The Energy Election

The 2024 election will be discussed and studied for years to come, as it had several surprises throughout the election cycle as well as close races around the country. 

While there are still a few races yet to be called, a major theme of the election has emerged:   

This was the Energy Election. 

Economic Concerns 

Despite all the twists and turns this election cycle, it was evident that concerns about the economy weighed on the minds of voters.  

According to Gallup, 43% of Americans viewed economic issues as the nation’s most important problem. Let’s break down that data even further:  

    • This consists of 21% who say the economy in general is their top concern, and 14% who say that inflation and the high cost of living is their top concern.  
    • Overall, economic concerns more than doubled the next highest priority, which was immigration concerns. 
    • This was the highest the economy has ranked on voters’ minds in a presidential election year since 2012. 

Where Energy Comes In 

Of course, energy is inherent to any discussion about the economy – and polling shows it was a major concern for voters.  It is evident that voters were concerned about energy costs – and saw that American energy production was a critical part of addressing them. 

A poll taken less than a month before the election in the swing state of Pennsylvania revealed that nearly 8 in 10 Pennsylvania voters were concerned about the “availability of affordable energy in the United States.”  

Diving deeper, we see that 3 in 4 Pennsylvania voters agreed that building out natural gas infrastructure is important to address potential strains on the state’s electrical grid and to address energy costs in the Commonwealth. Only 1 in 10 disagreed with the need to build more natural gas infrastructure for the state.  

Pro-Energy Candidates Winning Across The Country  

In both the House and Senate, and across both parties, we see that candidates with pro-energy stances were victorious on election day. A few important highlights: 

Dave McCormick, Senate Candidate in Pennsylvania:    

Mr. McCormick ran on a pro-energy platform in the state that is the second biggest producer of natural gas in the country. “America must be energy independent — it’s good for our economy and our national security — and we can do that while simultaneously supporting Pennsylvania’s position as a leader in reducing emissions. We need market-driven solutions and an “all of the above” energy agenda,” noted McCormick’s campaign. McCormick won his race by 16,000 votes.  

Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, Congressman in Texas: 

Rep. Gonzalez, who represents Texas’ 34th district, was an early and vocal critic of the Biden administration’s LNG export approval freeze, and the only Democrat in the House to vote for the repeal of the methane tax. Earlier this year, Gonzalez wrote: “The best course of action for the Biden-Harris Administration is to continue approving new LNG exports to bolster a clear and growing need for global energy security. Furthermore, the Biden-Harris administration should recognize LNG as an economic asset that can undergird our economy while providing security for our allies for decades to come.” Rep. Gonzalez won his race by 5,000 votes.  

Bernie Moreno, Senate Candidate in Ohio: 

Mr. Moreno, who had extensive experience as an automobile dealer, also ran on a pro-energy platform in the energy-producing state of Ohio. Moreno said that American energy investment should be focused on “abundant, affordable, and reliable” energy projects – including oil and natural gas. Moreno won his race by 209,000 votes. 

Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Congresswoman in Washington:  

Rep. Glusenkamp Perez, who represents Washington’s 3rd district, has been a voice for practical energy policies – she was one of just four Democrats to vote for the Lower Energy Costs Act (HR 1), the House’s comprehensive energy bill, in 2023. She has also been a strong supporter for US LNG exports. Glusenkamp Perez won her race by 16,000 votes.  

A National Conversation: 

From coast to coast, lawmakers and candidates who expressed the desire for more American energy production were elected to serve in the 119th Congress. This is an indication that the public’s interest in more American energy production is not limited to party or geography – that it’s clearly in the national interest.   

When America is the world leader in energy production, our economy is stronger, our world is safer, and our environment is cleaner. We are hopeful that more candidates and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle will be as focused on the importance of energy production as the American voters are. 

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