U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media before departing for a state visit to Britain, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., September 16, 2025. REUTERS/Ken Cedeno

Inflation in general has been a sore spot with voters, possibly helping Donald Trump get past the finish line in the United States' 2024 presidential election. Trump hammered then-President Joe Biden and then-Vice President Kamala Harris nonstop on inflation, and according to polls, anxiety over rising prices was a key factor in many voters' decisions to vote for Trump — who didn't win by a "landslide," as he claims, but defeated Harris by roughly 1.5 percent in the national popular vote.

Now, almost nine months into Trump's second presidency, inflation is still on voters' minds. According to a Washington Post article published on October 15, a specific type of inflation — "soaring energy bills" — could sway elections that lie ahead.

"Anger over soaring utility bills is shaking political fault lines, as electricity shortages and price spikes take center stage in nationally watched gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia — and threaten to haunt candidates throughout the country in next year's midterm elections," Post reporter Evan Halper explains in the article. "Cheap, reliable electricity is no longer a given, with an energy crunch taking hold far and wide, and forecasts showing no price relief in sight. Average bills have jumped over 10 percent since last year in more than a dozen states — with some seeing increases beyond 20 percent — and more rate hikes have already been announced."

Halper adds, "Voters are demanding solutions, bringing to the forefront issues that long simmered in the political background, including the massive expansion of energy-hungry data centers, obscure surcharges on electric bills and mandates for clean energy generation."

Affordability is a prominent issue not only in the gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia, but also, in New York City's mayor race — which the progressive Democratic nominee, Zohran Mamdani, is expected to win.

Fairleigh Dickinson University has been tracking New Jersey voters' views on energy prices. The poll's director, Dan Cassino, told the Post, "People knew a problem was coming, but nobody expected it to emerge so sharply and quickly…. It is one thing people feel like their governor should have leverage to control."

Halper notes that both Democrats and Republicans view "ratepayer angst" as something they can "blame" on their opponents.

"Voters in GOP strongholds like Ohio, Indiana and Louisiana are among the hardest hit, putting President Donald Trump's allies on the defensive in the run-up to next year’s midterm elections as his cuts to energy programs drive prices up further," according to Halper. "In Utah, where rates are also rising fast, Republican Gov. Spencer Cox lashed out at the Trump Administration in a post on X, saying its decision to cancel a massive solar project in the Nevada desert 'is how we lose the AI/energy arms race with China.'"

Halper continues, "Voters in New Jersey and Virginia, who will choose new governors in November, are equally annoyed, campaign officials said, making electricity prices a key issue in states where Democrats have heavily influenced energy policy. Summer rates jumped 21 percent in New Jersey, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, and rates for most Virginians will go up an average of 15 percent under increases utility Dominion plans to cover rising fuel costs and infrastructure upgrades."

Read Evan Halper's full article for The Washington Post at this link (subscription required).