A Key Belief About the 2024 Election Isn’t True
This article challenges the narrative that the Inflation Reduction Act failed to win votes for Democrats in the 2024 election. It argues that the law successfully drove significant private investment into clean energy manufacturing, even if political outcomes were mixed.
Why it matters
Understanding the political impact of industrial policy is essential for future climate legislation and economic strategy.
Joe Biden’s climate agenda actually did win votes for Democrats—just not quite enough.
The Atlantic. Source: Carol M. Highsmith / Library of Congress. August 5, 2026, 7 AM ET Share Save Joe Biden’s signature climate law was not just about climate. The Inflation Reduction Act was also a big bet on a particular theory of politics: Pass a law that creates factories and good-paying jobs in communities across the country, and voters will reward you at the ballot box. Such a law might even become too popular to repeal.
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