Why climate votes matter

We need champions in Congress who will fight for us – and we need to hold politicians accountable to putting people and the planet over corporate profit. Continuing to show up for elections will prove that our movement cannot be ignored.

Fossil fuel executives and other powerful corporate interests depend on voters staying home and have funded voter suppression efforts to discourage us from taking part in our democracy. We are fighting back against their underhanded tactics and driving turnout to ensure that people do not sit this election out.

We have identified key races where climate justice candidates are running, and we’re organizing to get climate voters informed and out to the polls. Check out below to find out more about the key races in the 2022 midterm elections and where candidates stand on climate.

How you can help

Greenpeace USA volunteers all over the country are writing and sending personalized letters to climate voters in key races to help turn them out to vote for climate justice candidates. Personalized letters have been shown to be one of the most effective ways to help get voters to the polls. And, it’s fun and easy to do.

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Key races where CLIMATE is on the ballot

We have identified key races where climate justice candidates are running, and we’re organizing to get climate voters informed and out to the polls.

These races are more than just elections between two candidates. These races are a referendum on the future we want. We have the chance to prove that we can build enough people power to beat fossil fuel funded politicians and elect a Congress that delivers a livable future that works for all of us.

We are writing letters to climate concerned voters in these districts because they deserve to know that there is a difference between the candidates when it comes to climate, environmental justice, and protecting our communities – and how important it is to get out to the polls.

CA-47

Democratic incumbent Katie Porter is running against Republican challenger Scott Baugh who is mounting a serious campaign to unseat her. Every vote matters. 

Katie Porter is an original sponsor of the Green New Deal Katie Porter is an original sponsor of the Green New Deal and she has been a strong voice for ending taxpayer-funded subsidies for the oil and gas industry. Porter called for the elimination of many long-standing fossil fuel subsidies and giveaways in the Los Angeles Times. Porter pledged to not take any money from oil and gas companies,, PACs, or lobbyists. She is also leading an investigation into the PR industry’s role in fossil fuel companies’ deceptive advertising.

Porter has worked to support and expand voting rights and access. She co-sponsored the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and voted to pass the Freedom to Vote Act.

Republican candidate Scott Baugh does not support the Green New Deal and wants to continue wasteful fossil fuel subsidies that use the money we pay in taxes to enrich oil and gas companies.

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CA-49

Democrat Mike Levin is running in a newly drawn “purple” district against Republican challenger Bryan Marryott who is mounting a serious campaign to unseat him. Every vote matters.

Mike Levin is an original sponsor of the Green New Deal and has pledged to not take money from oil and gas companies,, PACs, or lobbyists. Levin signed a letter urging House Leadership to eliminate subsidies for fossil fuel operations on federal lands, and wrote in a Times of San Diego piece: “Big Oil executives taking in record-breaking profits and refusing to pass savings on to consumers don’t deserve any assistance from taxpayers.” He is also working to support and expand voting rights and access. Levin co-sponsored the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and voted to pass the Freedom to Vote Act.

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Wisconsin Senate

Democrat Mandela Barnes is running against Republican Ron Johnson to represent Wisconsin in the U.S. Senate. Polls are showing this race could go either way.

Every vote will matter.

Mandela Barnes supports a Green New Deal, which would create jobs in Wisconsin while addressing the climate crisis. As the son of a UAW worker, Barnes has committed to delivering good union jobs through the manufacturing of solar panels and windmills that will be central to the green economy of the future. He has also stated that he wants to end subsidies for oil and gas companies that are using a crisis to make record profits. As a signer of the fossil fuel free pledge, Barnes does not take money from oil and gas companies so he is not beholden to their interests.

Republican candidate Ron Johnson does not support the Green New Deal and was caught on tape mouthing that climate change is “bullshit.” He has also taken over $760,000 from the oil and gas industry since 2009, with over $215,000 of that coming just this election cycle. Johnson also tried to undermine the will of Wisconsin voters when his office attempted to hand fake elector info to Mike Pence on Jan. 6.

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OR-05

Democrat Jamie McLeod-Skinner is running against Republican Lori Chavez DeRemmer to represent Oregon’s fifth congressional district. Many polls have this race as a toss-up so every vote matters.

Jamie McLeod-Skinner has made addressing the climate crisis a focus of her platform. She supports a transition to a renewable energy economy that creates jobs and supports working families. McLeod-Skinner has also pledged to not take any money from oil and gas companies, PACs, or lobbyists.

Republican candidate Lori Chavez DeRemmer does not support the Green New Deal and doesn’t mention anything about climate or our environment on her campaign website.

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PA-12

Summer Lee won a competitive primary election to become the Democratic nominee. She now faces off against Republican Michael Doyle for the privilege of representing Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District.

Lee’s platform includes strong environmental justice elements, which include support for a Green New Deal and transitioning to a 100% clean and renewable energy economy. She is committed to securing clean air and water by ending fracking and replacing all lead water lines. Lee has also pledged to not take any money from oil and gas companies, PACs, or lobbyists.

Michael Doyle wants to increase oil and gas production, which could create more pollution in communities and make it impossible to address the climate crisis.

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Scorecard methodology

Greenpeace USA’s Congressional Climate Scorecard is a resource that aims to provide information to the public about political candidates’ positions on climate change, democracy, and other topics.
The scorecard is based on the candidates’ public commitments, obtained either via their campaign website, social media accounts, and/or from statements to the public or the media. We also send a questionnaire to each scored candidate to ensure they have the chance to make their position clear, or in case their position changes in the course of the campaign. Greenpeace USA commits to updating the scorecard to ensure it reflects the best and most current information on candidate positions.

For the upcoming elections, the scorecard consists of three categories:

• Does the candidate support the Green New Deal?
• Has the candidate pledged not to take money from oil and gas companies, by signing the No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge?
• Does the candidate support ending all government fossil fuel subsidies?