Voters aged 65 and older were 36% of the 2026 midterm electorate in the NBC News exit poll, and voters 50 and older cast 60% of all ballots. Voters 65 and older leaned Democratic, 53% to 46%, in NORC data, while the exit poll showed an almost even split.
Senior Voters in US Midterm Elections 2026 – Introduction
Senior Voters in US Midterm Elections 2026 carried more weight than any other age group. Voters aged 65 and older were 36% of the electorate in the NBC News exit poll, and voters 50 and older cast 60% of all ballots, according to NORC data reported by AARP. Democrats won both chambers on November 3, 2026, with at least 253 House seats and 54 Senate seats projected as of November 6. This report breaks down senior turnout, vote share by age, party differences, state swings and the issues that moved older voters.
Pollsters disagree on how seniors voted. NORC data show voters 65 and older backing Democrats 53% to 46% in House races, while the exit poll shows an almost even split. Each table below names its source and survey method. Counts continue in several states, and pollsters can revise their weights as results are certified. Check state election offices for certified margins before citing any single figure in this final report.
Interesting Facts: Senior Voters in US Midterm Elections 2026
SHARE OF 2026 VOTERS BY AGE, NBC EXIT POLL (each █ = 2%)
Ages 18-29 ██████ 11%
Ages 30-44 ██████████ 20%
Ages 45-64 █████████████████ 34%
Ages 65+ ██████████████████ 36%
| Interesting Fact(s) | 2026 Data |
|---|---|
| Election Day | November 3, 2026 |
| Voters 65+ as share of electorate (NBC exit poll) | 36% |
| Voters 50+ as share of electorate (NORC) | 60% |
| House vote, voters 65+ (NORC via Tufts CIRCLE) | 53% Democratic, 46% Republican |
| House vote, voters 65+ (NBC exit poll) | 50% Democratic, 50% Republican |
| House vote, voters 50+ (NORC via AARP) | 50% Democratic, 47% Republican |
| Older independents (50+) | Democrats +22 points |
| Voters 50+ who rate protecting Social Security from cuts very or extremely important | 90% |
| Turnout of citizens 65+, 2022 midterms | 66.8% |
Source: NBC News Exit Poll (SSRS), 2026; NORC Civic Health & Elections Project via AARP and Tufts CIRCLE (November 6, 2026); U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Current Population Survey.
Seniors are the largest age bracket in the exit poll at 36%, ahead of voters 45 to 64 at 34%, voters 30 to 44 at 20% and voters 18 to 29 at 11%. Counting everyone 50 and older, the share reaches 60% in the NORC data. The 90% figure shows the one issue that united older voters across party lines.
The vote rows show why sources differ. NORC puts voters 65 and older at 53% to 46% for Democrats, while the exit poll splits 50% to 50%. NORC’s 50-and-older result of 50% to 47% and the 22-point independent margin show Democratic gains outside their base. The 2022 turnout of 66.8% explains why Senior Voters in US Midterm Elections 2026 keep this weight in midterm years.
2026 Voting Preferences by Age Group: How Did Voters 18-29, 30-44, 45-64 and 65+ Vote?
DEMOCRATIC SHARE OF HOUSE VOTE BY AGE (each █ = 4%)
Ages 18-29 ████████████████ 66%
Ages 30-44 ██████████████ 56%
Ages 45-64 █████████████ 51%
Ages 65+ █████████████ 53%
| Age Group | Democratic | Republican | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 to 29 | 66% | 31% | Democrats +35 |
| 30 to 44 | 56% | Not published | Not published |
| 45 to 64 | 51% | 46% | Democrats +5 |
| 65 and older | 53% | 46% | Democrats +7 |
Source: NORC Civic Health & Elections Project via Tufts CIRCLE (data as of November 6, 2026, 9 a.m. Eastern).
