Tag: elections

  • Release: Nearly a third of Democrats who flipped U.S. House seats refuse fossil fuel industry money

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    November 7, 2018

    CONTACT:
    Stephen Kretzmann, steve [at] priceofoil.org
    Collin Rees, collin [at] priceofoil.org

    Nearly a third of Democrats who flipped U.S. House seats refuse Fossil Fuel industry money

    New brand of climate leadership emerges

    WASHINGTON, DC — Following yesterday’s U.S. midterm elections, which saw a historic surge of Democratic women lead the Democratic Party to take back the U.S. House of Representatives and win races at all levels, Stephen Kretzmann, Executive Director of Oil Change United States, had the following statement:

    “Despite the fossil fuel industry-sponsored carpet-bombing of advertising against clean energy and climate around the country, several bright spots survived. A new kind of climate leadership is emerging around the country – one that understands the need to stand up to the oil and gas industry.

    “This blue wave had a deep green tint. In a sign of things to come, nearly a third of the Democrats who flipped U.S. House seats have signed the No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge. Of the anticipated 33 new Democratic seats taken over from the Republicans, 11 have signed the Pledge, which commits them to not take contributions from the oil, gas, and coal industry and instead prioritize the health of our families, climate, and democracy over fossil fuel industry profits.

    “In New Mexico, voters elected Stephanie Garcia Richard to Public Lands Commissioner, to oversee methane regulations and administer public lands. She is committed to stopping the expansion of fracking and drilling for oil and gas in the Permian Basin, which is the largest new potential carbon bomb in the world today. Chevron, the top leaseholder in the Permian, spent millions to defeat her, but lost.

    “New Mexican voters also elected Deb Haaland to Congress. Haaland has pledged to vote against all new fossil fuel infrastructure, in line with climate science and the Paris climate goals. She is a strong advocate for Indigenous rights and climate justice.

    “In Minnesota, Ilhan Omar ran a proudly fossil-free campaign for Congress and won, speaking frequently about a just transition to build a clean energy economy with good-paying, union jobs, and vocally opposing the Line 3 tar sands pipeline.

    “Preliminary analysis of campaign finance data from the Center for Responsive Politics indicates that fossil fuel industry money was less than ¼ of one percent of all money raised by Democrats running for the House in 2018. Democratic leadership would do well to recall that when the issue of party acceptance of fossil fuel industry donations next surfaces at the DNC.”

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    Notes to Editors:

    Full list of Oil Change United States endorsements: https://oilchangeus.org/endorsements/

    Oil Change United States-endorsed climate leaders who won their elections include:

    Ilhan Omar, U.S. House, MN-05

    Deb Haaland, U.S. House, NM-01

    Nika Elugardo, Massachusetts State House, 15th Suffolk District

    Danielle Friel Otten, Pennsylvania State House, 155th District

    Stephanie Garcia Richard, Public Lands Commissioner of New Mexico

    Full list of No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge signers: http://nofossilfuelmoney.org/pledge-signers/

    No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge signers who won their elections include:

    Dianne Feinstein, U.S. Senate, CA

    Bernie Sanders, U.S. Senate, VT

    Ruben Gallego, U.S. House, AZ-07

    Barbara Lee, U.S. House, CA-13

    Ro Khanna, U.S. House, CA-17

    Zoe Lofgren, U.S. House, CA-19

    Katie Hill, U.S. House, CA-25 (likely winner)

    Nanette Barragán, U.S. House, CA-44

    Harley Rouda, U.S. House, CA-48 (likely winner)

    Mike Levin, U.S. House, CA-49 (likely winner)

    Darren Soto, U.S. House, FL-09

    Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, U.S. House, FL-26

    Tulsi Gabbard, U.S. House, HI-02

    Jesús “Chuy” García, U.S. House, IL-04

    Jan Schakowsky, U.S. House, IL-09

    Ayanna Pressley, U.S. House, MA-07

    Jamie Raskin, U.S. House, MD-08

    Chellie Pingree, U.S. House, ME-01

    Andy Levin, U.S. House, MI-08

    Rashida Tlaib, U.S. House, MI-13

    Dean Phillips, U.S. House, MN-03

    Ilhan Omar, U.S. House, MN-05

    Chris Pappas, U.S. House, NH-01

    Deb Haaland, U.S. House, NM-01

    Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, U.S. House, NY-14

    Madeleine Dean, U.S. House, PA-04

    Mary Gay Scanlon, U.S. House, PA-05

    Mary Gay Scanlon, U.S. House, PA-07 (special election)

    Susan Ellis Wild, U.S. House, PA-07

    Susan Ellis Wild, U.S. House, PA-15 (special election; likely winner)

