There’s a special moment in every election cycle where voters realize they may have accidentally voted against their own wallets. Virginia and New Jersey are about to have that moment. Both states just elected Democratic governors—Abigail Spanberger in Virginia and Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey—who campaigned on lowering energy costs while promoting policies that guarantee energy will become more expensive. It’s like promising to lose weight by switching from beer to margaritas. Still alcohol, still calories, but hey—you put a lime in it, so it must be healthy.
Energy experts aren’t whispering about it; they’re flat-out saying: these election results are bad news for affordable energy. Jason Isaac, CEO of the American Energy Institute, basically told the Daily Caller that Virginia and New Jersey just signed up for higher electric bills, lower grid reliability, and fewer businesses sticking around once they realize the cost of simply turning the lights on requires a credit check.
If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to live inside a science experiment conducted by people who’ve never used tools other than a hashtag, buckle up.
Both governors-elect swore during their campaigns that they would make energy more affordable. Then, almost in the same breath, they reaffirmed their commitment to green-energy policies that historically do the opposite. It’s like hearing someone say, “Don’t worry, I’m a great driver,” right before they plow into a mailbox.
We’ve seen this movie before. When the Biden administration began phasing out conventional energy and pushing wind and solar as the magical replacements, electricity prices saw the largest spikes in American history. You’d think that would cause some introspection. Instead, voters in New Jersey and Virginia apparently decided they enjoyed the pain and wanted to experience it up close.
Energy demand is rising for the first time in decades, thanks to new manufacturing projects and massive artificial intelligence data centers that require stable, consistent energy. Meanwhile, states along the East Coast—including these two newly minted climate-warrior governorships—are shutting down coal plants, restricting natural gas, and acting surprised when energy costs go up. It’s like closing the grocery store and then wondering why everyone’s hungry.
New Jersey and Virginia both share a power grid with other states, which means that when they stumble into blackouts—or “planned energy rest cycles,” as I’m sure they’ll be called—it won’t just be their problem. They can drag the neighbors down with them too. That’s the fun part of green policy: everyone suffers together.
Abigail Spanberger’s campaign materials proudly showcase feel-good language about protecting the environment while lowering costs. She talks about covering abandoned mines, rooftops, parking lots, and probably your neighbor’s shed with solar panels. She even mentions nuclear and geothermal in passing, which sounds almost reasonable, until she clarifies that her heart really belongs to intermittent solar and offshore wind. Nothing says “reliable energy” like depending on weather patterns. She has also expressed skepticism toward expanding natural gas—despite the fact that it’s the backbone of Virginia’s energy supply and the only thing that keeps the lights on when the sun decides to phone it in for three days.
Virginia already closed most of its coal plants and has a law on the books demanding the state reach 100 percent renewable electricity by 2050. If that sounds ambitious, that’s because it is. The only way to hit that goal is to shut down reliable sources of power and hope—like really hope—that solar panels and windmills can suddenly perform miracles.
Meanwhile, New Jersey is racing Virginia to see who can hit the wall faster. The state already shut down all coal plants and joined an initiative that allows bureaucrats to tax emissions until businesses decide moving to Texas sounds like a relaxing vacation. Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill made a “Day One” promise to freeze utility costs. Her own Democratic predecessor was asked how she planned to do that and responded, “I’m not sure.” That’s political language for, “She can’t.”
Energy experts across the board are saying the same thing: these states are choosing unreliable and expensive energy because it makes politicians feel virtuous. Regular people—the ones who have to heat their homes, cool their houses, and power their kids’ Xbox—are going to pay for it.
Here’s the kicker. Republicans don’t have to embellish or exaggerate anything. All they have to do is let the consequences speak for themselves. When electric bills double and the power flickers during a heatwave, voters won’t care how many wind turbines are floating in the ocean. They’ll care that the AC doesn’t work.
And that’s when the political tide will turn.
Because the truth is simple: people tolerate a lot of nonsense. They tolerate bad speeches. They tolerate goofy campaign ads. They tolerate politicians who struggle with basic math.
But when the lights go out and the house hits 87 degrees in August?
That’s when revolutions start.