"Even if legislators shy away from the word “climate,” it is deeply tied to top priorities on affordability and data centers."
"In the wake of sweeping victories in last week’s midterm elections, a historic new crop of Democrats has pledged to pursue an array of liberal priorities — from scrutinizing the Trump administration to expanding access to health care. But action on climate change, previously a centerpiece of the Democratic platform, is conspicuously absent from many victorious lawmakers’ stated agendas.
In an analysis of social media posts and emails from 271 Democrats elected to Congress this cycle, The Washington Post found that just 25 included environmental issues among their priorities. Only six mentioned the word “climate.” Meanwhile, 109 victorious Democrats issued statements including the word “war,” and 166 discussed affordability.
Climate activists, researchers and officials say that gap reflects the extent to which cost-of-living concerns linked to tariffs and conflict in the Middle East superseded most other issues for voters, even after the contiguous United States sweltered through its hottest summer on record boosted by climate change.
Still, rising global temperatures can influence voters’ other priorities, such as the price of fuel, food and home insurance, experts noted — potentially creating opportunities to promote renewable energy and curb planet-warming pollution."
Sarah Kaplan, Jake Spring and Jeremy B. Merrill report for the Washington Post November 12, 2026.
