Shift Key with Robinson Meyer and Jesse Jenkins Shift Key Live: The 2025 Elections, the Gates Memo, and More
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Nov 14, 2025 Matthew Zeitlin and Emily Pontecorvo from Heatmap unpack critical insights on recent electoral victories for Democrats. They delve into how electricity politics influenced the New Jersey governor's race and the significance of the Georgia public service commission race. The duo scrutinizes Bill Gates's climate memo, critiquing its focus on technology and affordability politics that may hinder ambitious climate action. They discuss the ramifications of voter sentiment toward utilities and the challenging dynamics of decarbonization in today's political landscape.
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Electricity Prices Drove New Jersey Politics
- New Jersey's 2025 governor race became centered on electricity bills after PJM capacity auction-driven price spikes.
- Voters blamed utilities and state government, making affordability the dominant issue.
Regulatory Races Matter More Than Voters Realize
- Georgia's public utility commission race had outsized climate stakes despite low public awareness of the office.
- Democrats won by campaigning on clean energy and affordability, flipping regulatory power over utilities.
Georgia PSC Backstory And Voter Backlash
- Emily described how Georgia's PSC elections followed multiple rate increases and a massive nuclear cost overrun at Plant Vogtle.
- Voters reacted to rising bills and Democrats campaigned on holding utilities accountable.