Caroline Spears, a strategist at Climate Cabinet, dives into the vital role of local and state elections in advancing climate policies. She highlights recent electoral victories in North Carolina and Wisconsin, which fortify climate initiatives. The discussion also emphasizes overcoming communication gaps between candidate messaging and voter perception, especially regarding gerrymandering. Spears shares insights on Michigan's clean energy commitments and Lancaster County's pro-climate majority, advocating for ongoing community engagement and bipartisan support in climate advocacy.
Local and state elections play a crucial role in climate policy advancement, as evidenced by the success of 172 climate champions tracked by Climate Cabinet.
The ‘moneyball’ strategy emphasizes targeting impactful candidates over merely winnable ones, resulting in a notable 52% win rate for supported candidates.
The disappointing outcomes for Public Utility Commission elections highlight the need for increased voter engagement and awareness of the importance of down-ballot races.
Deep dives
Overview of Local and State Elections
The recent elections showcased a significant focus on local and state candidates that implicate climate policies, with the Climate Cabinet organization tracking 172 climate champions across various races. While the federal election underwent less favorable outcomes, many local races proved promising, highlighting the crucial role of sub-national elections in shaping future climate action. The emphasis on a 'moneyball' strategy underscores the importance of targeting candidates who can make substantial climate impacts rather than simply those who are winnable. This approach revealed a 52% win rate for candidates supported by the Climate Cabinet, demonstrating a viable pathway for advancing climate agendas at the state level.
Successes in North Carolina
A notable victory in North Carolina involved the election of Josh Stein as the Governor, breaking a previous GOP supermajority that had stymied climate progress under former Governor Roy Cooper. The results were pivotal; they secured a working veto pen for the new governor, crucial for blocking anti-climate legislation. Additionally, candidates like Lindsay Prother flipped an R plus four district by shifting their campaign strategy to foreground climate concerns, especially in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Such tactical adaptations in response to immediate climate impacts resonate with voter concerns, suggesting a promising trend for future elections in this region.
Wisconsin's Strategic Gains
Wisconsin witnessed a strategic breakthrough by breaking a GOP supermajority through a decade-long effort involving gubernatorial and judicial victories, ultimately leading to more equitable district maps. This redistricting creates a more favorable terrain for Democrats, setting up a path to significant climate policy advancements, including a clean energy initiative. The upcoming elections in 2026 are seen as critical for capitalizing on these structural changes and ensuring that climate-focused candidates continue to gain traction. As the interplay of state and federal issues remains complex, the success of local strategies can influence broader national dialogues.
Challenges Faced in Utility Commission Elections
Elections for Public Utility Commissions (PUCs) yielded disappointing results, with candidates lacking climate change awareness securing seats in states like Arizona and Montana. The results highlight a systemic issue with low voter engagement in down-ballot races; many voters tend to ignore PUC candidates, which leads to substantial down-ballot drop-off. Such trends underscore the need for raising the profile of these races and ensuring that voters understand their importance in regulating crucial energy policies. Addressing this discrepancy is essential for future campaigns to support climate initiatives effectively.
Long-term Strategies for Climate Advocacy
Looking forward, climate advocates are urged to adopt a multi-faceted approach that includes supporting candidates at all levels while addressing the underlying information ecosystem that shapes voter perceptions. The Climate Cabinet emphasizes the importance of using data to identify effective candidates and promote legislative efforts with a clear accountability framework on climate issues. Additionally, creating a lobbying network is seen as essential for advancing climate priorities within state legislatures. This persistent and proactive engagement is critical to overcoming future challenges and ensuring that climate change remains a central component of political discourse.
In this episode, I talk with Caroline Spears of Climate Cabinet about the results of the state and local climate races her organization tracked in 2024. We discuss the importance of these often-overlooked state and local races for climate progress, the challenges of the current political information environment, and Climate Cabinet's strategy for building power at the state level through 2030 and beyond.
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