Democratic and Republican midterm candidates largely silent on climate despite voter demand for action
Polling shows majorities in swing states want politicians to address climate change and support clean energy, yet most candidates across eight battleground states avoid mentioning the issue on their campaign platforms.
What happened
Across eight swing states that will determine Senate control—Alaska, Georgia, Maine, Iowa, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, and Texas—Democratic and Republican midterm candidates have largely ceased discussing climate change on their campaign websites, with only two candidates (Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan and James Talarico in Texas) mentioning it. Several previously pro-climate Democrats have shifted positions: El-Sayed disavowed the Green New Deal on Fox News after previously campaigning for 100% renewable energy; Jon Ossoff dropped environmental messaging to focus on inflation and the Iran war; and Talarico reversed course to declare support for the oil and gas industry after previously criticizing it. Polling from the Environmental Voter Project found that three times as many voters in these swing states want politicians to discuss climate more than those wanting less discussion, with majorities in each state saying they would be more likely to vote for pro-clean-energy candidates.
Context
The strategic silence contradicts apparent voter preferences and represents a misreading of the electorate. Americans have experienced both record summer heat and surging energy and mortgage costs (roughly $2,000 per household extra annually), linked partly to fossil fuel supply disruptions following diplomatic tensions. Climate experts argue this mismatch reflects outdated assumptions: Yale polling shows majorities remain concerned about global heating even in major oil and gas producing states, with Texas voters favoring renewables over oil by a 54% to 19% margin and Alaska voters supporting clean energy transition by 63%. The data suggests clean energy messaging is not an electoral liability but potentially an asset, even among independents in red states who favor aggressive climate action by a four-to-one margin according to the Environmental Voter Project director. Republicans have responded to climate-focused candidates by attacking them as extremists—such efforts to paint Talarico as anti-fossil-fuel and Trump's ridicule of him at a rally—despite his stated support for oil and gas production.