Hurricanes Have Put Climate Change Top of Mind for Voters Nationally and in North Carolina, Florida, and Georgia

In hurricane-ravaged states, 32% of voters show increased concern about climate issues in the election

November 1, 2024

Two major hurricanes in October devastated parts of the Southeastern US. Scientists found that Helene and Milton were made worse by climate change. Hurricane Helene in particular saw climate change increase the severity of the rainfall that caused massive, unanticipated destruction in inland parts of North Carolina.

In a new survey, we examined how voters’ attitudes have shifted as a result of these disasters. We polled nationally and at the state level in Florida, North Carolina, and Georgia.

Nationally, when voters were asked whether Hurricanes Milton and Helene have made climate a more important issue for them in the upcoming U.S. elections, 28% said yes. Looking at undecided voters, 24% also say that the hurricanes have made climate change a more important issue for them in the election. This is meaningful because undecided voters are notably less aware of the hurricanes to begin with and are less likely to have formed an opinion about their causes (52% for undecideds on overall awareness compared with 70% for all; see full data set). Asian American voters in particular show higher influence of the hurricanes in their thinking at 43% (see full data set).

When we polled voters in North Carolina, Florida, and Georgia specifically, collectively 32% of voters in those states say climate has become more important as an issue for them in the election as a result of the hurricanes (about 4 points higher than national).

https://www.datawrapper.de/_/uxQ7r/

When asking voters how they think about extreme weather events and climate change: 67% say extreme weather events are getting more frequent when compared to 50 years ago. When we asked voters in the three states, comfortable majorities in every state also said extreme weather events are getting more frequent (65% 3-state average; see full data set on this question).

A majority nationwide — 51% — think such extreme weather events are becoming more frequent because of man-made climate change, compared to 21% who say ‘extreme weather events are becoming more frequent but this is not because of man-made climate change’ (the rest don’t know or say neither) .

We also found a strong plurality here that these extreme weather events are more frequent because of climate change (47% 3-state average).

https://www.datawrapper.de/_/lCOWt/

Lastly, it’s worth noting the key take-away that more voters believe Helene and Milton were made more extreme by man-made climate change compared to those who do not (40% of voters versus 37%). That goes for undecided voters as well (34% of voters versus 31%). The data suggest a plurality in every state also thinks Milton and Helene were made more extreme by man made climate change; the 3-state average is +3% for this view over the opposing view; Florida +3, Georgia +5, North Carolina +1.

https://www.datawrapper.de/_/yjwu3/

Methodology. For the national survey, a sample of 2,000 adults was conducted online via Pollfish on October 25, 2024, weighted to be nationally representative on age, gender and region. For the state survey, a sample of 1,000 voting-age adults in Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina (3,000 in total) was conducted online via Pollfish on October 25th, weighted to be representative of each state on age, region and gender. The survey was conducted in English.

The margin of error associated with the national survey is approximately +/- 2% at 95% confidence interval and with the state polls approximately +/- 3.

Values may not add up to 100 due to rounding.