Energy costs have emerged as a dominant theme in the upcoming November midterm elections across the United States, reshaping campaign messaging and forcing candidates to recalibrate their traditional positions on climate and environmental policy.
According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, US residential electricity prices increased 7% in 2025 compared to the previous year, with ratepayers in 46 states experiencing year-over-year increases. Twelve states and Washington, DC, saw double-digit rate hikes. Regional variation is significant, with Hawaii leading at 43.91 cents per kilowatt-hour in the first quarter of 2026, followed by California at 36.15 cents and New York at 32.63 cents, compared to a national average of 18.70 cents. Contributing factors include rising energy costs, infrastructure investments, extreme weather, environmental regulations, and the substantial power demands of expanding data center operations.
Gasoline prices have similarly increased, with the national average nearly a dollar per gallon higher than a year prior, driven partly by the ongoing conflict in Iran. This affordability crisis is reshaping political rhetoric across party lines. Analysts note that the traditional climate-versus-fossil-fuels framing has shifted toward affordability-focused messaging from both Democrats and Republicans. Some Democratic governors are embracing diverse energy sources including natural gas alongside renewables and nuclear power, departing from stricter environmental positions in previous election cycles. However, this trend is inconsistent nationwide, with some Democratic candidates facing primary opposition for embracing fossil fuels.
Data center expansion has become a particularly contentious issue, with public concern linking the facilities to rising electricity rates. Polling data indicates that nearly half of Americans expect data center energy costs to become a campaign issue. In a 2026 Pew Research Center survey, 38% of respondents characterized overall data center impact on home energy costs as mostly negative, compared to 6% viewing it positively. Republicans generally view data centers more favorably as economic development vehicles, while Democrats express greater skepticism. Evidence from recent electoral successes suggests that opposing data center construction resonates with voters, with Democratic candidates in Virginia and New Jersey gaining traction through tough stances on facility development. Candidates in multiple states, including Texas, Utah, Florida, and Maryland, are proposing restrictions, transparency requirements, or moratoriums on data center projects, reflecting broad electoral pressure on the issue.
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