Overlooked in Climate Politics: November 2023
Welcome to Overlooked in Climate Politics, the Environmental Voter Project’s monthly newsletter that gives you a quick rundown of 3 under-reported stories in climate politics. Please forward it to your friends (they can subscribe here)! In this edition, we spotlight the Dec. 9 mayoral runoff election in Houston, a below-the-radar election result in Kansas that could have big climate implications, and some great clean energy news out of Michigan.
Houston’s Dec. 9 Mayoral Runoff Election.
Democrats John Whitmire and Sheila Jackson Lee face off in a Dec. 9 mayoral runoff election after emerging as the top vote-getters in a field of 17 candidates on Nov. 7. As head of the country’s fourth largest city (and a jurisdiction with huge amounts of fossil fuel infrastructure), the next Mayor of Houston will have responsibility for a host of significant climate and environmental decisions. There’s been surprisingly little coverage of the climate policy impacts of the election, but the New York Times provided a recent overview of the race.
The Local Election with a Big Possible Impact.
On Nov. 7, three pro-clean energy candidates won election to the Kansas City (KS) Board of Public Utilities, providing a majority of board members who are now eager to set a quick timetable to shut down the Nearman Creek coal power plant. The Environmental Voter Project’s Executive Director, Nathaniel Stinnett, joined the Climate Now podcast to discuss the climate impacts of this and other Nov. 7 elections.
Clean Electricity + Prevailing Wages = Good Politics and Good Policy.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is poised to sign a package of bills that would rapidly transition the state to 80% clean electricity by 2035 and 100% by 2040, while also requiring clean electricity jobs to match local prevailing wages and work conditions. As Greg Sargent points out in a recent Washington Post column, this is not only a significant “just transition” policy achievement, but it may also point the way for a durable Climate + Labor political coalition.
How You Can Take Action
Join the Environmental Voter Project on Zoom to mobilize low propensity environmental voters for the upcoming Houston mayoral runoff election! Sign up for phonebanks using scripts proven to boost turnout: November 28th at 12pm ET / 9am PT, November 30th at 7pm ET / 4pm PT, December 4th at 7pm ET / 4pm PT, and December 5th at 12pm ET / 9am PT. Training provided — please join us!
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