Kurt Schrader’s Loss In OR-05 Is A Warning Sign: Climate Inaction Is a Job Killer

In response to Jamie McLeod-Skinner’s win over incumbent Kurt Schrader in Oregon’s 5th Congressional District (OR-05), Evergreen Action Executive Director Jamal Raad released the following statement:

“Kurt Schrader has been bought and paid for by special interests––it’s about time Oregon voters sent him packing. His defeat today sends a clear message that members of Congress must deliver on climate change. From Australia to Oregon, voters are demanding bold climate action from their elected officials, and falling short can cost candidates their jobs. Voters around the world, and across the political spectrum, understand that the climate crisis is the most consequential threat of our time and its demands are non-negotiable. Voters are raising the standard of climate leadership expected from their representatives, and obstructionist tactics to block climate action from politicians in the pocket of the fossil fuel industry will not stand.

“Rep. Schrader has stuck like a sharp thorn in the side of President Biden’s agenda. His move to decouple the Build Back Better reconciliation package from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and his vote against the Clean Electricity Performance Program sent a clear message to voters in his district that he was not working for them. The outcome in Oregon’s 5th District should serve as a warning sign to Democrats up and down the ballot that climate must be a top priority if they hope to keep their seats in November. If they fail to deliver meaningful climate and clean energy investments before the midterms, they are in for a rude awakening. Climate is a winning issue—and climate obstruction is a proven losing strategy. It’s time for Democrats in Congress to act like it.”