Democrats Focus on Utility Costs in 2026 Midterms

Soaring utility bills have become a focal point for Democrats in the 2026 midterm elections. The party has invested heavily in spotlighting this issue as part of the affordability debate. Data from AdImpact, analyzed by the advocacy group Climate Power and shared with Newsweek, reveals over $191 million spent on political ads related to utility and energy bills in the first nine months of 2026. This includes over $138 million in the third quarter alone.

Democrats have primarily funded these ads, targeting battleground states crucial to the 2026 midterms. These elections have centered around themes of affordability and the rising cost of living. Marcus W. Robinson, a spokesperson for Climate Power, stated that “Democrats are the ones listening, and they’re putting their message about lowering costs in front of voters because they know it resonates.”

A New Midterm Focus

Climate Power examined AdImpact data and transcripts to assess the prominence of utility costs in midterm campaigns. Terms like “utility bill,” “electric bill,” and “electricity bill” were searched among House, Senate, and governor races. The data covers various ads aired on broadcast TV, cable TV, and digital video from January 1. Spending on this issue increased from $25.5 million in Q1 to $47.4 million in Q2, reaching $138.5 million in Q3.

The third quarter spending involved 1,904 distinct ads with over 600,000 airings between July and September. Additionally, $96.3 million was spent from October 1 to October 16 across nearly 300,000 airings. Democrats accounted for 70 percent of the utility-related ad spending in Q3, focusing on key battleground states like Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Texas. According to Climate Power, just 11 states represented over 60 percent of total spending on utility-focused ads since July.

Rising Utility Costs

The latest Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) inflation report shows a 4.4 percent rise in electricity costs over the 12 months to September, surpassing the overall inflation rate of 3.7 percent. As of October, ElectricChoice reported the average U.S. residential electricity rate at 18.34¢ per kilowatt-hour, a 5 percent increase year-over-year.

The states with the highest average monthly electricity bills are:

• Hawaii: $268
• California: $190
• Alabama: $182
• New York: $174
• Texas: $173
• Massachusetts: $172
• Missouri: $172
• New Hampshire: $172
• Delaware: $171
• Georgia: $171

Perceived Priorities

Polls indicate energy bills are a major concern for voters’ affordability. A mid-September survey by the Searchlight Institute found that 56 percent of 1,498 likely voters prioritized lowering costs over combating climate change. Furthermore, 96 percent reported their electricity bill had stayed the same or risen in the past year.

In January, Hart Research conducted polling commissioned by Climate Power among 2,710 registered voters. The polling found that 84 percent were concerned about their electricity bills, with 42 percent of swing voters expressing significant concern.

Contact Newsweek editors Dan Orton and Tony Phillips for more information.

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