Voters 18 to 29 gave Democrats the strongest support at 66% to 31%, a 35-point margin. Voters 30 to 44 backed Democrats at 56%. Voters 45 to 64 split 51% to 46%, a 5-point Democratic margin. Voters 65 and older backed Democrats 53% to 46%, a 7-point margin and 2 points higher than the 45-to-64 group.
Democrats led every age group in the NORC data. Seniors did not trail the middle-aged group, which breaks the usual midterm pattern of older voters leaning Republican. Tufts CIRCLE also reports that voters 18 to 29 were 11% of all 2026 votes, down from 12% in 2022. That makes Senior Voters in US Midterm Elections 2026 a bigger share of the vote than any other group the data names.
2026 Senior Voter Preferences by Poll Source: NORC, Exit Poll and Pew Compared
DEMOCRATIC MARGIN AMONG VOTERS 65+ (each █ = 1 point)
NORC via CIRCLE ███████ 7 pts
NORC via AARP ████ 4 pts
Pew, registered voters ███ 3 pts
NBC exit poll █ 0 pts
| Source | Group | Democratic | Republican | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NORC via Tufts CIRCLE | Voters 65+ | 53% | 46% | Democrats +7 |
| NORC via AARP | Voters 65+ | Not published | Not published | Democrats +4 |
| NORC via AARP | Voters 50 to 64 | Not published | Not published | Democrats +1 |
| NBC News exit poll (SSRS) | Voters 65+ | 50% | 50% | Even |
| Pew Research Center, Sept. 28 to Oct. 4 | Registered voters 65+ | 44% | 41% | Democrats +3 |
| Pew Research Center, Sept. 28 to Oct. 4 | Registered voters 50 to 64 | 39% | 45% | Republicans +6 |
Source: NORC via AARP and Tufts CIRCLE (November 6, 2026); NBC News Exit Poll (SSRS); Pew Research Center, survey of U.S. adults (October 8, 2026).
Four sources give four readings of senior voters. NORC data cited by Tufts CIRCLE show a 7-point Democratic margin, while NORC data cited by AARP show 4 points. The NBC exit poll shows an even split. Pew measured registered voters before Election Day and found a 3-point Democratic edge among those 65 and older and a 6-point Republican edge among those 50 to 64.
The differences come from method and timing. NORC surveys verified voters, and the exit poll combines Election Day interviews with mail, phone and online responses. Pew asked about intent, and its 10% of seniors who were unsure had not chosen yet. Treat the 53% to 46% figure as the best single reading of Senior Voters in US Midterm Elections 2026, and expect revisions as pollsters finish weighting.
2026 Midterm Electorate by Age: How Large Was the Senior Share of Voters?
SHARE OF ELECTORATE (each █ = 4%)
Ages 65+ (exit poll) █████████ 36%
Ages 50+ (NORC, 2026) ███████████████ 60%
Ages 50+ (Pew, 2022) ████████████████ 64%
| Group | Share of Voters | Survey |
|---|---|---|
| Ages 18 to 29 | 11% | NBC exit poll, 2026 |
| Ages 30 to 44 | 20% | NBC exit poll, 2026 |
| Ages 45 to 64 | 34% | NBC exit poll, 2026 |
| Ages 65 and older | 36% | NBC exit poll, 2026 |
| Ages 50 and older | 60% | NORC, 2026 |
| Ages 50 and older | 64% | Pew Research Center, 2022 |
Source: NBC News Exit Poll (SSRS), 2026; NORC Civic Health & Elections Project via AARP; Pew Research Center, 2022 midterm electorate analysis.
Voters 65 and older were 36% of the 2026 electorate, and voters 45 to 64 were 34%. Together those two groups make 70% of the vote. Voters 18 to 29 were 11% and voters 30 to 44 were 20%. Using a different age cut, NORC counts voters 50 and older at 60% of the electorate.
The 2022 benchmark was higher. Pew put voters 50 and older at 64% of the 2022 electorate, so their share fell 4 points in 2026. Younger groups gained that ground. The age shares sum to 101% in the exit poll because of rounding. Surveys disagree on exact cuts, so compare shares only within the same survey.
