AARP does not endorse candidates for president

AARP, the membership organization for people 50 and older, has a longstanding policy against endorsing presidential candidates. The organization remains neutral in presidential races regardless of which party is in power or which candidates are running. This neutrality applies to all federal elections — AARP does not endorse for president, Senate, House, or any other federal office.

AARP's stated reason for this policy is that its membership spans both major political parties and many independents. The organization says that endorsing a candidate would divide its membership and undermine its ability to work with elected officials of both parties on issues that affect older adults. Instead, AARP focuses on issues — not candidates — and publishes where each candidate stands on those issues.

This does not mean AARP stays silent during elections. The organization publishes candidate questionnaires, holds forums where candidates answer questions from older voters, and releases scorecards showing how sitting members of Congress voted on bills AARP supported or opposed. But the endorsement itself — the formal statement that AARP backs one candidate over another — does not happen.

Key Takeaways

  • AARP has a formal policy against endorsing any presidential candidate, regardless of party or election cycle.
  • AARP publishes where candidates stand on issues like Social Security, Medicare, and prescription drug costs so members can make their own decisions.
  • AARP holds candidate forums and publishes voting records of sitting members of Congress on issues the organization cares about.
  • Individual AARP staff members may support candidates personally, but that is separate from AARP's official position as an organization.

How AARP informs voters without endorsing

During presidential elections, AARP publishes a candidate questionnaire asking each major candidate where they stand on specific issues: Social Security benefits, Medicare coverage and costs, prescription drug pricing, long-term care, and retirement security. The candidates' written answers are published in full on AARP's website and sometimes in AARP Magazine, which goes to millions of members.

AARP also hosts candidate forums in key states where older voters can hear candidates answer questions live or watch recorded sessions. These forums are structured so that each candidate gets equal time and the same questions. The forums are free and open to the public, and recordings are posted online for people who cannot attend in person.

For sitting members of Congress, AARP publishes a scorecard showing how each representative and senator voted on bills the organization supported or opposed during that session. The scorecard does not tell voters how to vote — it straightforward shows the voting record so members can decide whether their representative's votes align with their own priorities.

Why AARP maintains neutrality in federal elections

AARP's membership includes Democrats, Republicans, and independents in roughly equal numbers, though the exact breakdown varies by state. The organization's leadership has said that endorsing a presidential candidate would alienate roughly half its membership and damage relationships with members of Congress from both parties that AARP needs to work with on legislation.

AARP's tax status as a nonprofit organization also shapes this policy. While nonprofits are allowed to engage in some political activity, there are legal limits on how much they can spend on candidate campaigns. AARP's interpretation of those rules leads the organization to avoid endorsements and focus instead on issue-based advocacy.

This neutrality has held across multiple election cycles and multiple presidencies. AARP maintained it during the 2020 election, the 2016 election, and earlier races. The policy is not new and is not expected to change in future elections.

What AARP does advocate for in elections

Although AARP does not endorse candidates, the organization does take public positions on specific policies and ballot measures. AARP has opposed cuts to Social Security benefits, fought to keep Medicare coverage intact, and pushed for lower prescription drug costs. When a ballot measure or proposed law touches on these issues, AARP states its position clearly.

AARP also runs issue-focused advertising during election season. These ads may highlight a candidate's record on Social Security or Medicare, but they do not say "vote for this person." Instead, they present information and let voters decide. The organization has run ads criticizing both Republican and Democratic candidates when their records on AARP's priority issues warranted it.

AARP's state and local chapters sometimes take positions on state and local races, though this varies by chapter and by state law. But at the national level, the organization's official position remains neutral on candidates while vocal on issues.

How to find where candidates stand on issues AARP covers

During a presidential election year, visit AARP.org and look for the "Election" or "Voting" section. AARP publishes candidate questionnaires there, usually starting several months before the general election. The questionnaires ask candidates about Social Security, Medicare, prescription drugs, and other topics that affect older adults.

You can also search for AARP candidate forums on YouTube or AARP's website. These forums are usually held in the spring and summer of an election year and feature the major candidates answering questions from older voters. Some forums are held in person in specific states, while others are national and available online.

AARP's website also has a "Congress Votes" section where you can look up your representative or senator and see how they voted on bills AARP supported or opposed. This tool lets you compare voting records across multiple election cycles and see whether a sitting member's record has changed over time.

The difference between AARP's position and individual members' views

AARP staff members, board members, and volunteers are individuals with their own political views. Some support Democratic candidates, some support Republican candidates, and some support independents. These personal views are separate from AARP's official organizational position.

When you see an AARP staff member quoted in a news story about an election, that person is usually speaking about AARP's issue positions, not endorsing a candidate. If an AARP employee endorses a candidate in their personal capacity, that is their individual choice and not AARP's position.

Similarly, AARP chapters in different states may take different approaches to local and state elections, depending on state law and chapter leadership. But the national organization's policy against federal candidate endorsements remains consistent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has AARP ever endorsed a presidential candidate?

No. AARP has maintained a policy against endorsing presidential candidates for decades. This policy has held across multiple election cycles and multiple administrations. The organization's leadership has stated that endorsing would divide its membership and damage its ability to work with elected officials from both parties.

Does AARP endorse candidates for Senate or House?

No. AARP's neutrality policy covers all federal elections, including Senate and House races. The organization does not endorse candidates for any federal office. AARP may publish voting records of sitting members of Congress, but that is different from endorsing their challengers or supporting their re-election.

Can I find out which candidates AARP staff members support personally?

AARP staff members' personal political views are their own and are not published by the organization. If you want to know where a candidate stands on issues AARP cares about, use AARP's candidate questionnaires and voting record tools instead of trying to infer support from individual staff members.

Where can I see how candidates answered AARP's questions?

During election years, AARP publishes candidate questionnaires on AARP.org. You can also watch candidate forums on AARP's YouTube channel or website. These resources show each candidate's written and spoken answers on Social Security, Medicare, prescription drugs, and other issues affecting older adults.

Does AARP's neutrality mean the organization does not care about election outcomes?

No. AARP cares deeply about which policies get enacted, and policies depend on who is elected. But AARP believes it can influence policy more effectively by remaining neutral on candidates and building relationships with elected officials from both parties than by endorsing one candidate and potentially alienating the other party's members.