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"With recent polling showing that 66 percent of Democrats care deeply about the issue, the support for urgent and decisive climate action is growing in the party base." (Photo: Food & Water Action Fund)
These Candidates for Congress Want to Win in 2018 on a Platform of Decisive Climate Action
More than 100 U.S. House and Senate candidates pledge to move off fossil fuels.
Jan 10, 2018
Last year, the country was battered by super-charged hurricanes and wildfires, worsened by droughts, which are now making California more susceptible to deadly mudslides. This winter is likewise proving to be chock-full of extreme weather events, including record-breaking summers in Australia and unrelenting cold in much of the United States, where, in one day in early January, Alaska was warmer than Florida.
These frequent reminders of how climate change impacts our lives--and a year of unprecedented environmental rollbacks and climate denial from the Trump administration--have added fuel to the fire for climate action. Is 2018 the year that climate change becomes a hot-button election issue?
We think so, and the year is starting off on the right foot, with more than 100 U.S. House and Senate candidates around the country pledging to support the Off Fossil Fuels for a Better Future Act if they are elected.
This legislation, introduced last year by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard with now 23 co-sponsors and counting, would halt all new fossil fuel development and commit to a 100% clean energy transition by 2035, with 80% in the next 10 years. It is endorsed by over 400 organizations including Progressive Democrats of America, National Nurses United, and People's Action.
Notable Democratic candidates that have already committed to backing the OFF Act include:
- Randy Bryce in Wisconsin, challenging Rep. Paul Ryan
- Derrick Crowe, a climate activist running for Rep. Lamar Smith's empty seat
- Marie Newman, challenging Rep. Dan Lipinski in what CNN calls 9 Democratic primaries to watch
- Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, running against Rep. Carlos Curbelo in one of Politico's top races to watch
- Several other top contenders in races rated toss-up by Cook Political Report
Food & Water Action is organizing across the country to support the bill, which is the strongest climate legislation to date--because we know that we'll only see the needed progress on climate change if we build power in states across the country to elect candidates that are unafraid to say what needs to be done and then fight for it.
With recent polling showing that 66 percent of Democrats care deeply about the issue, the support for urgent and decisive climate action is growing in the party base. Now, a new crop of candidates--most of them running for the Democratic party--are finally listening to that base and stating support for clear, decisive climate action in 2018.
Finally, some much-needed good climate news.
Sign up to join this growing movement today.
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Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It's never been this bad out there. And it's never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed, the threats we face are intensifying. We need your support now more than ever. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Will you donate now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Wenonah Hauter
Wenonah Hauter is the founder and executive director of Food & Water Watch. She has worked extensively on energy, food, water and environmental issues at the national, state, and local level. Experienced in developing policy positions and legislative strategies, she is also a skilled and accomplished organizer, having lobbied and developed grassroots field strategy and action plans.
Last year, the country was battered by super-charged hurricanes and wildfires, worsened by droughts, which are now making California more susceptible to deadly mudslides. This winter is likewise proving to be chock-full of extreme weather events, including record-breaking summers in Australia and unrelenting cold in much of the United States, where, in one day in early January, Alaska was warmer than Florida.
These frequent reminders of how climate change impacts our lives--and a year of unprecedented environmental rollbacks and climate denial from the Trump administration--have added fuel to the fire for climate action. Is 2018 the year that climate change becomes a hot-button election issue?
We think so, and the year is starting off on the right foot, with more than 100 U.S. House and Senate candidates around the country pledging to support the Off Fossil Fuels for a Better Future Act if they are elected.
This legislation, introduced last year by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard with now 23 co-sponsors and counting, would halt all new fossil fuel development and commit to a 100% clean energy transition by 2035, with 80% in the next 10 years. It is endorsed by over 400 organizations including Progressive Democrats of America, National Nurses United, and People's Action.
Notable Democratic candidates that have already committed to backing the OFF Act include:
- Randy Bryce in Wisconsin, challenging Rep. Paul Ryan
- Derrick Crowe, a climate activist running for Rep. Lamar Smith's empty seat
- Marie Newman, challenging Rep. Dan Lipinski in what CNN calls 9 Democratic primaries to watch
- Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, running against Rep. Carlos Curbelo in one of Politico's top races to watch
- Several other top contenders in races rated toss-up by Cook Political Report
Food & Water Action is organizing across the country to support the bill, which is the strongest climate legislation to date--because we know that we'll only see the needed progress on climate change if we build power in states across the country to elect candidates that are unafraid to say what needs to be done and then fight for it.
With recent polling showing that 66 percent of Democrats care deeply about the issue, the support for urgent and decisive climate action is growing in the party base. Now, a new crop of candidates--most of them running for the Democratic party--are finally listening to that base and stating support for clear, decisive climate action in 2018.
Finally, some much-needed good climate news.
Sign up to join this growing movement today.
Wenonah Hauter
Wenonah Hauter is the founder and executive director of Food & Water Watch. She has worked extensively on energy, food, water and environmental issues at the national, state, and local level. Experienced in developing policy positions and legislative strategies, she is also a skilled and accomplished organizer, having lobbied and developed grassroots field strategy and action plans.
Last year, the country was battered by super-charged hurricanes and wildfires, worsened by droughts, which are now making California more susceptible to deadly mudslides. This winter is likewise proving to be chock-full of extreme weather events, including record-breaking summers in Australia and unrelenting cold in much of the United States, where, in one day in early January, Alaska was warmer than Florida.
These frequent reminders of how climate change impacts our lives--and a year of unprecedented environmental rollbacks and climate denial from the Trump administration--have added fuel to the fire for climate action. Is 2018 the year that climate change becomes a hot-button election issue?
We think so, and the year is starting off on the right foot, with more than 100 U.S. House and Senate candidates around the country pledging to support the Off Fossil Fuels for a Better Future Act if they are elected.
This legislation, introduced last year by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard with now 23 co-sponsors and counting, would halt all new fossil fuel development and commit to a 100% clean energy transition by 2035, with 80% in the next 10 years. It is endorsed by over 400 organizations including Progressive Democrats of America, National Nurses United, and People's Action.
Notable Democratic candidates that have already committed to backing the OFF Act include:
- Randy Bryce in Wisconsin, challenging Rep. Paul Ryan
- Derrick Crowe, a climate activist running for Rep. Lamar Smith's empty seat
- Marie Newman, challenging Rep. Dan Lipinski in what CNN calls 9 Democratic primaries to watch
- Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, running against Rep. Carlos Curbelo in one of Politico's top races to watch
- Several other top contenders in races rated toss-up by Cook Political Report
Food & Water Action is organizing across the country to support the bill, which is the strongest climate legislation to date--because we know that we'll only see the needed progress on climate change if we build power in states across the country to elect candidates that are unafraid to say what needs to be done and then fight for it.
With recent polling showing that 66 percent of Democrats care deeply about the issue, the support for urgent and decisive climate action is growing in the party base. Now, a new crop of candidates--most of them running for the Democratic party--are finally listening to that base and stating support for clear, decisive climate action in 2018.
Finally, some much-needed good climate news.
Sign up to join this growing movement today.
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