2026 Senior Voter Turnout Rates: How Often Do Voters 65+ Cast Ballots in Midterms?
2022 MIDTERM TURNOUT BY AGE (each █ = 4%)
Ages 65-74 █████████████████ 68.0%
Ages 65+ █████████████████ 66.8%
Ages 18-24 ███████ 27.6%
| Metric | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Turnout of citizens 65+, 2022 | 66.8% | Census Bureau, 2022 |
| Turnout of citizens 65 to 74, 2022 | 68.0% | Census Bureau, 2022 |
| Turnout of citizens 18 to 24, 2022 | 27.6% | Census Bureau, 2022 |
| Early ballots cast by voters 65+, 2026 | 50.4% | States reporting age |
| Voters 50+ extremely motivated to vote | 83% | AARP poll, Oct. 15 |
| Voters under 50 extremely motivated | 66% | AARP poll, Oct. 15 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, November 2022; AARP battleground district poll (October 15, 2026); early vote age data from states that report age.
Seniors vote at more than twice the rate of young adults. In the 2022 midterms, 66.8% of citizens 65 and older voted, against 27.6% of citizens 18 to 24, a 39.2-point gap. Voters 65 to 74 reached 68.0%, the highest of any age group. Those rates explain why seniors hold 36% of the electorate.
Seniors also voted early. Voters 65 and older cast 50.4% of early ballots in states that report age. AARP’s October poll of 43 battleground districts found 83% of voters 50 and older extremely motivated, against 66% of voters under 50, a 17-point motivation gap. The 2026 turnout rate for seniors is not published yet, so this report uses 2022 as the benchmark. AARP’s polling covered nine battleground states.
2026 Older Voter Share by State: Where Did Voters 50+ Make Up the Biggest Share?
VOTERS 50+ AS SHARE OF STATE ELECTORATE (each █ = 4%)
South Carolina ████████████████ 65%
Ohio ████████████████ 63%
Alaska ████████████████ 62%
North Carolina ████████████████ 62%
Maine ███████████████ 61%
Nebraska ███████████████ 61%
United States ███████████████ 60%
| State | Voters 50+ Share | Statewide Result Covered in This Report |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | 65% | Senate: Andrews 51.1%, Republican 46.7% |
| Ohio | 63% | Governor: Acton 52.3%, Ramaswamy 44.4% |
| Alaska | 62% | No result in sources used |
| North Carolina | 62% | Senate: Cooper 58.7%, Whatley 39.1% |
| Maine | 61% | Senate: Troy Jackson defeated Susan Collins |
| Nebraska | 61% | No result in sources used |
| United States | 60% | Democrats projected: 253+ House, 54+ Senate |
Source: NORC Civic Health & Elections Project via AARP (November 6, 2026); NBC News 2026 Results Pages; Associated Press.
Older voters made up 65% of South Carolina’s electorate, the highest share in the data. Ohio followed at 63%, Alaska and North Carolina at 62%, and Maine and Nebraska at 61%. The national figure is 60%, so each of these states sits 1 to 5 points above it. These are states where candidates cannot win without older voters.
Results varied. Democrat Annie Andrews won South Carolina’s Senate race 51.1% to 46.7%, Roy Cooper won North Carolina 58.7% to 39.1%, and Amy Acton won the Ohio governor’s race 52.3% to 44.4%. In Maine, Troy Jackson unseated Senator Susan Collins. High older-voter share did not predict one party’s win in Senior Voters in US Midterm Elections 2026.
