Democrats Once Vowed to Stop Oil and Gas. Now They’re Not So Sure. NYT - Top Stories By: Lisa Friedman and Brad Plumer 11 June 2026 at 10:00 As the midterm elections approach, many leading Democrats are rethinking their approach to climate change. © Anna Moneymaker/Getty ImagesA talk on rising energy costs on Capitol Hill hosted by Democrats, from left, Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, in March.