The 2026 midterm elections are quickly approaching, with control of Congress up for grabs. While climate and the environment are not top issues for most voters, that doesn’t mean it can’t play a significant role in this year’s election. Millions of registered voters prioritize climate change as their No. 1 issue, and their influence in tight races could potentially sway the election.
In the battleground state of Iowa, water is on the ballot as voters grapple with contaminated waterways they fear are contributing to a cancer crisis. Iowa has been a conservative stronghold since 2016, so it’s a striking shift that two House seats, a Senate seat and the governorship are all hotly contested races. Incumbents have supported actions in Congress that threaten the state’s ability to further grow its significant wind energy, while also weakening water protections.