The 2026 Election Is All About Affordability

The results from California’s 2026 primary election are clear: affordability remains top of mind for voters across the state.

For years, Californians have faced rising costs for housing, groceries, health care, transportation, energy and other essentials. While election outcomes are still being finalized, polling consistently shows that economic concerns and the cost of living remain voters' highest priorities.

POLITICO's voter tracking has found the economy and cost of living to be voters' top concern since the survey launched in October. In November polling, 45 percent of Americans identified grocery costs as the hardest expense to afford, while roughly one-third pointed to health care costs. POLITICO also found that pocketbook issues are among the strongest drivers of voter decision-making.

The message from voters is straightforward: families want solutions that address rising costs.

That reality has important implications for climate policy.

California has set some of the nation's most ambitious climate goals, and reducing emissions remains an important priority. But long-term success depends on policies that deliver environmental progress without making everyday life more expensive for working families.

The choice is not between affordability and climate action. The challenge is ensuring that climate policies balance both.

California's most successful environmental programs have demonstrated that emissions reductions can be achieved through innovation, incentives and market-based approaches that protect consumers while supporting economic growth. Programs that encourage investment, reward efficiency and provide flexibility have delivered stronger results at lower cost than rigid regulatory approaches and mandates.

Recent decisions by the California Air Resources Board on the state's Cap and Invest program reflect this principle. By considering household and business costs alongside emissions reductions, regulators recognized that durable climate progress requires public confidence and economic sustainability.

California's climate future will be strongest when environmental ambition is balanced with affordability. As lawmakers and regulators consider the next generation of climate policies, they should prioritize approaches that lower emissions while minimizing costs for consumers, employers, farmers, food processors and manufacturers.

The lesson emerging from the 2026 election cycle is clear: Californians want solutions that work in the real world. That means pursuing climate policies that reduce emissions, strengthen the economy and keep everyday life affordable.