Democrats have reduced public discussion of climate change in recent months, prioritizing messaging around the cost of living instead. This shift, known as “climate hushing,” reflects a belief among party strategists that the issue contributed to electoral losses. However, new research from the 2035 Initiative at the University of California, Santa Barbara challenges this assumption.
The initiative’s polling, conducted this summer with approximately 3,500 participants representing the U.S. electorate across political lines, found that incorporating climate change into candidate messaging produces neutral to positive electoral effects. When voters were presented with randomly paired candidates, those emphasizing climate change received a 4.5 percentage point advantage in support overall. Roughly two-thirds of respondents backed government investment in solar and wind energy regardless of how the policy was framed, and approximately 60 percent of Republicans surveyed supported such measures even when climate change was explicitly mentioned.
The research has sparked debate within Democratic circles about messaging strategy. Some operatives, including representatives from groups like WelcomePAC, contend that Democrats who distanced themselves from environmental policies performed well electorally in 2024. They point to examples of candidates who emphasized energy affordability and expanded domestic production. These strategists argue that when climate action appears as a partisan issue, it becomes harder to achieve durable policy results.
Others counter that avoiding public discussion of climate change undermines long-term political will for action. Researchers note that high-profile debate during the 2020 election cycle created momentum leading to major legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022. They warn that continued silence could prevent similar initiatives when Democrats hold power.
All parties acknowledge that voters rank climate change 12th among 15 major issues, far below concerns about cost of living and healthcare. The disagreement centers on whether highlighting climate change can produce meaningful electoral gains and whether quiet policymaking or public engagement better serves climate objectives.
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