This is our dedicated 2026 US midterm election coverage page. This is not to be confused with 2026 US midterm election data page.
To find your way round this page, use the below hyperlinked index.
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About this page
On this page you can follow all our coverage of the 2026 US midterm elections. Explore the political contest for control of Congress and the policies, issues and developments examined in a climate, energy and sustainability lens shaping America’s political future.
This page will also link to the relevant midterm election liveblog.
2026 midterm elections explainer: What’s at stake on climate, energy and sustainability
The US midterm elections on 3 November 2026 will be an important test of the country’s political direction, with all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 Senate seats being contested. The results will determine which party controls Congress for the remainder of Donald Trump’s presidency, shaping the political environment for legislation, government spending and oversight.
Beyond the battle for congressional control, the elections could have significant implications for US climate and energy policy. Decisions made in Washington influence everything from fossil fuel production and environmental regulation to renewable energy investment, electricity infrastructure and emissions reduction.
State-level contests are also important. Governors, state legislatures and regulators can influence energy markets, electricity costs, clean-energy deployment and environmental protections, sometimes pursuing policies that differ considerably from those of the federal government.
The outcome will matter beyond America’s borders, too. As one of the world’s largest energy producers and consumers, the United States plays an influential role in global energy markets, clean-technology investment and international climate cooperation.
Our coverage examines the candidates, political contests and policy debates shaping the elections, with particular attention to their implications for climate, energy and sustainability.
Latest coverage
Live: Climate and energy politics – live updates
In October 2026, Brazilian politician Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva secured a record fourth presidential term, signaling potential progress in climate action, particularly regarding Amazon deforestation. As the world approaches significant elections, such as the pivotal US midterms, political outcomes could greatly impact climate and energy policies globally.
The Oil Crunch: Analysis – Can Texas keep America’s energy future secure?
This installment of “The Oil Crunch” by Yagiz Sullu examines Texas’s critical role in US energy security amid challenges. While Texas is a leading energy producer, ageing infrastructure, rising electricity demand, and extreme weather events threaten its capability. Policymakers must implement strategies to address these vulnerabilities as Texas’s energy future is at stake.
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2026 US midterms: Analysis – James Talarico’s rise puts Texas climate politics in focus
James Talarico’s Texas legislative record includes proposed greenhouse gas reduction targets, environmental protection measures and work on electricity grid reliability. As he campaigns for the US Senate, his energy platform places greater emphasis on affordability, reliability and an all-of-the-above strategy. We examine what has changed in his climate agenda and what remains.
Updates
Friday 30th of October
One of the midterm elections that has not gotten much publicity, at least outside the US, is the Texas election for railroad commissioner.
It is a slightly misleading title, as the person is responsible for regulating the oil and gas industry in the state.
Bo French is the Republican candidate, and the largest donations for the race have come from the oil and gas industry. He is up against Democrat Jon Rosenthal, an oil field engineer who currently serves in the lower house of the Texas Legislature, the Texas House of Representatives.
Several Texas news organisations have endorsed Rosenthal, including the Houston Chronicle and Dallas Morning-Post.
While the current Texas Governor Greg Abbott, the current and previous Texas railroad commissioner, the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers and the Texas Oil and Gas Association.
If elected, Rosenthal, who has described himself as a ‘drill, baby, drill ‘ Democrat, has pledged to expand the budget of the role so it can retain employees, address unplugged wells and manage oil field wastewater.
Polling for the position is tight, with French slightly ahead, but within the margin of error.
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Key competitive climate, energy and sustainability races
The 2026 US midterm elections will shape federal and state decisions on energy production, electricity costs, clean-energy deployment, environmental regulation and climate policy. This section tracks selected competitive races where the candidates’ documented positions could have different implications for these areas.
Races are selected using established election ratings, the relevance of climate and sustainability issues, and the availability of meaningful policy differences between candidates. The selection is not a forecast of election outcomes or a ranking of candidates.
Election date: 3 November 2026 · Competitiveness ratings and candidate positions are dated and updated as new evidence becomes available.
1. US Senate races
The US Senate has a central role in federal legislation, energy and environmental regulation, appointments and international climate policy. This dataset highlights competitive Senate races where candidates’ documented positions on climate science, fossil fuels, clean energy or related sustainability issues differ in potentially significant ways.
The below selection prioritises races with a clear connection to energy or environmental policy. Competitiveness ratings are sourced separately from candidate positions and are updated as ratings change.
| Race | Competitiveness to record | Key issue | Candidates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Toss Up — Cook rating, dated 6 Oct | Oil and gas, electricity infrastructure, energy affordability and Arctic development | Dan Sullivan (R) / Mary Peltola (D) |
| Ohio | Data centres, electricity demand, utility costs and energy development | Jon Husted (R) / Sherrod Brown (D) | |
| Michigan | Electricity costs, grid investment, clean energy and manufacturing | Mike Rogers (R) / Abdul El-Sayed (D) | |
| Texas | Oil and gas, renewables, grid reliability and climate resilience | Ken Paxton (R) / James Talarico (D) | |
| Iowa | Renewable energy, agriculture, biofuels and energy prices | Ashley Hinson (R) / Josh Turek (D) | |
| Kansas | Toss Up — Cook update, 6 Oct | Oil and gas, renewable energy, agriculture and energy costs | Roger Marshall (R) / Adam Hamilton (D) |
| Maine | Offshore wind, fisheries, conservation and energy affordability | Susan Collins (R) / Troy Jackson (D) | |
| New Hampshire | Lean Democrat — Cook update, 6 Oct | Clean energy, conservation and energy affordability | John E. Sununu (R) / Chris Pappas (D) |
The latest Cook changes confirm Kansas as Toss Up and New Hampshire as Lean Democrat; the other entries should be checked against the live Senate ratings page on the day the dataset is published.
