Following a midterm election that saw Democrats gain control of both the Senate and the House, a shift in the approach to climate action is anticipated, although aggressive policy changes may be limited by the executive branch's veto power. Experts suggest that the next two years could see Democrats focusing on reinstating climate funding and refining environmental legislation.
Despite President Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and rollbacks of environmental regulations during his previous term, Democrats' strengthened position in Congress may provide a "stronger hand to play," according to Geoffrey Henderson, assistant professor of environmental policy and planning at the University of Michigan. "Are we going to see ambitious climate action? The answer is no," said Ken Gillingham, professor of environmental and energy economics at the Yale School of the Environment. "We still have an executive branch with a veto power controlled by President Trump, and so anything that is done would have to make it through the veto."
One potential priority for Democrats is the reinstatement of billions of dollars in climate funding that the Trump administration withheld. Chellie Pingree, a Democratic representative from Maine who serves on the House Appropriations Committee, has indicated plans to push for the allocation of these funds.
Democrats also have the opportunity to influence permitting reform bills aimed at expediting energy projects. While these bills were likely to pass even before the election, they contained concessions that could weaken environmental laws like the National Environmental Policy Act. Henderson noted that Democrats can now "ask for a better deal" to strengthen these provisions.
Increased support for domestic battery manufacturing, a key component for meeting clean energy targets, is also anticipated. Gillingham suggested there would be bipartisan support for "onshoring" the supply chain for electric vehicles. He also indicated that Democrats might pursue "all of the above" energy policies, which typically balance clean energy development with concessions for oil and gas.
Democrats achieved trifectas—control of the House, Senate, and governorship—in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Nevada. In Pennsylvania, this opens the door to legislation regulating data centers, enabling community solar projects, and requiring utilities to store excess electricity.
The election demonstrated that energy affordability can be a central theme without making climate change a taboo subject. Bethany Patten, executive director of the MIT Climate Policy Center, stated that the results "create new opportunities and give some breathing room to bring climate back into the energy discussion, especially if those discussions can deliver both economic benefits and emissions reductions, particularly around electricity affordability, grid infrastructure, and clean-energy investment."
Henderson also pointed to the success of candidates like Florida Democrat Kathy Castor and Ohio Democrat Marcy Kaptur, who openly advocated for climate action. "Their victory suggests that being a vocal advocate for climate action is consistent with winning tough races, even in red states," he said. "Going forward, I think candidates should feel more empowered to talk about the issue."