2026 Senior Voter Swings by State: Which States Moved Toward Democrats Since 2022?
SWING AMONG VOTERS 50+ TOWARD DEMOCRATS VS 2022 (each █ = 2 points)
Kansas ██████████████ 29 pts
South Carolina █████████████ 26 pts
Georgia ███████████ 22 pts
Ohio ███████ 14 pts
Iowa ██████ 13 pts
| State | Swing Toward Democrats (Points) | What Happened |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas | 29 | Democrat Adam Hamilton won |
| South Carolina | 26 | Democrat Annie Andrews won |
| Georgia | 22 | Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff was on the ballot |
| Ohio | 14 | Democrat Amy Acton won the governor’s race |
| Iowa | 13 | Voters 50+ still favored Ashley Hinson by 3; Democrat Josh Turek won |
Source: NORC Civic Health & Elections Project via AARP (November 6, 2026); NBC News 2026 Results Pages.
In seven states, voters 50 and older swung 13 points or more toward Democratic Senate candidates compared with 2022. Kansas moved the most at 29 points, followed by South Carolina at 26, Georgia at 22, Ohio at 14 and Iowa at 13. These swings compare each state’s 2026 older-voter result with its 2022 Senate result.
A swing does not mean a majority. Iowa voters 50 and older still favored Republican Ashley Hinson by 3 points, even after a 13-point move. Republican strategist Bob Ward said enough older Republicans voted Democratic to supply the winning margin for Josh Turek in Iowa and Adam Hamilton in Kansas. Two of the seven states are not named in the sources used for this report.
2026 Senior Voters by Gender and Party: Older Women, Older Men and Independents
MARGIN AMONG OLDER VOTERS (each █ = 2 points)
Independents 50+ ███████████ Democrats +22
Women 50+ █████ Democrats +9
All voters 50+ ██ Democrats +3
Men 50+ ░░░ Republicans +5
| Group | Result | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| All voters 50+ | Democrats +3 | 50% to 47% nationally |
| Women 50+ | Democrats +9 | Pivotal in several Senate races |
| Men 50+ | Republicans +5 | Republican edge nationally |
| Independents 50+ | Democrats +22 | Largest older-voter margin |
| Independents 50+ in Georgia | Ossoff +66 | Senate race |
| Independents 50+ in North Carolina | Cooper +56 | 44-point swing from 2022 |
| Women 65+ in Iowa | Turek +10 | Voters 50+ overall favored Hinson |
| Women 50+ in Maine | Jackson +6 | Collins lost seat |
Source: NORC Civic Health & Elections Project via AARP (November 6, 2026).
Older women backed Democrats by 9 points nationally, while older men gave Republicans a 5-point edge. Independents 50 and older backed Democrats by 22 points, the largest margin in the table. In Georgia they favored Jon Ossoff by 66 points. In North Carolina they backed Roy Cooper by 56 points, a 44-point swing from 2022.
Two state rows show how women shaped outcomes. In Iowa, women 65 and older backed Josh Turek by 10 points, while all voters 50 and older favored his opponent. In Maine, women 50 and older favored Troy Jackson by 6 points, in a group that had long supported Susan Collins. Ticket-splitting also showed up: 6% of voters 50 and older in Senate battlegrounds chose a Democrat for Senate and a Republican for governor, rising to 21% in New Hampshire and 12% in South Carolina.
2026 Top Issues for Senior Voters: Social Security, Cost of Living and Health Care
SENIOR VOTER ISSUE MEASURES (each █ = 5%)
Prevent Social Security cuts (50+) ██████████████████ 90%
Social Security a key focus (43 districts) █████████████████ 83%
Economy a top issue (50+) ████████████ 58%
Groceries named as cost concern ██████ 30%
Health care or drug costs named █████ 24%
| Issue Measure | Figure | Group |
|---|---|---|
| Preventing Social Security cuts very or extremely important | 90% | Voters 50+ |
| Same measure among Republicans, independents, Democrats | 87%, 87%, 94% | Voters 50+ |
| Economy among top issues | 58% | Voters 50+ |
| Economy among top issues | 62% | Voters 50 to 64 |
| Economy among top issues | 64% | Women 50 to 64 |
| Named grocery costs as top concern | About 30% | Voters 50+ |
| Named health care or drug costs | 24% | Voters 50+ |
| Named health care costs | 16% | Voters under 50 |
| Social Security a major household income source | 58% | Voters 50+, battleground districts |
Source: NORC Civic Health & Elections Project via AARP (November 6, 2026); AARP battleground district poll (October 2026).
