Rising utility bills have become a central issue for Democrats in the 2026 midterm elections. The party has invested heavily in political advertisements focusing on energy costs. According to AdImpact data analyzed by Climate Power, more than $191 million was spent on ads addressing utility and energy expenses in the first nine months of 2026. This includes over $138 million spent in the third quarter alone.
The majority of this spending originated from Democrats, targeting battleground states deemed crucial for the 2026 midterm elections. The election is characterized by themes of affordability and increased living costs. Democrats are the ones listening, and they’re putting their message about lowering costs in front of voters because they know it resonates,
said Climate Power Spokesperson Marcus W. Robinson.
A New Midterm Strategy
To assess the prominence of utility costs in the 2026 campaigns, Climate Power examined AdImpact data and transcripts for terms such as “utility bill,” “electric bill,” and “electricity bill.” Their findings covered ads in House, Senate, and governor races on broadcast TV, cable TV, and digital platforms from January 1 onward. Results indicate increasing resource allocation to the issue as elections draw near. Spending rose from $25.5 million in the first quarter to $47.4 million in the second, reaching $138.5 million in the third quarter.
Climate Power reported that the third-quarter spending was distributed across 1,904 distinct ads and more than 600,000 airings between July 1 and September 30. An additional $96.3 million has been allocated from October 1 to October 16 over nearly 300,000 airings. Democrats accounted for 70 percent of the utility-related ad spending in the third quarter. Much of the spending concentrated on key battleground states like Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Texas. Overall, 11 states comprised over 60 percent of utility-focused ad spending since July. Battleground Democratic candidates have led the charge on ads highlighting soaring utility costs because they understand that families are talking about this issue at the kitchen table,
Robinson told Newsweek.
Where Utility Bills Are Highest
The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest inflation report highlights a 4.4 percent increase in electricity costs over the 12 months leading to September, outpacing the general inflation rate of 3.7 percent. ElectricChoice analysis shows that the average residential electricity rate in the U.S. stands at 18.34¢ per kilowatt-hour, marking a 5 percent year-over-year rise.
Based on average monthly electricity bills, the top 10 states with the highest costs are ranked as follows:
- Hawaii, $268
- California, $190
- Alabama, $182
- New York, $174
- Texas, $173
- Massachusetts, $172
- Missouri, $172
- New Hampshire, $172
- Delaware, $171
- Georgia, $171
Focus on Cost Concerns Over Climate Change
Polls indicate that voters consider energy bills among their chief affordability concerns. A Searchlight Institute survey in mid-September involving 1,498 likely voters found that 56 percent prioritized lowering costs over combating climate change. Additionally, 96 percent reported their electricity bill had either increased or remained constant over the past year.
Polling by Climate Power in January, conducted by Hart Research with 2,710 registered voters, showed that 84 percent were worried about their electricity bills, with 42 percent of swing voters “very” concerned.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Dan Orton and Tony Phillips.
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