San Luis Obispo County Students Sound Off on the Nation’s Direction
Where do young voters stand on the state of the nation as the 2026 primary and midterm elections approach?
Voters under 30 are often seen as pivotal in determining election outcomes, yet they historically turn out in lower numbers than older Americans. To better understand their perspectives, Cal Poly and Cuesta College students were asked to share their views.
Among those interviewed, frustration and dissatisfaction with the country’s direction emerged as a central theme. Students pointed to political polarization, rising costs of living, immigration policies, and concerns about international conflict as key issues shaping their outlook.
“It’s like World War III right now,” said Alphons Rawson, a Cuesta student, who described what he sees as a breakdown in norms and what he called “rules-based order. I want to see ethics brought back to the stage.”
Eli Rose, a student at Cal Poly and intern with the San Luis Obispo County Democratic Party (SLOCDP), expressed a sense of disillusionment, shame, and embarrassment.
Political Battles Deter Real Solutions
“I have no sense of nationalism,” Rose said, adding that political infighting has deepened divisions. “I have a problem with political polarization – one side attacking the other,” adding that Democrats and Republicans, alike, should focus instead on solving shared issues like healthcare and incarceration policies.
AnnaMae Rosplock, president of Cuesta’s Democratic Club, said the current political climate has taken a personal toll.
“I’ve struggled with insomnia my whole life, and since the second Trump administration began, I’ve had an almost constant flare up. From the Trump-Epstein files, to the war in Iran, and everything else, it’s overwhelming.”
Gen Z Speaks Loudly in New National Poll
Local students’ perspectives align with larger national trends.
According to the Spring 2026 Yale Youth Poll, https://youthpoll.yale.edu/ a majority of young voters expressed dissatisfaction with the country’s direction and said they plan to vote for Democrats in 2026. Sixty-eight percent of poll respondents aged 18-22 reported dissatisfaction, along with 72 percent of those aged23-29, and 75 percent of those aged 30-24.
Economic Anxiety and Immigration Worries
For many students, economic pressures are top of mind.
Leyna Kruger a political-science student at Cuesta, said concerns about student debt and housing affordability make it difficult for her to feel optimistic about the future.
”The economy is not working for the people.”
Immigration policy is another big concern.
Bridget O’Connell, a pre-law student at Cal Poly, said the issue feels personal. “It affects me personally—the people around me, including many of my peers. We need to make it easier for immigrants to get help and seek asylum or citizen status.”
Rose echoed those concerns, citing the impact on families in his community in southern California. “Three of my best friends’ parents are from Mexico and seeing how it affects them is awful. My friends go to bed scared.”
A Call for Practical Solutions, Not Burdens
Despite their frustrations, students emphasized a desire for clear priorities, practical solutions, political leaders grounded in voters’ experiences, and shared responsibility across generations.
“These problems require pragmatic solutions, in which every generation needs to pitch in and do its part,” said Rosplock, a former intern with the SLOCDP.
She also pushed back on the notion that younger generations alone should solve long-standing issues such as global climate change.
“Putting pressure and high expectations on another generation is flawed and wholly unproductive,” she said. Students “already feel overwhelmed trying to manage assignments, part- or full-time work--and now the weight of the future of our country?”
She acknowledges that each generation will inherit challenges, “but the key,” she added, “is handing over the tools to fix problems, not the problems themselves.”