A guide to swing-state energy politics ahead of US midterms
SPY•Households in eight key swing states spent 13% to 17% more on electricity and gasoline in the first seven months of 2026 than a year earlier, with monthly costs rising by $42 to $62. The increases reflect higher gasoline prices and rising electricity bills.
1. Higher household costs
Average US household spending on electricity and gasoline reached about $456 a month in the first seven months of 2026, roughly $54 more than a year earlier. In eight battleground states, monthly increases ranged from $42 in Wisconsin to $62 in Arizona.
2. Fuel and power pressures
Gasoline spending in the swing states rose 19% to 23% in the first nine months of the year. Electricity bills have risen over several years, with Pennsylvania’s typical monthly bill reaching about $182, up 12% year over year and 58% since 2019; Ohio’s rose 9.4% year over year and 53% since 2019.
3. Political stakes
The article links gasoline costs to the US war with Iran and electricity bills to factors including grid investments, natural gas prices, plant retirements and data-center demand. It says state governors and regulators have influence over electricity rates, while federal policy and global oil markets shape costs at the pump; a Reuters/Ipsos poll found 78% of Americans blamed President Donald Trump’s policies for rising prices outpacing earnings.
