Blue Leaders in Red States

   What can we expect if Dems flip the governorships in red states?

How much would it matter if Democrats flip the governorships in Red States?  States are significant players in energy and climate policy, so the answer matters.  Right now, the Democrats have 50/50 odds in Georgia and Ohio, and maybe better than 50/50 in Alaska and Iowa.  Governors are only one branch of state government, which obviously limits their sway.  Still, like Presidents, they have some real maneuvering room.

To  get some sense of the possibilities, I took a look at five states with Republican legislatures and Democratic governors.  The dynamics played out differently in each one.  One important common feature is that their seats weren’t filled by Republican opponents who would likely have moved their states in the opposite direction.

Laura Kelly in Kansas has had probably the least leverage. It’s remarkable that she was able to win election and then reelection at all, given the staunchly Republican political landscape.  She did have one advantage in the energy space: Kansas is a major source of wind energy.    Kelly has had some impact.  She’s regularly supported wind and solar. She pushed for more transmission lines and used federal funding to strengthen grid resilience.  She has also made aquifer protection a major focus, which will be important as climate change takes hold.

The other Democratic governor in a hardline Republican state is Andy Beshear in Kentucky.  Although Kentucky is a coal producer and doesn’t have the same renewable capacity as Kansas, Beshear has made some progress, perhaps because his personal popularity is so high in the state.  He has opposed the Trump Administration’s effort to roll back emissions restrictions on power plants.  He has also applauded the construction of new battery manufacturing plants and the state’s success in capping old oil wells.

Three other states are not as reliably Republican in national contests but have Republican legislatures and a tradition of Republican control.  In Arizona, Katie Hobbs has directed state agencies to streamline permitting for energy projects and has included modest funding for appliance efficiency, grid efficiency, and renewables in the state budget.  She has also stressed water security and wildfire/conservation efforts. She  appointed the nation’s first State Heat Officer.

The two other states in this category are Wisconsin and North Carolina. In Wisconsin, Tony Evers set a goal of a 100% carbon free grid by 2050. He has also adopted a clean energy plan and required state agencies to phase out gas and diesel vehicles. He joined the U.S. climate alliance, a group of states committed to the Paris Agreement. He has fought federal efforts to keep older coal-fired power plants open. In North Carolina, Josh Stein has vetoed  anti-environmental bills passed by the GOP legislature. He has subsidized energy efficiency improvements  and has positioned clean energy as a source of growth for the state. He has also appointed a Climate and Energy Advisor.

It’s clear from this survey that there’s no one path for Democratic governors in Red States.  Variables include their base of political support and the overall strength of Democrats in the state. A state’s existing energy mix is also important. That’s only to be expected.  Differences in the powers of the governor’s office in various states may also be important. And of course, climate and clean energy are more of a personal priority for some Democrats than others.

As this survey indicates, Democratic governors in Red States can’t perform miracles.  They can push policy toward renewable energy and climate resilience to a certain extent. And unlike the Republicans who would otherwise fill their seats, they aren’t actively pushing in the opposite direction.  None of them are in a position adopt the kinds of aggressive policies we see on the coasts.  Nonetheless, their cumulative effect on policy can be significant.

2026 Elections, climate change policy, Climate Politics, energy policy, environmental politics, state governments, states