How John Fetterman flipped Pennsylvania for Democrats

[Melisa Noilsa]

Michigan, for instance, could accelerate the shift to electric vehicles.

 

“This completely opens the pathway for Michigan to lead on clean cars of the future, and that’s really exciting,” Spears said.

 

Climate victories at the local level are also poised to make a big impact. In Texas, Democratic incumbent Lina Hidalgo won a tight race for Harris County Judge, a position that oversees the state's most populous county. Harris County includes Houston and millions of people beyond the city's borders.

 

In her first term, Hidalgo emphasized issues around climate disaster relief and prevention, focusing especially on flooding.

 

President Donald Trump is boxing his own shadow as he seeks the Republican presidential nomination — andthat’s not likely to change anytime soon. Three’s little incentive for rivals to join him in the ring, according to advisers to potential candidates and otherRepublican strategists. From the front row, FloridaGov. Ron DeSantis is collectingsupport from prominent donors and beating Trump in some polls of key states. If he runs, that announcement isn’t expected to come until summerattheearliest — probably after Florida’s legislative session ends in June — which will give him timeto gauge his ownchances.

 

“She’s very data-oriented and science-oriented about how we actually protect Houstonians from flooding,” Spears said.

 

These measures at the state and local level will better protect communities from the effects of climate change, and will contribute to the country's overall efforts to fight global warming.

 

If fully implemented, climate experts have said the Inflation Reduction Act could reduce U.S. emissions by about 40% below 2005 levels by 2030. While not enough to meet Biden's ambitious goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% by the end of the decade, they at least keep that target within reach.

 

State and local lawmakers will play a crucial role in keeping those emissions-reduction goals in sight.

 

“We would love to see more great legislation coming out of the federal government, but a ton of money from the Inflation Reduction Act will come as grants to cities, counties and state and local governments,” Spears said. “So it’s really important to have climate leadership in state and local governments to actually execute on that and make sure it happens well.”