With Hurricanes Helene and Milton battering Florida in quick succession, the state’s longstanding climate issues have become an urgent electoral flashpoint. Voters, particularly younger Floridians and first-timers, are increasingly vocal about the environmental policies of Governor Ron DeSantis and Senator Rick Scott, both of whom have dismissed climate change’s significance. In recent years, Scott has also cut environmental protections, spurring frustration among residents dealing with intensified storms and rising sea levels.
This groundswell of climate-conscious activism is visible on campuses statewide, where groups like Florida Future Leaders have reported record-breaking early turnout among students. Canvassers have emphasized how climate inaction threatens residents’ livelihoods, homes, and futures. Videos of meteorologists breaking down emotionally during storm coverage have even drawn attention from previously apolitical youth, who now see climate action as a priority in the upcoming elections.
Florida’s youth activists are deploying a massive campaign across social media and in person to engage younger voters on issues of sustainability and environmental protection. These groups highlight how local Republicans’ voting records affect FEMA aid and environmental funding, questioning how such decisions impact Florida residents directly. Leaders of youth groups argue that climate inaction is no longer an option and hope to see a shift at the polls.
For climate advocates, the twin hurricanes have underscored the personal stakes in November’s elections. If youth voters turn out in the numbers expected, the climate may become a decisive issue, reshaping Florida’s political landscape toward urgently needed environmental reforms.