    Elaine Luria U.S. House, VA-02

    Jennifer Wexton, U.S. House, VA-10

    Pramila Jayapal, U.S. House, WA-07

    Kim Schrier, U.S. House, WA-08 (likely winner)

    Adam Smith, U.S. House, WA-09

    Gavin Newsom, Governor of California

    Eleni Kounalakis, Lieutenant Governor of California

    John Fetterman, Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania

    David Zuckerman, Lieutenant Governor of Vermont

    Mandela Barnes, Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin

    Dana Nessel, Attorney General of Michigan

    Keith Ellison, Attorney General of Minnesota

    Jim Condos, Secretary of State of Vermont

    Fiona Ma, State Treasurer of California

    Beth Pearce, State Treasurer of Vermont

    Doug Hoffer, State Auditor of Vermont

  • Electing Real Climate Leaders to Stop Fossil Fuel Projects

    When the media talks about the climate crisis, there’s a lot of focus on the dysfunction in Congress. That’s understandable, since Congress’s inaction has enormous consequences and it’s critical that our representatives start actively opposing the fossil fuel industry.

    But when it comes to the nitty-gritty of stopping the build-out of fossil fuel projects, the elected bodies making these decisions are often much less glamorous. Congress plays a role, but it’s the city councils, port authorities, and Public Utilities Commissions that are regularly making the crucial calls on whether fossil fuel infrastructure gets built – or gets stopped in its tracks.

    That’s why we’re renewing our partnership with Lead Locally, a great group dedicated to electing climate leaders unafraid to stand up to industry at the local level. Last year, our supporters volunteered to help elect three local climate champions through this collaboration – and these candidates have since killed plans for an oil export terminal in Washington state and massively delayed a fracked gas pipeline in Pennsylvania.

    Sign up here to help us pick up where we left off with last year’s major victories, and do it again.

    Volunteering is easy – after signing up, you’ll get plugged into making phone calls and sending text messages from the comfort of your own home. You’ll be joining hundreds of others around the country who are doing the same thing, contacting voters to let them know the facts and asking them to reject the influence of Big Oil’s dirty money in these districts.

    Lead Locally volunteers make calls to elect real climate leaders in 2017. Photo by Devyn Powell.

    It’s high time to reset the definition of “climate leadership” at all levels and get serious about taking on Big Oil, Gas, and Coal. That’s one of our primary goals with launching Oil Change USA – to dig deep into our broken political system and lift up real climate leadership that helps people and planet.

    This year we’re working to elect a group of local climate leaders who are willing to stand up to the fossil fuel industry – to reject its money by taking the No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge, to reject all new fossil fuel projects, and to promote real solutions to the climate crisis.

    The candidates we’re supporting include:

    • Katy Eymann

      Katy Eymann for Coos County Commission (Oregon) – Katy is running to stop the Jordan Cove LNG pipeline and export facility, and to revitalize Coos County with economic opportunity that will last long beyond the fracked gas era. Jordan Cove has donated over $20,000 to Katy’s opponent, incumbent John Sweet, who is in favor of the proposed project.

    • Christa Yoakum

      Christa Yoakum for Public Service Commission (Nebraska) – Christa is running for an open seat on the Nebraska Public Service Commission with a promise to put Nebraskans first. The PSC is the body that approved permits for the Keystone XL Pipeline, and with Christa on the PSC, there would be a majority opposed to using eminent domain for dangerous pipeline development. Christa’s vision for this seat is focused on protecting the environment, expanding broadband access for all, and protecting consumers from corporate greed.

    • Stephanie Garcia Richard

      Stephanie Garcia Richard for Land Commissioner (New Mexico) – Stephanie is running for New Mexico’s Land Commissioner, a position that oversees methane regulations and public lands in New Mexico. If elected, she is committed to stopping the expansion of fracking and drilling in the Permian Basin, one of the largest remaining oil and gas reserves in the world. Chevron and other industry players have already spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in the primary election season, and we’re expecting them to spend big again for the general election.

    Sign up for a volunteer shift today to fight back against the fossil fuel industry’s dirty money, and help elect climate champs.

    These candidates were all early signers of the No Fossil Fuel Money Pledge, and they’ve worked closely with grassroots organizers to oppose new fossil fuel infrastructure and build a brighter energy future with authentic community input.

    These are the kind of real climate leaders we need to turn this crisis around, and they’ll have the power to stop fossil fuel projects in their states – if we join Lead Locally in helping them get elected.


    PAID FOR BY OIL CHANGE USA, 714 G STREET SE, WASHINGTON, DC 20003.     NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE, CANDIDATE’S AUTHORIZED POLITICAL COMMITTEE, OR CANDIDATE’S AGENTS.