Even as the Mississippi River withers from drought and Floridians struggle to recover from Hurricane Ian, the climate crisis is not a deciding issue in the final stretch of the U.S. midterm campaigns.
¡°Will it be an electoral force in the 2022 midterms? No,¡± says Danielle Deiseroth, lead climate strategist at the progressive research firm Data for Progress. ¡°The data shows that, and it¡¯s just the fact of where we are right now.¡± Instead, abortion, inflation and public safety are among voters¡¯ top priorities going into election day on Nov. 8.
Historically, climate change has not mattered much to American voters across the political spectrum. While it continues to remain a low priority for Republicans, recent election cycles show a shift is underway among Democrats, in part due to moderates¡¯ growing concern about the issue and increased political participation by younger voters who have only known a warming world.
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