Tuesday’s off-year elections across the United States offered a powerful message: voters are increasingly connecting climate action with pocketbook issues, particularly soaring household energy costs. While Democrats may have dialed back their direct focus on climate change as a campaign theme, they found success by linking clean energy solutions to everyday affordability concerns.
Across several key races, this strategy proved potent, suggesting that framing climate policy as a means to lower utility bills resonates deeply with voters.
When Energy Bills Bite: Voters Demand Action
New Jersey’s gubernatorial election showcased the power of this approach dramatically. Democrat Mikie Sherrill campaigned on tackling the state’s skyrocketing energy prices – a burden driven by a staggering 20% increase in electricity costs compared to the national average of 11%. Sherrill pledged a swift response, vowing to declare an emergency and freeze utility rates upon taking office. Voters responded with clear trust: polls revealed they favored Sherrill over her Republican opponent Jack Ciattarelli by 10 points when it came to managing energy prices. In the end, Sherrill secured victory with 56% of the vote.
The issue in New Jersey was compounded by the Trump administration’s past cuts to clean energy initiatives within the state – notably the cancellation of a major wind energy project and delays in building crucial transmission infrastructure. These actions amplified public frustration over rising bills, setting the stage for Sherrill’s successful campaign strategy.
In Virginia, Democrat Abigail Spanberger also leveraged the affordability angle in her gubernatorial race against Republican Winsome Earle-Sears. While energy price hikes weren’t as dramatic in Virginia compared to New Jersey, another pressing concern emerged: a surge in data centers demanding massive amounts of electricity. The state now hosts the world’s largest concentration of these power-hungry facilities, with 54 new ones receiving permits this year alone. This burgeoning demand threatens to further drive up generation costs across the PJM power grid that serves Virginia – already causing public apprehension. Spanberger seized upon this anxiety, promising both affordable energy for households and responsible management of this data boom.
A Hidden Battleground: Georgia Elects a Climate-Focused Commission
Perhaps the most surprising result emerged from an election usually shrouded in obscurity: two seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC). This panel oversees electricity prices in the state, regulating private power companies that often operate as monopolies. In an off-year election with national implications, Democrats Peter Hubbard and Alicia Johnson defeated incumbent Republicans. Over 1.5 million Georgians cast ballots – a remarkable 21% turnout for this typically low-profile race – demonstrating a surge of public interest in the PSC’s decisions regarding energy affordability and clean energy transitions.
For years, Georgia’s PSC has faced criticism for giving too much leeway to the state’s dominant power company, ultimately allowing hefty cost overruns from nuclear reactor construction projects to be passed onto consumers. This resulted in skyrocketing monthly bills across the Peach State. In 2023 alone, the commission approved a staggering $7 billion plan to shift these cost burdens onto Georgia ratepayers.
The Democratic victories signal a clear mandate: Georgians are demanding action on both rising power prices and the urgent need for clean energy solutions. They want commissioners who will hold utilities accountable and champion a sustainable energy future that doesn’t sacrifice affordability.
A Winning Formula? Clean Energy Meets Economic Concerns
While no one can guarantee immediate drops in energy prices – these are influenced by complex factors ranging from aging infrastructure to volatile fuel markets – the victories in Georgia, New Jersey, and Virginia reveal a powerful political trend. Voters are increasingly linking clean energy initiatives to tangible economic benefits: lower utility bills and greater price stability.
This strategy seems particularly potent in off-year elections often dominated by hyperlocal issues. By connecting state policies like clean energy regulations and public utility oversight directly to household budgets, Democrats have tapped into a potent voter concern that transcends partisan divides.
Frances Sawyer, founder of energy analysis firm Pleiades Strategy, observes, “Who sits on these [state regulatory] commissions is deeply important to how states navigate big questions that affect folks’ lives.” She underscores the message sent by Georgia voters: they’re ready for leadership that prioritizes affordable power and a responsible transition to clean energy.
Brionté McCorkle, executive director of Georgia Conservation Voters, highlights the grassroots organizing effort behind this shift. They successfully built awareness about the PSC’s influence on power bills, sparking public engagement in a race usually ignored by most voters. This shows that with dedicated outreach and clear messaging, seemingly arcane issues like utility regulation can become powerful focal points for voter mobilization.
Looking ahead to 2024’s midterm elections, clean energy campaigns may continue benefiting from this newfound traction. The Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to promote fossil fuels and roll back environmental regulations further solidify the argument that protecting clean energy solutions is crucial to keeping power prices stable and preventing a resurgence of harmful emissions. For Democrats, connecting clean energy with economic security could become an increasingly potent political weapon.
