Democrats won control of both the US House and Senate in the 2026 midterm elections, according to the report. Donald Trump remains in the White House, so the two parties will likely split control of federal energy policy for the next two years.
The report says the results probably won't bring major federal climate or energy laws in the near term. Neither chamber has the two-thirds majority needed to override a presidential veto, so any new legislation would need Trump's signature.
The report points to permitting reform as a bill to watch. A bipartisan group of senators proposed the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act in late September, aimed at speeding the review and approval of new energy projects. The Senate was set to vote on it November 9, and the White House supports it. The report says Democrats might wait until next year to renegotiate it.
The report says Democrats are expected to increase scrutiny of Trump appointees. Democratic leaders have signaled plans to pursue EPA commissioner Lee Zeldin over staff and investment cuts. The report notes that Democrats would have the power to subpoena cabinet members and open investigations.
According to the report, local action may matter more. Democrats swept local control in Pennsylvania, and officials there have signaled support for renewable energy and efforts to cut greenhouse-gas emissions. Democrats also took control of the Georgia Public Service Commission for the first time in 30 years. The report says that body regulates electric utilities and largely controls grid buildout.
The report cites tracking from Ballotpedia showing 41 local ballot questions on data centers. Voters overwhelmingly chose to restrict development, and nearly all of those measures appeared headed to fail for developers as of the morning of November 4. In Texas, Democrat Gina Hinojosa won the governor's seat over Republican incumbent Greg Abbott. During her campaign, Hinojosa called for a law to pause data center development entirely. The report says such a law could have major implications for the state's grid and the data center industry.