Guam’s Gen Z disillusioned, but hopeful

Born roughly between the mid-1990s and the early 2010s, Gen Z is the newest major force in Guam elections.  Photo courtesy of UOG

By Ron Rocky Coloma

After finishing school, they set out into the real world, thrilled to chase the promises of a diploma: a good job and a good life. Some studied offshore and came back home with college degrees and optimism.

But reality bites. The job market on Guam does not offer as many prospects as the new graduates anticipated. The cost of living on the island is prohibitive. Public safety is fragile. The state of education is in decline.

Despite the disappointments, Guam’s Gen Z remains hopeful, ready to leverage the new power they hold. Born roughly between the mid-1990s and the early 2010s, Gen Z is the newest major force in Guam elections. 

They were born with the world at their fingertips, growing up fully immersed in digital technology. Social media raises their political awareness and gives them a venue to shape decisions based on their points of view. Too young to be too jaded, Gen Z’s civic participation debunks presumptions about their political apathy.

What does this generation want?

For some of Guam’s youngest voters, the 2026 election is not just about who takes office; it is about whether they can afford to stay home.

“The issue that matters most to me is whether people my age can afford to build a life and succeed here, in terms of the cost of living, housing accessibility and whether quality jobs exist,” said Kiran Toh, 22, of Dededo.

A recent graduate of Columbia University, Toh worked at the Guam legislature and in Washington, D.C.

“Elected officials should be doing everything possible to incentivize people to stay in Guam by improving the quality of life on the island while also providing more opportunities for students and young workers to succeed,” Toh said.

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The young voters’ priorities and political views may differ, but they share a common concern: whether young adults can find the opportunities and quality of life they need to build a future on Guam.

“We need to get fuel, food and other cost-of-living items to go down somehow,” said Donovan Nelson, 25, of Yona. “Most young locals don’t see a future on Guam for themselves or their families in the private sector.”

Nelson, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu athlete and longtime Guam resident, said the cost of everyday necessities is making it difficult for young adults to envision their future on island.

He urged Guam leaders to create incentives for people ages 18 to 29 to remain on the island. “I lived in the states for a year. The grass isn’t always greener just because you’re in a state. Guam has potential. I truly believe that,” Nelson said.

The state of Guam’s education system is among the biggest disappointments for Jurien Prado Limtiaco, 21, of Piti. He described the double sessions at public schools as concerning.

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“Even though I’ve attended Catholic school all my life, it still bothers me to see students not getting a good, complete education,” said Limtiaco, a civil engineering student at the University of Guam.

Some of Guam’s young voters were still toddlers when the government first proposed to rebuild a new campus for Simon Sanchez High School in 2015. More than a decade later, the now-young adults witnessed the long-stalled project sent back to the drawing board, giving the government a failing grade.

“Our education system is really failing its students with the campus issues,” said Trevan Atoigue of Tamuning.

Atoigue is the vice speaker of the 35th Guam Youth Congress and chairs the Committee on Education and Youth Affairs.

Vicente Blas Taijeron, 24, of Tamuning, pointed to Guam’s economy, environment and culture. “Guam has taken a huge hit to the economy with the loss of major retailers and tourism markets,” said Taijeron, a Harvard University graduate.

“We need leaders who can diversify our economy and who care about protecting the cultural fabric of Guam’s Indigenous and local peoples,” said Taijeron, a former Guam Youth Congress representative and secretary of the Guam Young Democrats.

For young voters, party affiliation is less important than a candidate’s character, record or policies.

“I prefer to look at the individual and their reputation,” Nelson said.

Atoigue prioritizes authenticity. “I look for someone who is the same way both on and off the cameras. If they act nice on camera but in person, they act rude, incompetent, or disrespectful to people, then they don’t deserve the public’s trust,” he said.

Taijeron is interested in the candidates' policy records. “I look at the laws they wrote; the bills they advocated for and against; if they were present at legislative sessions and public hearings, as well as how accessible they are to their constituents.”

Young voters reject hollow speeches.

“While I think the candidates acknowledge issues like the cost of living and young people leaving the island, that’s often where the conversation ends,” Toh said.

“Too often the topic stays general, with vague promises instead of specific policies and action items that address the issues people care about most. While there may be no silver-bullet solution to any of these issues, voters deserve to hear how a candidate plans to make progress, what it will cost and how long it will take. I'd like to see more candidates come to my generation with realistic proposals.”

Atoigue said candidates’ commitments must continue beyond the campaign. “That there are some individuals who do address the concerns of the youth. If they get elected, then I hope that they keep up to those promises made on the trail,” he said.

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Taijeron specifically expressed support for the Terlaje-Perez gubernatorial ticket, citing its positions on CHamoru culture, economic opportunities, natural resources and military expansion.

Limtiaco said Guam needs more opportunities for college graduates to find careers without leaving home.

Taijeron agreed. “Young folks on Guam need to know they have a viable industry and workforce to go into when they graduate so that they can flourish and live a happy life here at home,” he said.

For Nelson, the island remains a place worth investing in despite its challenges. “I love living on Guam,” Nelson said. “However, I think we can all agree our quality of life could be better.”

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