The fight for our climate starts in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvanians are feeling the climate crisis. From record-breaking heat waves to deadly floods, “once-in-a-lifetime” weather events are becoming our new normal. We need lawmakers who are committed to taking climate action—and we need your help to elect them.
Pennsylvania’s senate and gubernatorial races are two of the most closely watched races in the entire nation—and for good reason. The health of our democracy and our planet hinges on the results of these elections.
The health of our planet
This summer, the federal government took historic climate action by passing the Inflation Reduction Act—providing almost $370 billion to invest in clean energy and climate justice.
But our work isn’t done yet. Even though 62 percent of Pennsylvania voters think we need to do more to protect our air, water, and climate from oil and gas pollution, anti-climate state lawmakers continue to put up roadblock after roadblock to prevent Pennsylvania’s transition to a clean energy future.
The health of our democracy
Who you vote for today will have consequences in the future. In their next session, the state legislature is set to vote on Senate Bill 106, a bill that would make several changes to the state constitution, including: revoking abortion access; making it harder for Pennsylvanians to vote; and taking the power away from Pennsylvanians to elect some officials by allowing the governor to appoint them instead.
But there’s one more provision that directly affects our climate work. If passed, S.B. 106 would allow the General Assembly to kill any regulations proposed by a state agency with a simple majority vote. That means any environmental regulations proposed by Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection could be overruled by a notoriously anti-climate state legislature. There’s a lot at stake, and who we elect now has big implications for the health of our democracy and the health of our planet.
What you can do
We must hold those lawmakers accountable—starting with making your voice heard at the voting booth.
Learn more about what’s at stake in Pennsylvania during the midterm elections this November and how you can take action. Click on the links below to head to each section:
- THE WHEN: Important dates
- THE WHO: Meet the candidates
- THE HOW: Take action
- THE RESULTS: As of November 16, 2022
THE WHEN: Important dates
Don’t know if you’re registered to vote? Want to request a mail-in ballot? You’re in the right spot to have all your logistical questions answered! Check out this list of key deadlines and resources to make sure you don’t miss the chance to vote by November 8.
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THE WHO: Meet the candidates
We must face the climate crisis head-on by electing environmental champions who will put Pennsylvanians before the profits of polluters. The following candidates have impressive records of fighting for a cleaner, healthier, and more equitable climate future.
JOSH SHAPIRO
Running for governor
Attorney General of Pennsylvania since 2017
Why we support Shapiro
- As a career public servant, Shapiro has a long record of fighting for justice, including: combating the opioid crisis and suing pharmaceutical companies; protecting health care access; and defending voting rights by protecting Pennsylvania’s 2020 election results.
- If elected governor, Shapiro is committed to investing in the creation of thousands of clean energy jobs for Pennsylvanians, promoting solar projects, and making it easier for residents to access renewable energy sources—and making sure underserved communities aren’t left behind in the transition.
JOHN FETTERMAN
Running for U.S. Senate
Lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania since 2019; former mayor of Braddock for 13 years
Why we support Fetterman
- As mayor of Braddock, Fetterman was the only elected official in Western Pennsylvania to oppose the construction of a four-lane interstate highway through the town. Calling out the proposal as environmental racism, Fetterman wanted to protect the air of his constituents—who are 80 percent Black and already suffer from higher-than-average asthma rates—from dirty car emissions.
- If elected to the Senate, Fetterman is committed to prioritizing environmental justice in Pennsylvanian communities and advocating for the transition to a clean energy future that will create millions of good-paying union jobs.
MATTHEW CARTWRIGHT
Running for U.S. House of Representatives (PA-08)
Representative for Pennsylvania since 2013; current vice chair of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition
Why we support Cartwright
- He’s proven himself as a climate and environmental leader by introducing a number of bills aimed at lowering carbon emissions, encouraging clean energy jobs, and protecting drinking water from fracking pollution.
- Cartwright is also a champion of Pennsylvania’s natural areas, sponsoring legislation that ensures their preservation for future generations.
SUSAN WILD
Running for U.S. House of Representatives (PA-07)
Representative for Pennsylvania since 2018; co-chair of the New Democrat Coalition’s Climate Change Task Force
Why we support Wild
- A self-described “ardent environmentalist,” Wild has made it her mission to ban fracking on public lands, protect the Arctic, and support development of renewable technologies—all while making equity a centerpiece in our environmental policies.
- Addressing the climate crisis is a top concern for Wild. She was a vocal proponent of rejoining the Paris Agreement to reduce worldwide carbon emissions.
Important note: This election cycle, the NRDC Action Fund focused on endorsements for key federal and gubernatorial races. We know there are other important races on the ballot, so we encourage you to seek out other trusted resources to help you learn about candidates in races we have not covered.
THE HOW: Take action
Pennsylvania is one of the most closely watched states this election season, which means record amounts of money are pouring into the races. But money isn’t the only determinant of the outcome—your advocacy can make a difference in such hotly contested races. Here are a few ways you can get involved:
Share this voter guide on social media
Make sure your friends and family in Pennsylvania know that the climate is on Pennsylvania’s ballot and that they have all the info they need to vote for climate champions on November 8.
Share to Facebook. >>
Share to Twitter. >>
Sign up to be a poll worker on Election Day
A sign of a functioning democracy is high voter turnout, but unfortunately, polling places in some states are forced to close due to a lack of poll workers. This makes it much harder for people to vote.
Join Slack to connect with other climate activists
Find other people like you fighting for climate action in Pennsylvania—because a grassroots movement requires strength in numbers. You’ll be the first to know about important volunteer opportunities and actions you can take to help secure a victory this fall.
Sign up to write letters to Pennsylvania voters
We’re partnering with Vote Forward to mobilize volunteers like you to write thousands of get-out-the-vote (GOTV) letters to voters in Pennsylvania. This is one of the most effective ways to make sure people turn up to vote—in fact, writing personal letters can increase turnout results by up to 3.4 percentage points!
Sign up to write letters on NRDC Action Fund’s Vote Forward hub. >>
THE RESULTS: As of November 16, 2022
We know that when it comes to fighting climate change and securing a clean and healthy future for everyone, every election counts. This one was no different. Democrats fought hard to retain their majority in the Senate, while Republicans are poised to take narrow control of the House of Representatives.
But a split Congress means leaders from both parties have a responsibility to work together to build a livable future for all. Now it is important to continue to push for equitable climate action and insist that both parties work to deliver a clean energy future. The NRDC Action Fund has a long history of working with bipartisan legislatures to achieve real climate progress. There is tough work ahead—but for now let’s celebrate the new and returning climate champions.
Here are the new and returning climate champions at the helm in Pennsylvania:
- Josh Shapiro has been elected as governor.
- John Fetterman has been elected as senator.
- Susan Wild has been re-elected as representative for District PA-07.
- Matt Cartwright has been re-elected as representative for District PA-08.
The following candidates were not elected this year:
- All our endorsed candidates were elected!
Our journey does not end on Election Day. We will continue to defend the wins and learn from the losses over the last two years. And we hope you will continue to support this work.
Paid for by the NRDC Action Fund and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
