Think Local
Some of the best hope for climate action may be on your ballot at the state level.
Hi Earthlings!
We're less than a week away from the US elections, and climate action is on the ballot. While national races grab headlines, it's the local races that often have the most immediate impact on our lives and our climate future.
Down-ballot races – including state legislators, city councils, and school boards – have direct control over crucial policies like:
Managing local waste and recycling programs
Determining public transit funding
Approving or rejecting fossil fuel infrastructure
Creating climate resilience plans
What makes these races especially important? They typically receive less attention and lower turnout than national elections, which means your vote carries even more weight in shaping climate policy at the local level.
Here are a few state races and ballot initiatives in the 2024 election that could have a big impact on climate action:
Arizona
🗳️ Ruben Gallego (D) vs. Kari Lake (R)
U.S. Senate
What does this mean for the climate?
Gallego, a current House lawmaker, co-sponsored bills requiring the United States to meet its climate goals and achieve a 100% clean economy. He said in a recent debate that climate change will further exacerbate the state’s water shortages, and called for resilience measures.In a debate with Gallego, Lake promoted fossil fuels in response to a moderator's question about climate, energy and water. She also repeated the Trump quote “drill, baby, drill.” Source: Politico
🗳️ Juan Ciscomani (R) vs. Kirsten Engel (D)
U.S. House District 6
What does this mean for the climate?
Engel responded to a candidate survey saying “Climate change carries health and economic risks for the entire population, especially our most vulnerable citizens, our indigenous communities and communities of color. We also must protect Arizonans from the effects of climate change, such as wildfires and extreme heat.”Ciscomani responded to the same question with “Keeping Arizona and our world protected, especially our air and water, are important…This must be balanced with making sure our policies don’t hurt everyday Arizonans, and I’m concerned that the extremism from my opponent and the Biden administration are doing just that.” Source: azcentral
California
🗳️ Proposition 4: California Climate Bond
The Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024 would have the state borrow $10 billion to pay for climate and environmental projects.
What does this mean for the climate?
Voting “yes” would support funding for water projects, including those that provide for safe drinking water, recycle wastewater, store groundwater and control flooding. Additional funding would be spent on wildfire protection, and protecting the coast from sea level rise. Source: LA Times
Florida
🗳️ Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D) vs. Rick Scott (R)
U.S. Senate
What does this mean for the climate?
When he became Florida’s governor in 2011, Scott reportedly banned Department of Environmental Protection staffers from using the words “climate change” or “global warming” in official communications. He has been a consistent opponent of efforts to address warming, and has gutted environmental efforts such as Florida Forever, the state’s land conservation program.Mucarsel-Powell’s website says she “knows climate change is real and she is ready to take action to address the climate crisis that is impacting Floridians, their lives, and their property.” Sources: Heatmap & NPR
Maine
🗳️ Question 4: Green Infrastructure Bonds
Authorizing a $30 million bond to improve recreational outdoor trails.
What does this mean for the climate?
There are approximately 13,000 miles of trails in Maine. If approved, the bond would help maintain and restore these multi-use trails, including debris clean up, new signage, and stronger bridges. Sources: Grist & WGME Portland
Minnesota
🗳️ Kathleen Fowke (R) vs. Ann Johnson Stewart (D)
State Senate District 45
What does this mean for the climate?
Fowke is married to the former CEO of Xcel Energy, a utility and natural gas company. Her platform states that she supports “clean, affordable energy solutions.” however makes no mention of climate change.Stewart’s platform calls for “comprehensive solutions to our climate crisis.”
Last year, Governor Tim Walz signed a law to move the state to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040. Whoever wins this seat could be the difference between expanding renewable energy projects, or stalling them — which would derail plans to ensure that disadvantaged communities see the benefits of green projects. Sources: Grist & Fowke for Senate
Rhode Island
🗳️ Question 4: Green Energy Bonds
Issuing $53 million in bonds for the state’s green economy.
What does this mean for the climate?
A “yes” vote would support nine environmental initiatives across the state, including restoration to infrastructure resilience, cleaning “brownfield” sites, wildfire mitigation, flood prevention and habitat resilience in vulnerable coastal areas, and more. Sources: Grist & Rhode Island Current
Texas
🗳️ Colin Allred (D) vs. Ted Cruz (R)
U.S. Senate
What does this mean for the climate?
Cruz has long been one of Congress’ most prominent climate deniers. He voted against the Inflation Reduction Act, which is responsible for 24,122 new clean energy jobs in Texas, and has attacked federal agencies for “fueling youth climate anxiety.”Allred has supported climate action in the past, and he has trod somewhat carefully on the issue during the campaign (he advocates “an all-of-the-above energy strategy” and has promoted liquified natural gas exports). He also voted in favor of the Inflation Reduction Act. Source: Heatmap
Washington State
🗳️ Initiative 2117
An initiative to repeal the Climate Commitment Act. Voting “yes” would prohibit Washington state agencies from implementing any type of carbon tax credit trading programs, including cap and trade programs.
What does this mean for the climate?
The “cap-and-invest” system establishes a statewide limit on greenhouse gas emissions that creates a market for businesses to buy pollution permits — a way to cut emissions while raising billions of dollars for installing EV chargers, improving air quality, and helping Native American tribes prepare for the effects of climate change.If passed, Initiative 2117 would not only strike down the program but it would also bar Washington from capping carbon emissions in the future. Source: Grist
Wisconsin
🗳️ Tammy Baldwin (D) vs. Eric Hovde (R)
U.S. Senate
What does this mean for the climate?
Baldwin has been a consistent advocate for climate action, including co-sponsoring a bill to achieve net-zero emissions for the entire country by 2050 and helping secure funding to convert a coal-fired power plant into a clean energy facility.Hovde has spent a good deal of the campaign railing against EV subsidies and other green energy spending. He calls efforts to phase out fossil fuels “delusional,” and instead promotes increased fossil fuel production. Source: Heatmap
Visit vote.org to check your registration status, find your polling place, and see what's on your local ballot. Every vote matters, and in local races, yours could be one of just a few hundred voices deciding the future of climate action in your community.