Survey Finds Black Voters Rank Climate Low

A poll of registered voters in seven swing states shows cost of living and energy prices outweigh climate change as voter priorities.

Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Utilities

Survey Finds Black Voters Rank Climate Low

Live Poll

Do rising costs matter more to you than climate policy when voting?

A survey of registered voters in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, and Pennsylvania found that only 9 percent of Black voters ranked climate change among their top three motivating issues. Cost of living was selected by 74 percent of Black registered voters as a top three issue.

Why it matters

The findings suggest that candidates seeking support from Black and Latino voters in swing states may need to frame climate and energy policy around household costs rather than environmental concerns alone. Pollsters and advocacy groups use such data to shape messaging for the next election cycle.

In the seven-state survey, 52 percent of Black voters expect data centers to raise consumer electricity costs even if companies pay for their own power. The poll does not state what share of Latino voters held the same expectation.

The players

HIT Strategies

HIT Strategies is a polling and research firm that conducted the survey of registered voters in seven swing states.

League of Conservation Voters

The League of Conservation Voters is a national environmental advocacy organization that works to elect pro-environment candidates.

Climate Equity Action Fund

The Climate Equity Action Fund is an organization that co-sponsored the survey on climate and voter priorities.

The details

The poll was conducted by HIT Strategies for the Climate Equity Action Fund and the League of Conservation Voters, with Erica Tebbs serving as a senior analyst at the firm. Bill Hairston, national field director for the League of Conservation Voters, is among those associated with the findings, which also highlight that the survey covered registered voters across the seven states.

- Article on the survey findings was published on October 31, 2026.

Market Landscape

Electric utility rate increases and data center load growth have made energy prices a central political issue in several states. The survey's findings suggest that climate messaging competes with affordability messaging in the same electorate.

For households in swing states, rising electricity bills tied to data center demand could make energy costs a more direct part of monthly budgets. Voters weighing candidates may find that energy pricing plans affect their bills more than climate targets do.

The takeaway

Energy affordability is emerging as the leading entry point for environmental policy among voters of color. Messages that connect climate action to lower bills may resonate more than those centered on pollution alone.