The dominant narrative surrounding the Democratic victory in the US midterm elections has focused on President Donald Trump's controversies and voters' concerns about the rising cost of living. However, experts say a new class of Democrats has successfully merged economic populism with climate action to win over voters. This approach, dubbed "green economic populism," has helped candidates like Senators Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan and Troy Jackson in Maine.
A new report by the Center for Climate Integrity (CCI) found that candidates who integrated climate action into a broader economic populist platform won 39 of 56 congressional elections, including six of seven Senate seats. These candidates, mostly Democrats, linked the climate crisis to the rising cost of living by identifying common culprits such as public utilities, fossil fuel companies, and corporate interests. They proposed policies that would reduce costs by investing in clean energy and green infrastructure.
The report highlighted several candidates who ran on a green economic populist platform, including Angie Nixon in Florida, Claire Valdez in New York, and Peggy Flanagan in Minnesota. Valdez, the first Native American woman to win a US House seat from New York, argued that reducing costs requires "taking back power from elites" and investing in affordable clean energy and union-built green infrastructure. Nixon lost her congressional bid but won a Democratic primary by linking climate change to broken housing insurance markets.
The CCI report also noted that several incumbent Democrats who repelled GOP challengers ran on a green economic populist platform, including Representative Ro Khanna of California and Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts. Despite these gains, climate and energy policy remains a challenge for Democrats. The Senate recently voted on a permitting reform bill that divided the Democratic caucus, with some lawmakers expressing concerns about weakening environmental laws.
Climate policy experts like Bigger argue that policymakers can accelerate the development of clean energy projects by properly funding federal agencies responsible for permitting. Bigger suggested that reducing staff and budget cuts imposed during the Trump administration would help streamline the permitting process. The report also found that voters are increasingly linking the cost of living crisis to climate change, with 45 of 46 local measures related to data centers opposing developers.
The green economic populist movement has been building for two decades at the intersection of climate action and labor movements. Environmental justice activists and union leaders have found common ground in advocating for a "just transition" away from fossil fuels. This coalition has influenced federal policy under the Biden administration, which has pushed for the development of clean energy infrastructure.
The midterm elections also saw significant action at the state level, with 21 initiatives restricting industry and 10 pro-industry initiatives failing. The reaction against the AI industry and data center construction was particularly pronounced, with 30 of 31 measures imposing restrictions passing while 15 pro-development measures failed. As the green economic populist movement continues to gain momentum, it is likely to shape the climate and energy policy agenda in the US.
Key points
- Green economic populism helped Democrats win 39 of 56 congressional races.
- Candidates linked climate action to economic concerns, identifying common culprits such as public utilities and fossil fuel companies.
- The movement has been building for two decades at the intersection of climate action and labor movements.