2. US House races
House elections can bring national energy and climate debates into sharper focus through local issues such as electricity prices, data-centre development, water resources, industrial policy and environmental protection.
This dataset selects competitive congressional districts where a clear sustainability connection can be established and where the candidates’ records or stated policies offer a meaningful comparison.
| Race | Competitiveness to record | Key issue | Candidates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania-08 | Toss Up in current competitive-race listings | Data centres, electricity demand and local oversight | Rob Bresnahan (R) / Paige Cognetti (D) |
| Ohio-07 | Toss Up in current competitive-race listings | Energy and environmental policy | Max Miller (R) / Brian Poindexter (D) |
| Ohio-09 | Toss Up in current competitive-race listings | Lake Erie, agriculture, industry and environmental policy | Marcy Kaptur (D) / Derek Merrin (R) |
| New Hampshire-01 | Recheck rating and nominees | Energy, conservation and environmental regulation | Stefany Shaheen (D) / Anthony DiLorenzo (R) |
| New York-04 | Recheck rating and nominees | Coastal resilience, water and environmental policy | Laura Gillen (D) / Jeanine Driscoll (R) |
3. Gubernatorial races
Governors can influence state-level energy development, electricity policy, environmental regulation, water management, transport and the implementation of climate-related programmes. This dataset follows competitive gubernatorial contests where the candidates’ documented positions could shape state sustainability policy.
The focus is on the policy responsibilities of state government, rather than simply whether a candidate identifies as pro- or anti-climate action. Competitiveness is assessed separately from the candidates’ views and records.
| Race | Competitiveness | Key sustainability issue | Candidates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Governor — Alaska | Toss Up | Oil and gas, electricity infrastructure, resource development | Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (D) / Bernadette Wilson (R), with other candidates also to be considered |
| Governor — Georgia | Toss Up | Data centres, electricity demand and energy infrastructure | Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) / Rick Jackson (R) |
| Governor — Nevada | Toss Up | Clean energy, water, public lands and electricity costs | Aaron Ford (D) / Joe Lombardo (R) |
| Governor — Ohio | Toss Up | Data centres, electricity costs, fracking and environmental protection | Amy Acton (D) / Vivek Ramaswamy (R) |
| Governor — Wisconsin | Toss Up | Clean energy, data centres and electricity affordability | David Crowley (D) / Tom Tiffany (R) |
| Governor — Arizona | Lean Democrat | Water security, energy infrastructure and climate resilience | Katie Hobbs (D) / Andy Biggs (R) |
| Governor — Iowa | Lean Democrat | Agriculture, water quality, renewables and land use | Rob Sand (D) / Zach Lahn (R) |
| Governor — Michigan | Lean Democrat | Clean energy, Great Lakes protection, data centres and electricity bills | Jocelyn Benson (D) / John James (R) |
| Governor — Kansas | Lean Republican | Agriculture, energy production, renewables and water | Cindy Holscher (D) / Ty Masterson (R) |
National climate-specific polling data
| Indicator | Result | Population | Survey period | Survey source and context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prefer candidate supporting action on global warming | 58% | Registered voters | 17–26 Apr 2026 | Yale/George Mason, Climate Change in the American Mind: Politics & Policy, Spring 2026. Nationally representative survey examining climate change as a voting issue and views on climate and energy policy. |
| Prefer candidate opposing action on global warming | 14% | Registered voters | 17–26 Apr 2026 | Same survey and methodology. |
| Want more renewable energy in future | 68% | Registered voters | 17–26 Apr 2026 | Yale/George Mason CCAM Spring 2026; national survey examining views on the future US energy mix. |
| Want less fossil fuel use in future | 56% | Registered voters | 17–26 Apr 2026 | Yale/George Mason CCAM Spring 2026; national survey examining transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. |
| Want politicians to discuss climate change and pollution more | 59% | Likely midterm voters in eight battleground states | Sept 2026 | Environmental Voter Project, Midterm Battleground State Poll. Survey focused specifically on political priorities and opinions about the clean-energy transition in eight 2026 battleground states. |
| Want politicians to discuss climate change and pollution less | 17% | Likely midterm voters in eight battleground states | Sept 2026 | Same Environmental Voter Project survey. |
| Say fighting climate change and lowering energy costs can happen together | 55% | US voters | Sept 2026 | Searchlight Institute, When it Comes to Energy Policy, Voters are Most Worried About Costs. Midterm-focused survey examining energy costs, climate policy, data centres and permitting. |
| Prioritise keeping energy costs low over fighting climate change | 56% | US voters | Sept 2026 | Same Searchlight Institute survey; respondents were asked to balance energy affordability against climate action. |
| Believe the US natural environment has gotten worse | 53% | US adult citizens | 17–20 June 2026 | YouGov, Environment and Climate Change survey. Respondents were asked whether the natural environment in the US had gotten better or worse in recent years. |
| Say protecting the environment is very important | [see note below] | US adult citizens | 17–20 June 2026 | YouGov, Environment and Climate Change survey. Respondents were asked directly how important protecting the environment is to them. |
| Say stricter environmental standards would help the US economy | 47% | US adult citizens | 17–20 June 2026 | YouGov, Environment and Climate Change survey. Respondents were asked whether stricter environmental standards would help or hurt the US economy. |