The results of the November election may have seemed discouraging to those concerned about climate change, with President-elect Donald Trump winning the popular vote while promising to reverse key climate legislation. However, a closer look at the data reveals a more nuanced picture.
Exit polls showed that more Americans than ever before prioritized climate change in this election. In fact, a collaboration between Fox News and the Associated Press found that 7 percent of voters identified climate change as the most important issue facing the country, nearly doubling the percentage from the previous election. This placed climate change as the fifth-most chosen issue out of nine listed.
Nathaniel Stinnett, founder and executive director of the Environmental Voter Project, noted that climate voters are wielding more political power than ever before. Among voters who considered climate change their top issue, the majority supported Kamala Harris, with only 9 percent choosing Trump.
Despite climate change not being a top issue for the majority of Americans, it is clear that many still care deeply about the environment. Environmental initiatives saw success across the country, with voters in California allocating $10 billion towards climate prevention and resilience. In Washington state, a ballot measure to repeal the state’s Climate Commitment Act failed, and nature conservation funding initiatives in Louisiana and South Carolina also received public support.
While issues like the economy, abortion, and immigration may have influenced voters in the presidential race, down-ballot candidates in battleground states that swung to Trump, such as Arizona, Nevada, Wisconsin, and Michigan, appeared to benefit from voters’ climate concerns. Incoming Democratic senators in these states, such as Ruben Gallego, Jacky Rosen, and Tammy Baldwin, received strong support from voters prioritizing climate change.
Early voting data in Arizona and Nevada further highlighted the impact of environmentalists, with their turnout helping to secure slim margins of victory for Democratic candidates. For example, Gallego won his Senate seat by approximately 80,000 votes, a significant portion of which came from early ballots cast by voters prioritizing environmental issues.
In conclusion, while the presidential election may not have centered on climate change, the data suggests that American voters are increasingly prioritizing environmental issues and supporting candidates who advocate for climate action. In Nevada, the organization found a similar ratio between early climate-first voters and the number of votes Rosen won by. This highlights the growing importance of climate action in political decision-making. The impact of climate change is becoming more evident, and voters are recognizing the need for elected officials who prioritize environmental issues.
Moving on to Michigan, where economic anxieties clashed with climate action, Democrat Elissa Slotkin emerged victorious in a tight race against Republican Mike Rogers. Rogers campaigned against Slotkin’s support for the state’s electric vehicle industry, spending millions on attack ads. Despite this, Slotkin’s victory shows that voters are increasingly valuing candidates who prioritize clean energy and sustainable practices.
Lori Lodes, the executive director of Climate Power, emphasized the political consequences of neglecting people’s livelihoods. She believes that the shift towards clean energy technologies, such as electric vehicles, will continue to gain momentum across both red and blue states. Investments in clean energy have tangible impacts on communities, bridging the gap between political ideologies.
The trend of bipartisan support for climate action is evident in recent legislative efforts. Even during Trump’s presidency, a significant number of state-level bills aimed at reducing carbon emissions passed through Republican-controlled legislatures. Additionally, a group of House Republicans voiced their support for maintaining clean energy tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act, signaling a broader shift towards sustainability.
David Kieve, president of Environmental Defense Fund Action, stressed the importance of bipartisan collaboration in achieving long-term climate progress. He advocates for a more unified approach to environmental issues, emphasizing the need to move away from the divisive political climate of recent years.
Overall, the examples from Nevada and Michigan demonstrate the increasing influence of climate action on electoral outcomes. As more voters prioritize environmental issues, politicians are being held accountable for their stance on sustainability. The push for bipartisan support for clean energy initiatives reflects a growing consensus on the urgency of addressing climate change.
