no personal attacks’, and ‘describe your own views but don’t make assumptions about others.  

2) This is really contextual, but certain times and places may be more or less conducive to healthy conversation than others. For example, you may want to avoid conversations in front of the cousins that you know are going to egg it on, or especially after a few glasses of wine, or in front of young children who may think the whole family is arguing, causing them great anxiety and concern.

 3) Aim to speak honestly about your reasons for holding a particular perspective, speaking from your own experience and perspective as much as possible.  

4)  Be ready to really listen, affirming that you hear what they are saying and asking probing questions (see active listening below).  

5)  Attempt to understand, rather than just persuade.  

6)  Remember that body language is important too.  

In Conclusion…  

Schenk quips, if all else fails, put plastic on the furniture and buckle up. ”In all seriousness, humor and charitableness can go a long way – I think it behooves us all to remember the bonds we have with those around the table with us and to start from that place,” he says.