Identify Climate Candidates
How to spot a real climate champion on your ballot – and in the wild!
Step 1: Find a sample ballot, if available
A sample ballot lets you preview all the candidates and ballot measures that will be on your actual ballot. Click here to find your sample ballot!
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Try Googling “you city + sample ballot,” or use this tool to look up the website & contact info for your local election office.
Step 2: Get fired up about ALL the elected positions on the ballot
Don’t skim over the lesser-known and more local elections! State and local officials are hugely important for climate progress. Elected officials in our states can pass legislation, sue bad actors, implement federal legislation, and more. A general rule of thumb is the more local the elected official, the more directly they impact your life. Plus, local officials tend to be more accessible, so your voice as a constituent can have a greater influence on the policies shaping your community – especially if you say “I voted for you because of climate action!”
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Federal officials: President and U.S. Congress (House and Senate) : All ballots include candidates for president and the U.S. House of Representatives, with many also including U.S. Senate races. Securing a pro-climate majority in both chambers is crucial for federal policy progress.
Governor: Governors are extraordinarily powerful — many are more influential than members of Congress. They can sign or veto state legislation, make executive policy, and appoint people to state executive offices that handle climate and environmental issues.
State Legislators: State legislators have immense power over state climate policy. They pass key climate laws, like 100% clean energy mandates or bans on gas hookups, for example, authorize public utility commissions to regulate utilities, and – importantly! – control funding for climate programs. You’ll likely see 2-3 candidates on your ballot running for state senate and your state’s lower chamber (called a house of representatives, assembly, or house of delegates).
Attorney General: Another key climate role. The attorney general, your state’s top lawyer, can hold polluters accountable by initiating lawsuits on behalf of the state.
Judges: A balanced, nonpartisan judiciary is critical for strengthening democracy and for establishing pro-climate legal precedent. Judges at the appellate and state supreme court levels are deciding a rapidly increasing number of climate cases. Here’s a good resource on why judges matter.
Public Utilities Commission (PUC): Your PUC is a board of regulators that governs electric utilities. Power generation is a leading source of carbon emissions, so proper oversight and regulation matters. In 11 states, these commissioners are popularly elected, so you could see these offices on your ballot. Since every state’s regulatory structure is different, be sure to Google your ‘state + energy regulation’ to double-check (other names for PUCS include: ‘public service commissions’ or ‘public utilities board’ or, in Texas for example, oil and gas is regulated by the Texas Railroad Commission).
Secretary of State: Not to be confused with the U.S. diplomat-in-chief, your state’s secretary of state has the important duty of overseeing state elections. A strong, well-run democracy is crucial for addressing the climate crisis fairly.
County Commissioner / Supervisor: County executives are your top county officials and have influential lobbying potential with your members of Congress and governor. These officials also control local budgets, impacting projects like public transit, solar installations, and electric school buses.
Local Officials: Mayors, city council members, and school board members also affect on-the-ground climate policies! For example, they can also take advantage of federal funds for things like electric school buses, and New York City’s local officials banned fossil gas in new buildings. If you live in a large city, your mayor also likely has serious political clout with the governor and members of Congress.
Ballot Measures: Some states allow climate-related laws to be voted on directly by the public. These ballot measures can have dramatic impacts on climate policy and climate funding — and you get a direct say.
Step 3: Find and evaluate candidate stances on climate
With your sample ballot in hand, let's dive into some research!
Pro Tip: Sometimes, there’s a clear climate champion in the race. Other times, there’s not. You can still “vote climate” by voting for the candidate who is better on climate, relative to others.
1. Explore candidate websites.
Candidates often highlight endorsements and issues they care most about on their websites. Some candidates will feature “climate action” and “climate justice.” Others will mention climate-related priorities like “clean energy,” or “environmental protection. In swing or more conservative-leaning districts, platforms may be more subtle, so check their positions on “energy," "environmental stewardship," or “conservation and public lands.”
2. Look up endorsements.
Google: “Candidate name + climate endorsements”
National climate groups who endorse candidates: LCV Action Fund (federal), Climate Cabinet (state-level), and GiveGreen (federal and state-level).
State and local chapters of national climate groups: Google “Your state + Sierra Club + 2024 Election Endorsements” or “Your state + League of Conservation Voters + 2024 Election Endorsements”
Climate media: Outlets that focus on climate issues often cover high-stakes races with climate on the ballot or even release voter guides. For example, Canary Media featured utility regulator races where clean energy is on the ballot, Politico highlighted Attorney General races to watch on climate and energy, and Grist outlined how the presidential race affects the climate. Look for more like this!
Your local news outlets: Their editorial boards often explain candidate positions in their endorsements!
3. Sleuth the internet!
Social media: Check candidates' social media feeds for any climate mentions. BONUS: Show support by liking or commenting on pro-climate-action content, and if a stance isn’t clear, send a direct message to ask!
Press releases and official communications can also shed light on climate priorities.
When in doubt: A quick web search with the candidate’s name and “climate change” often reveals recent statements, debates, or media coverage.
4. For Incumbents: Check voting records.
For current officeholders, their voting history on legislation is often the best indicator of how they’re already pushing for (or obstructing) climate progress. For incumbent members of Congress, check LCV’s scorecard. For state legislators in most U.S. states, check Climate Cabinet’s scorecard.
And that’s it, playbook complete! Feel accomplished.
Thank you for taking action.
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