As 2026 midterm elections commence, some Howard University students want climate policy to receive greater attention from elected officials, while others say environmental issues must be considered alongside other immediate challenges facing Americans.
Research shows this consideration is also happening on a national level. A report published by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication in April 2026 found that 59% of registered voters surveyed in November 2025 preferred candidates who support action on global warming. However, only 35% of registered voters considered global warming a very important factor in their voting decisions.
Virginia Heikka is a freshman political science major from Michigan. While climate change is one of her concerns – the cost of living is a more immediate consideration when evaluating candidates.
“My biggest concern is definitely inflation and the cost of living,” Heikka said. “Being a college student right now is tough because of everything that you have to buy, so I’m really watching to see what candidates have an actual plan to make daily life more affordable for young people.”
The Yale report reflects this perspective, finding that 65% of registered voters surveyed believed global warming was affecting the cost of living.
For students like Anaya Green, however, climate change remains on the forefront. The junior honors student from the Bronx is double majoring in physics and environmental science, and sees the issue as central to political discussions.
“Climate change is one of my top priorities, beyond focusing on housing or equal rights,” Green said. “Oftentimes, I don’t really have a choice in elections because it isn’t a lot of leaders’ top priority. But, I do try to pick candidates who align most with my priorities and climate change.”
For Green, the difficulty lies in finding candidates who give climate change the same level of attention she believes it deserves. She said an ideal candidate for her would have a strong stance on climate change – but that is often hard to find. She noted that she wants to see more climate focused legislation like the Green New Deal, developed by politicians, environmental scientists, engineers and community leaders – highlighting that solutions to climate change require collaboration across all areas.
Isabella Sutton, a junior environmental studies major from Monmouth County, New Jersey argued against the idea that climate change must always be a voter’s leading concern if they care about the environment.
“We often talk about in my environmental classes and just in discussion that environmental factors, environmental justice – they kind of seep into each issue that we talk about,” Sutton said.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, environmental justice refers to the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of specific groups of people in environmental decision making. Sutton pointed to urban heat islands and unequal access to green spaces as examples of environmental issues that can disproportionately affect marginalized communities.
Recent concerns around the environment also extend to growing use of artificial intelligence and the expansion of data centers. The facilities that power AI often require a significant use of water, contribute to air pollution and urban heat buildup and are often built in low income areas. Sutton encouraged voters to examine candidates’ positions on artificial intelligence and data centers.
Sutton said she does not believe politicians are doing enough to address climate change.
“We’re actually seeing climate change legislation disappearing,” she said.
The Yale report offers further context for Sutton’s perspective, noting how the Environmental Protection Agency under the Trump Administration has recently tried to rollback the regulation of carbon emissions, overturning years of its own research.
Heikka, Green and Sutton differ in where climate change falls in their voting priorities, reflecting a national conversation about where high level topics fit into personal politics. In Green’s opinion, it is something that should not be ignored.
“We can’t leave climate change on the back burner for too long because it will catch up to us,” Green said.
