Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress and expanded their share of governorships in Tuesday’s elections, as voters expressed anger over high prices, corruption and the rapid spread of data centers. The outcome gives the party greater ability to scrutinize President Donald Trump’s administration, though it will not have enough seats to pass legislation without Republican support.
Energy costs and the influence of major industries featured prominently in campaigns across the country. Democrats linked higher gasoline and electricity bills to Republican ties with oil and utility companies, technology firms and insurers. Environmental advocates said the results could create momentum for renewed climate and energy policy, even though candidates rarely emphasized those issues by name.
Democrats won Senate races in Ohio, South Carolina and Texas, states Trump carried by double-digit margins two years earlier. In Texas, James Talarico defeated Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, becoming the first Democrat elected to represent the state in the Senate in 33 years. Talarico’s campaign made technology-industry spending and the expansion of large computing facilities central issues.
Data centers also figured in Ohio, where Sherrod Brown returned to the Senate after defeating Republican Jon Husted. Brown criticized Husted’s support for tax breaks and other policies that attracted data center development to the state. A Wall Street Journal poll found that 56 percent of voters considered data centers a crucial or major factor in their congressional choices.
Democrats also made gains in state government. They retained governorships in Arizona, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, and flipped Iowa, Georgia, Ohio and Texas. In Texas, Gina Hinojosa is set to become the state’s first Democratic governor since Ann Richards left office in 1995. Democrats also won both open seats on Georgia’s Public Service Commission, giving them a 3-2 majority on the body that regulates utilities.
That state-level control may matter for energy policy as Washington enters a period of divided government. Governors and legislatures could pursue measures on climate and energy even where federal legislation is blocked. In Georgia, the new commission majority could address consumer concerns about rising utility bills.
The election results also set up a stronger oversight role for Democrats in the House. Party leaders have indicated they plan to question Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin and other officials about cuts to staffing and scientific investment. Investigations are also expected to examine the technology industry’s growing influence, including its role in expanding data center infrastructure.
Environmental groups tied voter frustration to the cost of energy and the effects of federal policy. David Kieve, president of EDF Action, said families understood that restricting clean energy could push bills higher. Meanwhile, polling in Iowa, Ohio and Texas found more voters concerned about the effects of Republican energy policies on inflation than about Democratic climate proposals.
Despite their gains, Democrats cannot pass legislation without Republican votes, because they did not secure a veto-proof majority. Their immediate leverage in Washington will therefore center on oversight, while state victories give the party additional opportunities to respond to concerns about energy costs and data center growth.
Sources: Inside Climate News.