What a historic 'blue wave' means for rural communities and the climate

Voters across party lines were particularly concerned with gas prices, the Iran war and food and energy costs leading up to the 2026 midterm elections. Such issues hit rural communities hard, with farmers unable to afford diesel, data centers being built in small towns and SNAP reductions.

 

Democratic candidates won the midterms in a sweeping number of states, reports Grist staff, including in typically red states like Ohio and South Carolina. “The sweep will have profound consequences for climate action in the United States, even with President Donald Trump still in the White House,” Grist staff writes. “Flipping control of Congress will allow the Democrats to hinder Trump’s numerous attempts to roll back federal climate policy.”

In Trump’s first two terms, Democrats could not curtail Republican climate proposals or the hollowing out of agencies, such as the United States Forest Service and FEMA. With Congress flipped, though, the party will be able to issue subpoenas, potentially impeach members of Trump's administration, and control must-pass funding bills like the Farm Bill. Grist staff writes that Trump will have to negotiate with the party to avoid a government shutdown.

Listed below are some highlights of the "blue wave" that will help rural areas the most:

• Asheville — devastated by Hurricane Helene and a lack of federal assistance — flipped the house blue. “In a rally held on the eve of the election, President Trump promised to deliver more hurricane aid money, but only if North Carolina elected Republicans.”

• House Democrats could make the administration spend money on climate by unfreezing President Biden’s 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.

• Texas elected a Democratic senator for the first time in nearly 40 years; he supports renewable energy while maintaining oil and gas jobs.

• Montana voted for a Democratic house seat. The candidate is anti-data center, pro-renewables.

• Democrats flipped Georgia’s utility commission, which will determine "how the state’s largest utility makes energy and how much customers pay for it."

• Statewide Democratic wins in transportation expect to raise money for public transport.

• Voters rejected adding a "right to natural gas" clause in Colorado’s constitution.