Hey team, 

We’ll cut to the chase: this election did not end the way we wanted it to federally. The Trump administration will be a violent one, particularly for our climate, and we are feeling this loss to our core. It will be critical over the next 4 years to have progressive city and state legislators who can stand up to the White House, refuse to administer its hateful agenda, and lead on an equitable and fast transition to clean energy despite federal backtracking. 

But we’ve been here before. In 2018, the nation was reeling from Trump’s first election, had come together for the Women’s March (one of the largest mobilizations in American history), and then headed to the ballot box to elect a “blue wave” of progressives and Democrats. It was the election we got the Squad, elected one of the most diverse set of leaders in history, and flipped state legislatures across the country. Lead Locally was just 1 years old at that point, and many of our partner groups had also just formed in the wake of the 2016 election. This time, we’re here, and we’re prepared, and we’ve got y’all with us. Let’s build these next years together – and win back power for the climate movement.

Before that, we want to give you a sense of where our climate slate won and lost this election, and what that means for the movement. You can see the full results from our slate here. Here goes:

The flippable state legislatures that neither flipped…nor lost ground: PA & AZ

Two state legislatures, Pennsylvania and Arizona, stood out this year not only as critical for the race for the White House, but also as targets to flip both chambers for Democrats and achieve a trifecta for climate action under Democratic Governors. While we are waiting for most of the competitive races to be called in Arizona, we can speak to Pennsylvania. 

PA: Democrats have kept their majority in the State House! The race this year was to expand that majority and flip the Senate, and while we didn’t achieve that, incumbents in the State House were able to hold their seats in tough districts. In what ended up being a tough race up-ballot, this is a remarkable win, and with Governor Shapiro in office, will ensure PA does not backslide on climate this session. 

Spotlight: Mandy Steele: A former Fox Chapel Borough Councilmember, she won fights in her town for more solar, the first ban in the state on a toxic chemical, and led 21 other PA towns to take formal action on toxic chemical bans. She has kept her seat in a critical swing House district and helped hold the House!

Progressive climate champions take power in cities across the country

In cities across the country, progressives elected climate champions into city government that will be critical to standing up to Trump’s agenda. From Portland, OR to Richmond, VA and cities across California, we saw progressives win with agendas around climate, affordable housing, and municipal leadership. 

Progressive climate champions that won on Nov 5: 

• Anna Hernandez for Phoenix (AZ) City Council Ward 7
• Ysabel Jurado for Los Angeles (CA) City Council District 14
• Jackie Fielder for San Francisco (CA) Supervisor District 9
• Edward Wright for BART (CA) Board District 9
• Kenya Gibson for Richmond (VA) City Council District 
• Miles Lucero for Pueblo County (CO) Commission District 1
• Corey Jones for Providence (RI) School Board District 1
• Wes Pelletier for Portland (ME) City Council District 2
• Chelsea Johnson for Lancaster County (NE) Board of Commissioner District 4
• Candace Avalos for Portland (OR) City Council District 1
• Mitch Green Portland (OR) City Council District 3
• Angelita Morillo for Portland (OR) City Council District 3
• Tiffany Koyama Lane for Portland City Council District 3
• Meghan Moyer for Multnomah County (OR) Board of Commissioners District 1
• Shannon Singleton for Multnomah County (OR) Board of Commissioners District 2

Spotlight: Portland, OR: Following charter reform, Portland held elections to elect twelve new city councilors – results are still being counted, but as of now it looks like four of the five climate champs we supported were elected, in addition to three additional movement-aligned candidates, meaning that seven of the twelve city council members will have strong progressive and climate credentials. Polling that Lead Locally conducted with Data for Progress showed that voters wanted strong climate leaders in city government to protect Portland’s Clean Energy Fund, and to shut down the dangerous Zenith oil-by-rail project, and we’re hopeful the new council will follow through on those actions.

Defending Wins in Legislatures That Recently Passed Major Climate Policy

Following major gains in the 2022 elections, both Minnesota and Michigan passed major climate and energy policy, and this year it was critical to defend those wins from Republicans regaining control in those legislatures.

MN: Minnesota legislative leaders passed a swath of progressive reforms, climate and otherwise, that ultimately Governor Walz signed into law. This year Democrats held their slim majority in the State Senate by winning the one special election that was held, and the State House is currently too close to call, but there will either be very tight margins or it will be tied. State legislative leaders and Governor Walz should be able to prevent any backsliding on climate and energy policy. 

MI: Democrats lost the majority by one-seat (as of Nov 7) in the State House, but maintain their majority in the State Senate (where there weren’t elections this year). The State Senate and Governor Whitmer should be able to stop any attacks on the state’s climate and energy policy.

Spotlight: Kari Rehrauer: As a science teacher with 20 years under her belt, Rehrauer was inspired to run for Coon City Council after the 2016 presidential election when she was dismayed by the anti-science, anti-environmental direction the country was taking. On city council, she helped pass bills that allowed commercial solar in the city and helped develop and pass the Coon Rapids Energy Plan to expand clean energy use. In the state legislature, she’ll continue the fight to decarbonize the state’s utility, transportation, housing, and much more.

Building in gerrymandered states: NC, FL, WI, GA, TX

Several purple states with gerrymandered maps held their state legislative elections under new maps this year that provided an opportunity to increase the ranks of Democrats and climate leaders, if not flip their chambers. 

NC: Democrats have likely ended a Republican supermajority in their State House! While seats are still being counted, it seems likely Democrats have expanded their House caucus and ended a Republican supermajority in the process – blocking their ability to legislate an anti-climate agenda without opposition. Democrat Josh Stein has also won the governorship, ensuring a Governor’s mansion that can block the worst of any Republican efforts to roll back climate progress.

WI: Democrats have expanded their numbers in both chambers! From our slate, Joe Sheehan has been able to flip a State House Republican seat, and Jodi Emerson has kept her State House seat in a competitive district!

GA/TX/FL: While votes are still being counted, it seems likely that Democrats will not have been able to build their caucuses in either chamber of any of these states.

Spotlight: Beth Helfrich has flipped a Republican seat by 4 points! Helfrich is a teacher and school administrator of 20 years who ran to speed up NC’s clean energy transition, hit the targets outlined in the Governor’s executive order committing the state to the goals of the Paris Climate Accords, to advocate for conservation, and to fight for environmental justice on issues like outdated infrastructure and worker protections.

State utilities, we still need to regulate ‘em: AZ, MT, LA

State utility regulators held elections in 3 states this year to decide their commissioners who make critical decisions on rate hikes and the speed of a utilities’ transition to clean energy. Lead Locally only endorsed in Arizona’s Corporation Commission, where all 3 of the Democratic at-large candidates are tracking with federal results and trailing Republicans. In both other states (MT, LA), Republicans have won in gerrymandered seats. 

What’s next:

The fight’s not over – more races are getting called right now AND we have an opportunity to plan the next year for upcoming elections where we can immediately begin electing climate leaders that can fight back against Trump’s agenda and build towards the future we want. Next year, we have critical state legislative elections in Virginia and municipal races across the country – and twice next year we are holding trainings to elect down ballot progressives on climate across the country. Sign up on our site to be in touch – and join us for our election debrief on 11/12!