One in five older voters remain undecided, putting the district’s most reliable voters in a position to decide the outcome of the race
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NEW YORK, NY — Micah Lasher leads the Democratic primary for New York’s 12th Congressional District among likely voters age 50 and older, according to a new poll on behalf of AARP New York conducted by the Siena College Research Institute. Lasher receives 32% support, followed by Alex Bores (21%), George Conway (13%), Jack Schlossberg (9%), and Nina Schwalbe (2%). However, with more than one in five voters (21%) still undecided, the race remains fluid as candidates compete for the support of the district’s influential 50-plus electorate.
The poll also finds that older voters are focused overwhelmingly on retirement security and affordability. Nearly three-quarters of voters (73%) say ensuring Social Security remains fully funded should be a priority for the next member of Congress. At the same time, nearly nine in ten voters (88%) say the affordability of life in New York City is a serious problem, while 83% say housing affordability is a serious problem. Groceries, housing, and health insurance rank as the top affordability concerns facing voters age 50 and older.
“Older voters will once again play a decisive role in this election,” said Beth Finkel, AARP New York State Director. “These voters are looking for leaders who understand the challenges they face every day—from rising housing and grocery costs to protecting Social Security and Medicare and supporting family caregivers. Candidates who speak to those concerns will be best positioned to earn the support of one of the most reliable voting blocs in the district.”
The poll comes on the heels of an analysis released in May that found voters age 50 and older are expected to dominate turnout in the Democratic primary in New York’s 12th Congressional District, potentially making up as much as 75% of the electorate. The analysis, commissioned by AARP New York and conducted by Gotham Polling & Analytics, reviewed voter file data and past turnout trends and found that voters age 50+ made up 72–74 percent of turnout in recent NY-12 congressional primaries, while voters age 65+ participated at dramatically higher rates than younger voters. The findings underscored the growing political influence of older New Yorkers and the importance of issues such as Social Security, caregiving, and affordability in the race.
Social Security, Medicare and Support for Family Caregivers Remain Central Issues
The survey finds overwhelming support for protecting earned payments.
Ninety-five percent of voters say Social Security is important when deciding their vote in the Democratic primary, while 93% say Medicare is important. Health care costs (97%), policies that help older adults live independently (91%), and prescription drug costs (87%) also rank among the most important issues for voters age 50-plus.
Support for Social Security is particularly strong. Ninety-two percent of voters say they would be more likely to support a candidate who advocates ensuring workers receive their full Social Security. Nearly eight in ten voters would be more likely to support a candidate who backs tax credits and additional support for family caregivers, while over three-quarters say they would be more likely to support a candidate who protects consumers from fraud and scams.
Affordability and Retirement Security Drive Voter Priorities
When asked which initiatives should be priorities for the next member of Congress, the top responses were ensuring Social Security remains fully funded (73%), making the cost of living more affordable (70%), lowering health care costs (68%), and increasing the supply of affordable housing (62%). Nearly six in ten voters (59%) also said helping New Yorkers remain in their homes and communities as they age should be a priority.
Among all issues tested, affordability emerged as a dominant concern. Fifty-one percent cited groceries as one of their top affordability worries, followed by housing (48%) and health insurance (46%).
“While likely democratic primary voters in NY 12 are acutely aware of the current economic struggles in New York City as well as across the nation, and cite housing affordability, grocery costs and health care as challenges, their top issue when deciding on their upcoming vote is the threats to our democracy,” according to Don Levy, Siena’s Executive Director. “Among seniors the top pick for the congressional seat in their district is Micah Lasher with 32% followed by Alex Bores with 21%. They look to their next representative to be a voice protecting our republic as well as an advocate supporting their struggles with the current cost of living, protecting social security and controlling the cost of health care.”
AARP commissioned the Siena Research Institute to conduct a survey of 416 New York’s 12th Congressional District likely Democratic primary voters age 50 and older on political preferences, key election issues, and concerns about affordability, retirement, and Social Security. The survey was conducted by phone (landline and cellphone) between May 27-June 1, 2026, and has an overall margin of error of +/-5.0%.
Click here for the full poll, crosstabs, and methodology. Read the aarp.org story here.
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About AARP
AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the 125 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health and financial security, and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation’s largest-circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and the AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit aarp.org, aarp.org/espanol or follow @AARP, @AARPLatino and @AARPadvocates on social media.
The post AARP New York/Siena Poll: Lasher Leads NY-12 Democratic Primary Among Voters 50+, While Social Security and Affordability Dominate Voter Concerns appeared first on EMPIRE REPORT NEW YORK 2026® NEW YORK’S 24/7 NEWS SITE.
