Key facts
- Democrats are de-emphasizing climate change in current campaigns, a phenomenon termed 'climate hushing.'
- Voter priorities have shifted towards issues like affordability and confronting Donald Trump.
- A Democratic think tank suggested not mentioning climate change to voters.
- Scientists forecast 2026 may be the hottest year on record.
- Despite the shift, a majority of Democrats still consider climate change a major problem.
Climate change, once a central theme for Democrats, has been largely sidelined in current election campaigns, a phenomenon some researchers are calling 'climate hushing.' While scientists warn of record-breaking global temperatures, political strategists and voter priorities have shifted towards issues like economic affordability and confronting President Donald Trump.
Charles Hughes, a college student in Massachusetts, noted that global warming rarely comes up as a top issue, a stark contrast to the 2020 Democratic primaries when climate change was a constant topic used to mobilize young voters. The Searchlight Institute, a Democratic think tank, has even advised the party to stop mentioning climate change, suggesting it is not a priority for voters. Similarly, the Sunrise Movement, a prominent youth climate advocacy group, has broadened its mission to a more general fight against 'fascism.'
This shift is evident in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate in Massachusetts, where incumbent Ed Markey is focusing on other issues to appeal to voters, despite his past sponsorship of the Green New Deal. Veteran Democratic strategist Mary Anne Marsh commented that the current focus is on 'who's best to fight,' with all other issues falling under that umbrella.
Despite the quiet in political discourse, the planet continues to warm, with forecasts suggesting 2026 could be the hottest year on record. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse criticized the de-emphasis on climate as a strategic 'blunder,' arguing that climate change's impact on economics, home insurance, and property values makes it a powerful argument. However, a Pew Research Center poll indicates that while a majority of Democrats still consider climate change a significant problem, it often ranks below inflation and healthcare affordability in voter priorities.
McKenzie Wilson of Blue Rose Research noted that in an environment of economic discontent, it is challenging to focus on long-term issues. Political scientist Leah Stokes expressed dismay at politicians deprioritizing the accelerating climate crisis.