As I prepare to turn 30 in October 2024, I find myself at a pivotal crossroads, both personally and politically. Earlier this year, I got engaged to my fiancée, and we’re now planning our wedding for 2025. Like many young couples, we’re excited about our future together, but we can’t ignore the apprehension we feel as we weigh the consequences of the 2024 election.

Family Planning

With the growing possibility of the Supreme Court overturning Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark decision that legalized same-sex marriage, the validity of our future marriage could be threatened. This isn’t paranoia—it’s personal. My rights as an individual and as a partner in a committed relationship are on the ballot in this election. And it’s not just marriage equality that is under threat. As we plan our family, the question of fertility treatments looms large. Starting a family isn’t always straightforward, even for straight couples. But for us, in vitro fertilization (IVF) will be our only option. I believe strongly in family values—the idea that building and nurturing a family is one of the most important responsibilities and privileges we have. My fiancée and I want the opportunity to create and raise a family rooted in love and stability, but the politicization of fertility treatments has made that dream vulnerable to the outcome of this election.

Housing

But for all the threats to our freedoms to live our lives how we choose, living in Boston has offered us a kind of political safe haven. In Massachusetts, we feel protected by progressive policies that uphold our rights and freedoms. However, that security comes at a steep price— literally. The average home price in Boston is now $1.1 million. As we look to buy our first home, a number like that makes the American Dream feel like a fantasy. The housing market is already brutal for first-time buyers like us, and with Vice President Harris proposing a $25,000 down payment assistance program, I fear that such well-intentioned policies will only drive prices higher. More buyers in the market with extra cash will inevitably push up demand, making homes even more unaffordable. Where does increased competition in the housing market leave current renters like us? Progressive rent control policies, which are meant to alleviate pressure on renters, can have unintended but predictable consequences. While I support efforts to make rent more affordable — we currently pay $3850 for our apartment —the MBA student in me understands that rent control can discourage new development, leading to a reduced supply of homes over time. This creates a vicious cycle: fewer homes being built, more people competing for existing units, and prices continuing to rise. In the end, policies meant to help renters spend less on rent and save for a down payment instead create permanent renters. For us and Millennials in similar locations, the frustration is palpable.

Student Loans

For my fiancée, a resident pediatrician who earns a modest salary while working 80 hours per week, the weight of student loans feels particularly urgent. Residents are underpaid for the hours they work, yet they are expected to begin repaying loans, sometimes totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. The stress of managing this financial burden on a resident’s salary – while still planning for our wedding, our family, and our future – is intense. As an anesthetist, I’m fortunate to earn a higher salary, but the investment in our educations and trainings came with a price tag that we’ll be paying off for decades. We’re grateful for all that our student loans helped us achieve, and we will repay them because we’re able. But student loan policy is about more than money; It’s about building the pipeline for careers that nurse our sick, educate our children, and build the technology our world and our economy increasingly depends on. It’s about empowering people to contribute fully to society without being weighed down by unmanageable debt. These are the issues on our minds as 30-somethings, and we aren’t alone. Millennials are now the largest voting bloc in the United States and as we become homeowners, parents, and leaders, we understand that decisions we make today will shape our futures and our families’ futures for decades to come. We are inclined to support Vice President Harris, but she and all those seeking our votes must recognize that our generation demands more than vibes; We demand that our issues are addressed with the urgency they deserve. Our dreams, our freedoms, our marriages, and our children depend on it. In 2024 and beyond.