Overview
- Democrats won the Virginia and New Jersey governor’s races and logged down-ballot gains, retaining a 5–2 Pennsylvania Supreme Court majority and flipping two Georgia Public Service Commission seats.
- Energy affordability defined the campaigns as Democrats tied Republicans to rising power bills, President Trump warned Democratic policies would raise costs, and the League of Conservation Voters reported $7 million in cost-focused ads.
- Virginia governor-elect Abigail Spanberger’s plan seeks lower bills by cutting construction red tape, making data centers cover their power costs, expanding rooftop and small-scale solar with batteries, and boosting in-state generation.
- New Jersey governor-elect Mikie Sherrill pledges a Day-1 electricity emergency to freeze rates, faster solar and storage buildout, and planning for new nuclear capacity in Salem County with regional partners, while criticizing PJM’s market choices.
- Feasibility questions surfaced immediately, with Gov. Phil Murphy doubting how a rate freeze would work and analysts cautioning that delivering ratepayer relief, utility reform and renewable deployment will be challenging.