Climate change isn't top of mind for NC voters. Here's why.

When Gov. Roy Cooper spoke at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) last week before introducing Vice President Kamala Harris as the party's presidential nominee, the N.C. governor mentioned Harris' successful fight with the big banks after last decade's property crash and her plans − if elected − to improve the nation's health care system and schools.

But what he didn't talk about was climate change, which has been a focal point of Cooper's two terms in office in the Tar Heel State and a primary focus of the Biden administration as it looks to energize and refocus the American economy.

Political scientists say there's a simple reason for that: Voters see other issues as more important in their daily lives.

Even as homes wash away on the Outer Banks thanks to accelerated erosion and rising seas fueled by warming oceans and tropical weather systems like Debby dump buckets worth of rain on areas in a short space of time, more immediate concerns continue to dominate most of the political conversation.

"People can certainly feel it and certainly see it, so it's there," said Dr. Peter Francia, director of the Center for Survey Research at East Carolina University , of the impacts from our changing weather patterns. "But it just doesn't carry the same weight with voters as other issues."

Dr. Chris Cooper , director of the Public Policy Institute at Western Carolina University, said the environment is important to voters, and neither voters or politicians are ignoring it.

"But when it's something as big and complicated as the environment or problems caused by climate change, assuming you believe in that, how do you attribute blame? It's a hard issue to wrap your arms around."

With the notion of climate change up for grabs, making it an election issue just isn't seen as a priority or a winning play by either party.

Francia said his center's latest poll found only 3% of North Carolina voters viewed climate change/environment as their top issue heading into November. That compares to 42% of voters identifying inflation and the overall cost of living as the most important issue, while 17% of respondents said the general economy is the largest issue. The state's abortion law, which was recently tightened, was listed as the most important by 13% of voters.

"And I think you can see evidence of that at the DNC where we didn't see many speakers talking about climate change, certainly not as much as we did in 2020," Francia said.

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Inflation is 'the issue'

Cooper said that this year, as in most elections, it's the traditional issues that North Carolinians say will influence their votes.

For Democrats energized since Harris became the party's nominee, protecting reproductive rights is seen a as clear winner. For Republicans, controlling the border and perceived increases in crime are seen as strong vote getters.

But Cooper and Francia said pocketbook issues remain the biggest driver for voters.

"Inflation is not a issue, it is the issue," Francia said. "It dominates every other issue, and that's true in every poll we've done with the economy coming in second."

"The economy offers both sides something to pick and choose and highlight," Cooper said.

Take clean energy, for example. Incentives in Biden's Inflation Reduction Act have helped fuel new electric vehicle and renewable energy projects across North Carolina, including a $650 million EV battery plant in Brunswick County. But the push to create a "green" power grid for the Tar Heel State also is seen as a reason for rising electricity bills, today and in the coming years.

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"Yes, most people support clean energy and helping out the planet," Francia said. "But when it comes at the expense of a higher energy bill, that's just not a trade off most people are willing to make right now."

Less than two weeks ago, the Outer Banks again was the center of unwanted attention when an oceanfront home in Rodanthe fell into the Atlantic. It became the seventh home in the small village on Hatteras Island to be washed away by the encroaching surf since 2020.

But even there on the frontlines of climate change, the environment isn't really the main issue driving voter interest.

"Yes, with some of my constituents, especially those in my coastal counties, it's a concern," said Republican state Sen. Bobby Hanig , who represents much of northeastern North Carolina in Raleigh. "But really I don't hear a lot about it from folks in other places."

Reporter Gareth McGrath can be reached at GMcGrath@Gannett.com or @GarethMcGrathSN on X/Twitter. This story was produced with financial support from the Green South Foundation and the Prentice Foundation. The USA TODAY Network maintains full editorial control of the work.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Climate change isn't top of mind for NC voters. Here's why.