A poll released on July 19, 2026 found that about 61% of likely American voters think extreme weather events have become more frequent over the past five years. The survey, conducted by Data for Progress and reported by The Guardian, also found that 67% of likely voters said climate change is making heatwaves worse. That was the highest percentage among all the extreme weather types the poll asked about. Data for Progress is a progressive group that does polling and advocacy work. They released these results alongside findings that a majority of voters support protections for workers who face extreme heat.

The poll showed a notable crossover between political parties. Among those who believe extreme weather has increased, 72% are Democrats, 63% are Independents, and 46% are Republicans. On the question of heatwaves specifically, 48% of Republicans said climate change is making them worse. That was the highest Republican percentage for any type of extreme weather in the survey. Grace Adcox, a senior climate strategist at Data for Progress, was cited in The Guardian's reporting as a key voice explaining the findings.

The poll also asked voters about other types of extreme weather. Among likely voters, 64% linked climate change to worsening wildfires, 63% to worsening droughts, 62% to worsening flooding and flash flooding, 59% to worsening hurricanes, and 59% to worsening severe thunderstorms and hailstorms.

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island commented on the results, saying the data "adds to the mountain of evidence that the public is way ahead of the politicians on the dire consequences of climate change." Whitehouse is a Democrat who has long focused on climate issues in the Senate. He has often used public opinion data to push for stronger federal laws on emissions and environmental rules.

The Guardian's reporting also included expertise from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. Anthony Leiserowitz, the program's director, and Jennifer Marlon, a senior research scientist at Yale who focuses on climate communications, were cited in the coverage. The Yale program has tracked changes in how the public thinks about climate for a long time. The new Data for Progress numbers fit with broader trends that academic institutions have recorded, showing that voters are increasingly aware of the connection between burning fossil fuels and more volatile extreme weather.

The broader context here is the gap between what the public believes and how fast lawmakers in Washington are responding. The Data for Progress poll captures how voters felt at one moment in time. But the partisan breakdown, especially the fact that nearly half of Republicans link climate change to worse heatwaves, suggests that personally experiencing extreme weather may be changing minds even among groups that have historically been skeptical of climate science. For the people who make policy and push for change, the polling suggests that connecting climate change to extreme weather is no longer an abstract idea for most voters. It is something they have lived through. Whether that lived experience turns into new laws depends on how well advocates and legislators like Senator Whitehouse can close the gap between what the public wants and what Congress actually does.