MEMO: Energy affordability is driving Pennsylvanians to the polls this election
tags
TO: Interested Parties
FROM: Abby Cox, Pennsylvania State Director, Climate Power
DATE: October 28, 2026
RE: Energy affordability is driving Pennsylvanians to the polls this election
Trump and Republicans ran on lowering energy costs in 2024, but instead, they have betrayed Pennsylvanians by driving up costs. Since 2025, Trump and Pennsylvania Republicans slashed cheaper clean energy, entered a costly war in Iran, and paved the way for rapid data center expansion with no guardrails, all of which have led to skyrocketing gas and utility prices, while worsening air and water quality and slowing economic growth. Over the past year, energy affordability has become a top issue for voters struggling to choose between filling up their gas tanks, heating and cooling their homes, and putting food on the table for their families.
In competitive districts across the state, Reps. Rob Bresnahan, Scott Perry, Brian Fitzpatrick, and Ryan Mackenzie are all facing constituents struggling to pay for gas and electricity. These high costs are driving voters to turn out next week, and they’re set to make their voices heard at the polls on November 3rd.
Trump / Republican policies are costing Pennsylvanians
- Since Trump took office, household electricity costs are up 24% in Pennsylvania, and gas prices have surged 44% since the start of Trump’s war with Iran.
- Trump’s policies raised costs for Pennsylvanian families by $2,182 per household through the first half of 2026. For families with health care coverage through the ACA marketplace, that total climbs to $3,695. By the end of 2026, those totals could grow to $3,201 and $6,226, respectively.
- The Republican budget bill passed last summer is projected to raise energy costs for Pennsylvanians by $160 per year and cause a loss of 13 GW of energy generation.
Energy affordability dominated news cycles
- Affordability is on voters’ minds in PA swing districts as the cost of gas and groceries skyrockets
- “People in the 8th District know that Bresnahan voted against ending the war with Iran in September, Kavulich said. ‘So many people around Scranton have a blue-collar, kitchen-table, commonsense vibe. They know going into Iran isn’t what you do. They know it’s time to be over Bresnahan and Trump.’”
- Data Centers to Add Billions in Power Costs in 13 States
- “Mr. Shapiro and other governors have complained that PJM has been too slow to connect more power plants, solar and wind farms, batteries and other resources that would have helped lower prices and eased strain on the grid.”
- High Prices are testing Latino voter loyalties in the Lehigh Valley
- “Now, at the halfway mark of Trump’s second term, Martinez said people are just as frustrated as they were then. They’re angry about higher prices for fuel and groceries, and Republicans could face the consequences in the midterm elections.”
- Oil prices surge, pushing winter heating costs higher for Pennsylvania
- “In 2026-27, average heating costs are expected to rise 8.7% compared to a year ago. Oil will be the costliest; it’s expected to go up 31.3% over last year, NEADA says. The main reason? The war in Iran, according to Mark Wolfe, executive director of NEADA.”
- Why your electric bill keeps rising, and how Pennsylvania can fix it
- “Pennsylvania’s energy future should not be an either-or debate. The Keystone State has a long history of leading efforts to power America. By embracing solar and storage alongside its existing energy strengths, Pennsylvania can build a more affordable, reliable, and secure energy future.”
Rising costs drive votes
- In Pennsylvania, more than half of registered voters said it was “very difficult” or “somewhat difficult” to pay for monthly utility costs, surpassing all other costs as the topic of most difficulty and concern.
- In PA-07, Rep. Ryan Mackenzie’s district, voters are especially concerned about the risks of data centers, with stronger opposition in this district than across the state as a whole.
- In battleground states, 86% of voters say their utility bills are going up, and energy costs are now tied with housing as the second-biggest financial concern facing families.
- Research found that since January, the share of voters seriously concerned about gas prices has more than doubled, while concern about electricity costs is up 10 points. 58% of voters say congressional Republicans are making energy prices worse, compared to just 22% who say better.
Behind the money
- Trump has made as much as $21 million from his oil and gas investments since the start of the Iran war, bragging about the money these companies are making as Pennsylvanians pay the price at the pump.
- Ryan Mackenzie has taken more than $50,000 over his career from utility companies — including PPL, FirstEnergy, and UGI — all companies that have proposed or enacted rate hikes that could increase average monthly bills by as much as $25.73.
- Scott Perry has collected $239,252 over his career — in addition to $94,429 this cycle — from oil and gas interests, and $159,597 over his career from the utility companies now hiking Pennsylvanians’ bills.
- Rob Bresnahan could personally pocket up to $6 million from OBBBA’s estate tax cut. He also holds up to $700,000 in oil and gas company stock, plus up to $320,000 in utility stock. At the same time, he’s taken over $200,000 in career oil and gas contributions and $38,350 from utilities this cycle alone. He’s personally pushed data center growth — while holding as much as $3.8 million in investments in companies that stand to benefit from data center expansion.
Trump promised to cut energy costs in half. Instead, he and congressional Republicans gutted clean energy investment and tilted the playing field toward expensive oil and gas, just as demand is exploding due to the proliferation of data centers. Pennsylvanians are paying the price, and they’ve had enough of politicians enriching themselves as they struggle to afford their energy bills.
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