{
  "id": 8909286,
  "title": "Midterm Power Shifts Could Reshape State Climate and Energy Policies",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/midterm-power-shifts-could-reshape-state-climate-and-energy-policies",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-21T11:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Mother Jones",
    "slug": "mother-jones",
    "url": "https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/09/state-elections-midterms-power-shifts-trifectas-democrat-republican-climate-energy-policy/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Democrats are on the verge of securing trifectas in at least three states during this year's midterms, potentially reshaping climate and energy policies across the nation. A trifecta refers to a state where the governor and both chambers of the legislature are controlled by the same political party, often leading to significant legislative action. Democrats have been successful in states such as Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, New Mexico, and Virginia after gaining control. Currently, Republicans hold trifectas in 23 states, Democrats in 16, and 11 states are divided. Democrats have an edge heading into the elections, with a Republican president whose approval ratings are low and Democrats polling well on issues like consumer prices and healthcare. Bill Kramer, a senior figure at MultiState, a lobbying firm tracking state issues and elections, attributes this Democratic momentum to \"grassroots anger\" over various topics. However, this frustration is not necessarily partisan, with Republicans often bearing the blame when the incumbent party holds power. Caroline Spears, the executive director of Climate Cabinet, emphasizes that state trifectas can be instrumental in advancing clean energy initiatives. The outcome of the midterm elections hinges on just a few races, potentially determining whether Democrats secure five new trifectas or fall short. Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin are the most likely to flip from split control to Democratic trifectas. In Michigan, Democrats need to win the governor's race and add four seats to the House while maintaining their Senate majority. In Minnesota, Democrats control the governor's office and Senate and are in a 67-67 tie in the House. Wisconsin's new legislative maps, following a state Supreme Court ruling, have given Democrats a chance to gain majorities in the House and Senate. If Democrats gain trifectas in Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, it would be a significant breakthrough in advancing climate and clean energy policies. However, the path to victory in Arizona and Pennsylvania, while promising, is also challenging due to narrow margins and strong Republican positions.",
  "summary": "This story was originally published by the Inside Climate News and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. Democrats are poised to achieve trifectas—control of the governor’s office and both legislative chambers—in at least three states in this year’s midterm elections, and maybe even more. This matters because states play an outsize role in climate and energy […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}