Midterm Candidates Shift Climate Messaging Ahead of 2026 Election

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a law in May 2024 that removed the phrase “climate change” from state statutes, a move that sparked immediate outrage from Democrats. Within the following months, the political response shifted: many liberal politicians began to silence the issue, and after Donald Trump’s 2024 election, references to the climate crisis largely vanished from Democratic rhetoric. As the 2026 midterm elections loom, this retreat—termed “climate‑hushing”—continues to shape how candidates address environmental concerns on the campaign trail.

Experts attribute the trend to perceived shortcomings in President Biden’s climate agenda. Daniel Aldana Cohen, an assistant sociology professor at the University of California, Berkeley, notes that green‑job creation and housing investments failed to meet the expectations of the climate movement, while consumer incentives skewed toward wealthier households. Moreover, Democrats have struggled to communicate their achievements effectively, and the administration has rolled back many Biden‑era clean‑energy incentives and regulations, further dampening the political appetite for climate discourse.

The ongoing climate‑hushing reflects a broader recalibration of political messaging around environmental policy. As candidates navigate the 2026 electoral landscape, the emphasis on climate issues remains muted, suggesting that the current administration’s retreat from robust climate action may continue to influence the national conversation for the foreseeable future.