No races on the ballot in 2022 will impact climate action more than state elections. The results of the 2022 midterms are a huge victory for climate action at the state level at a critical time. Tuesday’s elections saw victories across the board for Democratic governors who have pledged to move further and faster on decarbonization. In this election, at least 17 governors were elected who have collectively pledged an 80% reduction in their states’ emissions.
Democrats also gained trifectas in Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan and Minnesota—and now have the opportunity to move forward on more aggressive climate plans. The results of the 2022 midterm elections provide a major opportunity for progress confronting the climate crisis and building a just, thriving, and inclusive clean energy economy.
Now that historic climate investments in the federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) are law, states will be a central battleground in the fight against climate change in the coming months and years. Strong leadership from governors will be key to implementing the IRA and in advancing ambitious state climate policies to decarbonize the most polluting sectors in our economy. Put simply: state level action is essential to ensure we hit our climate targets.