We need champions in Congress who will fight for a healthy planet and a people-powered democracy and we need to hold all elected officials accountable based on their voting records and public stances. Showing up to vote – and voting for the climate — does exactly that.

Ahead of the November 5 General Election, Greenpeace USA Votes has identified swing races where climate candidates are running and we’re organizing to get climate voters informed and out to the polls. Voters deserve to know that there is a difference between the candidates when it comes to climate, democracy, and protecting our communities and how important it is to use their voice. 

Ready to jump in? Greenpeace USA Votes volunteers all over the country are writing personalized letters — which have been shown to be one of the most effective ways to get voters to the polls — to climate voters in these key races. It’s fun and easy to do!

If you’ve already completed a letter writing training or you’ve written letters to get out the vote before, request a packet of letters today.

These critical races are more than just an election between candidates; they take a stance on the future we want. We have a chance to build enough people power to elect a Congress that delivers a green energy system and a livable future that works for all of us, not just a few wealthy oil and gas executives.

Learn more about key races in the 2024 General Election and why we’re writing letters in these districts. Keep checking back as we will add more throughout the year!

In California’s 47th district, Democrat Dave Min and Republican Scott Baugh are fighting it out in a seat left vacant by Katie Porter. This seat is highly competitive and could determine which party takes control of the House. 

Dave Min, a current California State Senator, has pledged not to take money from oil and gas companies and supports an end to fossil fuel subsidies. If elected, he has committed to vote for the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act, the SLAPP Protection Act to protect first amendment protest rights, and the PRO Act to protect workers’ rights to unionize. As a California State Senator, Min voted for SB 1137, a critical law that prohibits toxic oil drilling within 3,200 feet of homes, schools, day care centers, parks, healthcare facilities, and businesses. In the wake of the December 1 oil spill off Huntington Beach, Min was the first legislator to call for a total ban on offshore drilling in California.

Republican candidate Scott Baugh is no friend to the climate or our democracy. He has actively opposed good climate policy and spread lies about their effects on gas prices. Moreover, Baugh’s ethical track record honoring democratic process is abhorrent. While he was Chair of the Orange County Republican Party, a voter fraud scandal, in which residents were registered as Republicans without their consent, led to 12 arrests. Baugh was also indicted on several criminal charges related to a scheme to manipulate his own election results. Baugh ultimately agreed  to pay tens of thousands of dollars in fines settling the matter in a civil case.

Right now, we’re working to turn out voters for the November 5 General Election by writing letters to climate concerned voters in CA-47. Sign up to write letters with us!

In California’s 49th district, climate champion incumbent Mike Levin faces off against Republican Matt Gunderson. 

Democrat Mike Levin is an original sponsor of the Green New Deal and has pledged not to take money from oil and gas companies, PACs, or lobbyists. Levin signed a letter urging House Leadership to eliminate subsidies for fossil fuel operations on federal lands and wrote in a Times of San Diego piece: “Big Oil executives taking in record-breaking profits and refusing to pass savings on to consumers don’t deserve any assistance from taxpayers.” Levin is working to expand voting rights and access by co-sponsoring the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and voting to pass the Freedom to Vote Act.

When Republican Matt Gunderson ran for California state assembly, oil companies poured nearly $1.8 million into backing him and attacking his opponent. He has publicly opposed green energy investments in the Inflation Reduction Act and has railed against any efforts to increase efficiency or electrification of methane gas stoves. Moreover, he has propagated dangerous misinformation about voter fraud and mail-in voting.

Sign up to write letters so climate voters make their voices heard in CA-49!

In the battleground state of Arizona, Democratic Congressman Ruben Gallego faces off against Republican Kari Lake in a Senate seat race left open by Senator Kirsten Sinema. Progressive turnout around this election could have decisive consequences for the balance of power in the Senate, as well as the presidential race. 

Ruben Gallego has pledged not to take campaign contributions from oil and gas companies, an important signifier that he is willing to stand with people, not big polluters. In Congress, Gallego has supported historic clean energy investments as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, voted for stronger methane gas pollution standards, and co-sponsored the Environmental Justice for All Act. Notably, he has not co-sponsored bills like the Green New Deal or the Climate Emergency Act, indicating room for improvement to become a bold climate champion in Congress. Still, the contrast in positions with his opponent are stark. 

Trump-endorsed Republican Kari Lake is a staunch ally of Big Oil, with “American Energy Dominance” a core tenant of her platform. She writes prolifically on X (formerly Twitter) about backing Trump’s agenda to expand oil and natural gas. She also is a prominent denier of the 2020 election results, vocally spreading lies and disinformation that attack the foundation of our democracy. 

Write letters with us to turn out climate voters in Arizona for the November 5 General Election!

In Arizona’s 6th congressional district, incumbent Juan Ciscomani and Democratic challenger Kirsten Engel are headed towards a rematch in a race that was determined by less than 6000 votes in 2022. 

Kirsten Engel is an environmental lawyer and former state house representative with a strong track record of fighting for the planet and healthy communities. As an environmental lawyer, she published papers around concepts and applications of legal frameworks in the era of climate change, and filed an amicus brief in the first U.S. Supreme Court case to recognize that greenhouse gas emissions contribute to climate change. In the Arizona legislature, she was a leader in the Democratic Caucus on issues related to water and served on the Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan Steering Committee. She has also pledged not to take campaign contributions from fossil fuel corporations. 

Juan Ciscomani has received nearly $100,000 in campaign contributions from oil and gas companies, while End Citizen United named him among the dozen “most corrupt politicians in America,” due in part to the fact that dark money super PACs spent $6.5 million more than the opposition to defeat Kristen Engel last cycle. He has a 14% rating on environmental issues from the League of Conservation Voters, while he was rated 100% on his voting record by the Independent Petroleum Association of America. While in office, he voted to unleash methane gas exports and fastrack oil and gas projects while bypassing environmental reviews.

New York’s 22nd congressional district is a highly competitive race, where Democrat John Mannion is attempting to oust Republican incumbent Rep. Brandon Williams in a district where President Biden won in 2020.  

John Mannion is a current NY state senator, who previously served as a public school science teacher for three decades. In the New York Senate, he served on the Environmental Conservation Committee where he fought to support programs that improve flood-management and transition towards a clean transportation future. Mannion worked closely with the New York League of Conservation Voters to help implement legislative priorities to reduce the carbon footprint of the on-road transportation sector and increase charging for electric vehicles. He has pledged not to take campaign contributions from fossil fuel corporations. 

Meanwhile, Rep Brandon Williams is a former Wall Street investment banker and Silicon Valley investor from Texas, endorsed by former President Trump, who has received more than $74,000 in oil and gas campaign contributions so far this cycle. He has attacked the Green New Deal and expansion of renewable energy, while touting the expansion of oil and gas.