Social Security led. 90% of voters 50 and older said preventing benefit cuts was very or extremely important, including 87% of Republicans, 87% of independents and 94% of Democrats. In 43 competitive districts, 83% of older voters called it a key focus, and 58% said it is or will be a major source of household income. Cost of living ranked next: 58% named the economy, rising to 62% among voters 50 to 64.
Specific costs mattered. About 30% named grocery prices, and 24% named health care or prescription drug costs, against 16% of voters under 50 for health care. In the same district poll, 85% of older voters favored expanding Medicare drug price negotiation, and 77% backed a tax credit for family caregivers. About half of voters 50 and older surveyed are current or former caregivers. These measures shape Senior Voters in US Midterm Elections 2026 more than party label does.
Senior Voters in US Midterm Elections 2026 – Frequently Asked Questions
What Percentage of Voters Were 65 and Older in the 2026 Midterms?
Voters 65 and older were 36% of the electorate in the NBC News exit poll. Voters 50 and older were 60% in NORC data.
How Did Voters 65 and Older Vote in the 2026 Midterm Elections?
NORC data show voters 65 and older backing Democrats 53% to 46%. The NBC exit poll shows an even 50% to 50% split.
Did Seniors Vote Democratic or Republican in 2026?
It depends on the source. NORC shows a Democratic lead of 4 to 7 points, and the exit poll shows no lead for either party.
How Did Voters 50 and Older Vote in 2026?
Voters 50 and older backed Democrats 50% to 47% for the U.S. House, according to NORC data reported by AARP.
How Did Older Independents Vote in the 2026 Midterms?
Independents 50 and older backed Democrats by 22 points. In Georgia, they favored Jon Ossoff by 66 points.
Did Older Women Vote Differently Than Older Men in 2026?
Yes. Women 50 and older backed Democrats by 9 points, and men 50 and older backed Republicans by 5 points.
What Was the Top Issue for Older Voters in 2026?
Social Security and the economy. 90% of voters 50 and older said preventing Social Security cuts was very or extremely important, and 58% named the economy.
Which State Had the Highest Share of Older Voters in 2026?
South Carolina, where voters 50 and older were 65% of the electorate. Ohio followed at 63%.
Which States Swung Most Among Older Voters in 2026?
Kansas moved 29 points toward Democrats among voters 50 and older. South Carolina moved 26, and Georgia moved 22.
How Many Seniors Voted Early in the 2026 Midterms?
Voters 65 and older cast 50.4% of early ballots in states that report age.
What Was Senior Voter Turnout in the Last Midterm?
In 2022, 66.8% of citizens 65 and older voted, according to the Census Bureau. Voters 65 to 74 reached 68.0%.
How Did Older Voters Compare With Young Voters in 2026?
Voters 18 to 29 backed Democrats 66% to 31% and were 11% of voters. Voters 65 and older backed Democrats 53% to 46% and were 36%.
Why Do Polls Disagree on How Seniors Voted in 2026?
Surveys use different methods. NORC surveys verified voters, the exit poll combines Election Day and mail interviews, and Pew measured registered voters before Election Day.
What Share of Ballots Did Voters 50 and Older Cast in 2026?
Voters 50 and older cast 60% of all ballots in NORC data, down from 64% in the 2022 midterms.
Did Older Voters Split Their Tickets in 2026?
Some did. 6% of voters 50 and older in Senate battlegrounds chose a Democrat for Senate and a Republican for governor, and 21% did in New Hampshire.
Are the 2026 Senior Voter Figures Final?
No. Pollsters can revise weights, and several states are still counting ballots.
Disclaimer: This research report is compiled from publicly available sources. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is given as to the completeness or reliability of the information. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions, losses, or damages of any kind arising from the use of this report.