APPLETON, Wis. — Democratic candidates rode a wave of voter frustration over skyrocketing electricity bills to key victories in this week's elections in New Jersey, Virginia, and Georgia, marking a potential shift in how energy policy influences American politics. With promises to freeze rate hikes, expand renewable energy, and make big tech pay its fair share, the newly elected officials now face the daunting task of turning campaign rhetoric into tangible relief for struggling households.
In New Jersey, Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill campaigned aggressively on the issue, vowing to declare a state of emergency and immediately freeze electricity rate increases that have spiked as much as 20 percent this summer, according to reports from Heatmap. Sherrill's win came amid widespread discontent, as one in three U.S. households reported forgoing necessities like food or medicine to pay energy bills in 2024, up from one in five in a similar 2015 federal survey, per U.S. Census data.
Virginia voters similarly propelled Abigail Spanberger to the governor's mansion, where she pledged to boost electricity generation through nuclear power, offshore wind, and solar projects while ensuring data centers contribute more equitably to grid costs. Residential electricity costs in Virginia rose about 3 percent between May 2024 and 2025, below the national average of 6.5 percent, but concerns have mounted over the state's concentration of data centers—the highest in the world—which are driving up demand amid the AI boom.
In Georgia, the election of two new Democratic utility commissioners to the previously all-Republican Public Service Commission signals a 'seismic change,' as described by Charles Hua, executive director of the nonprofit consumer advocacy group PowerLines. The commission, which sets electricity rates and oversees utilities, will now grapple with the fallout from projects like the Vogtle nuclear reactors, which came online in 2023 and 2024 after construction delays and cost overruns totaling about $20 billion since work began in 2009.
Consumers in Georgia have borne the brunt of those overruns through higher utility bills, Reuters reported. Hua, in an election day press release, stated, 'Consumers have sent a clear message: they are paying attention and will hold public officials accountable for decisions that impact their utility bills.' He later added that the Georgia results reflect 'a new politics of electricity in America.'
The surge in electricity demand stems from multiple factors, including the rapid growth of AI data centers, the adoption of electric vehicles, and a resurgence in domestic manufacturing. After more than a decade of flat demand, utilities are now scrambling to upgrade aging infrastructure, with costs often passed directly to consumers via across-the-board fees, regardless of usage or income.
Tony Reames, a professor of environmental justice at the University of Michigan and director of the Urban Energy Justice Lab—who previously held senior roles in the U.S. Department of Energy under President Joe Biden—pointed to data centers as a key culprit. 'Now, we have a bogey man — data centers who are these large energy users who are coming in and in many states getting sweetheart deals on wholesale electricity prices when regular consumers don’t have that type of sway,' Reames said.
Republican opponents in these races attributed rising costs to environmental regulations they claimed were restricting fossil fuel generation. However, solar and wind have emerged as the cheapest sources of new electricity, comprising a majority of planned new capacity in the U.S., according to industry data. Despite this, Democrats' plans face significant obstacles, including potential legal challenges to rate freezes and federal policies under the incoming Trump administration.
Experts question how Sherrill could implement a rate freeze, as such decisions typically fall to independent regulatory bodies and wholesale auctions. Hua told Barron’s that the move could invite lawsuits. Meanwhile, renewable initiatives like offshore wind are under threat; the Trump administration has issued stop-work orders on projects and Republican lawmakers have moved to eliminate tax credits for solar and wind.
Nuclear energy, touted by Spanberger as a reliable 24/7 option for data centers, enjoys bipartisan support but is hampered by long timelines. Next-generation reactors remain in design or demonstration phases, with years of licensing ahead, though the Trump team's deregulatory push aims to accelerate this, raising safety concerns among some critics.
Georgia's Vogtle experience underscores the risks: after starting in 2009, the units activated in 2023 and 2024, ballooning from initial budgets by roughly $20 billion, with ratepayers footing the bill.
Beyond generation, experts advocate for broader reforms to address energy insecurity, a term for households forced into 'heat or eat' dilemmas. Reames suggested income-based payment plans, special rates for multifamily housing, and requiring data centers to fund community benefits agreements. These could support shared solar projects to lower bills and mitigate local impacts.
'The focus on energy affordability that was in this last election should provide the opportunity for us to have a more innovative conversation about how we support households that are suffering from energy poverty,' Reames said.
Other drivers of rate hikes include elevated methane gas prices following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which increased U.S. exports to Europe, and the toll of extreme weather on grids. Utilities are investing heavily in new power lines and upgrades to aging systems, costs that compound the burden on consumers.
As Democrats assume power in these states, the path forward involves navigating a complex web of regulatory, legal, and economic challenges. Success could reshape national energy debates, but failure risks alienating the very voters who propelled them to victory amid ongoing concerns over utility affordability.
Looking ahead, advocates like Hua emphasize the need for accountability. With electricity policy now a proven electoral force, the coming months will test whether these wins translate into lower bills or become mired in the intricacies of infrastructure and politics.