YPCCC Insights on Climate Change and the 2026 U.S. Primaries

The document analyzes U.S. public opinion on climate change as a voting priority for the 2026 primaries, highlighting that 35% of registered voters view global warming as a 'very important' issue. It details voter preferences for candidates who support climate action, opposition to the reversal of the EPA's 'endangerment finding', and the perceived link between global warming and the cost of living.

• As of Fall 2025, 35% of registered voters consider global warming a "very important" issue for their vote in the 2026 Congressional elections, representing a 3 percentage point increase since 2014. This priority is highest among liberal Democrats (65%) and moderate/conservative Democrats (56%), while it is lowest among conservative Republicans (4%).
• Demographic groups most likely to prioritize global warming in the 2026 Congressional elections include Black (non-Hispanic/Latino) voters at 53%, urban voters at 49%, voters with annual household incomes below $50,000 at 41%, female voters at 40%, and Hispanic/Latino voters at 39%.
• A majority of registered voters (59%) prefer candidates who support action on global warming. Specifically, 95% of liberal Democrats and 82% of moderate/conservative Democrats hold this preference, compared to 42% of liberal/moderate Republicans and 21% of conservative Republicans.
• Despite the EPA overturning the "endangerment finding" in February 2026, 74% of registered voters support regulating carbon dioxide as a pollutant. Additionally, majorities oppose eliminating programs related to global warming, including 79% opposing the elimination of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and 65% opposing the prohibition of new offshore wind farms.
• There is a perceived connection between climate change and economic pressures, with 65% of registered voters believing that global warming is affecting the cost of living. This belief is strongest among liberal Democrats (88%) and moderate/conservative Democrats (77%).

APA

E., R., J., C., M., V., S., R., J., L., J., K., E., M., & A., L. (2026). YPCCC Insights on Climate Change and the 2026 U.S. Primaries. Center for Climate Change Communication. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/all/mason4c-insights-on-climate-change-and-the-2026-u-s-primaries/

Chicago

E., Richards,, Carman, J., Verner, M., Rosenthal, S., Low, J., Kotcher, J., Maibach, E., and Leiserowitz, A. YPCCC Insights on Climate Change and the 2026 U.S. Primaries. Center for Climate Change Communication, 2026. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/all/mason4c-insights-on-climate-change-and-the-2026-u-s-primaries/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=E. |first1=Richards, |last2=J. |first2=Carman, |last3=M. |first3=Verner, |last4=S. |first4=Rosenthal, |last5=J. |first5=Low, |last6=J. |first6=Kotcher, |last7=E. |first7=Maibach, |last8=A. |first8=Leiserowitz, |title=YPCCC Insights on Climate Change and the 2026 U.S. Primaries |publisher=Center for Climate Change Communication |date=2 April 2026 |url=https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/all/mason4c-insights-on-climate-change-and-the-2026-u-s-primaries/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{e2026ypccc, author = {E., Richards, and J., Carman, and M., Verner, and S., Rosenthal, and J., Low, and J., Kotcher, and E., Maibach, and A., Leiserowitz,}, title = {{YPCCC Insights on Climate Change and the 2026 U.S. Primaries}}, institution = {Center for Climate Change Communication}, year = {2026}, month = apr, url = {https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/all/mason4c-insights-on-climate-change-and-the-2026-u-s-primaries/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }