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Susan Phillips
Matt Rourke/AP Photo
Vehicles are submerged during flooding in Norristown, Pennsylvania, in the aftermath of heavy rains and strong winds from the debris of Hurricane Ida that struck the area on Thursday, September 2, 2021. Scientists say climate change contributes to the intensity of storms like Ida.
Citing an “existential crisis” related to climate change and environmental protection, national environmental groups are pouring millions of dollars into Pennsylvania’s midterm elections.
“We have spent far more money on elections in this state than we used to,” said Molly Parsen, executive director of Pennsylvania protected voters. “This is an existential election for environmental issues in this state, especially for the frontrunner for gubernatorial. This has always been a must-win race for us.”
Republican candidate Doug Mastriano denies the existence of climate change, pledges to withdraw states from regional greenhouse gas initiatives, and promises to deregulate the oil and gas industry.
Democrat Josh Shapiro, who supports fracking but also regulation, indicted Mariner East pipeline builder Energy Transfer, which led the company to challenge criminal charges in August. I didn’t. He also said he would raise the state’s clean energy goals.
“This clearly shows the direction the state can go on various issues,” Parzen said.
Persen said the group’s PAC, PA’s Conservation Voter Winning Fund, will raise about $3.2 million in tandem with the National Super PAC, the League of Conservation Voters Winning Fund, which spent $1.2 million in Pennsylvania in 2020. are going to spend Place ads and make an effort to get polls for both gubernatorial and senate elections, as well as some downvoting state legislators.
Protective voters in Pennsylvania ran TV ads for the first time in support of Shapiro. Knocking on the Door targets voters in suburban Philadelphia, but re-elections indicate the possibility of electing more environmental legislators in Bucks and Chester counties.
They also used computer models to target an unlikely list of voters who are deeply concerned about climate issues.
“We ended up creating a $250,000 direct mail piece layered with $250,000 of digital advertising with a climate message aimed at a specific demographic. Parzen said, “And it would be a very interesting experiment to see the results, and hopefully lead to further increases in voter turnout.”
She said those voters tend to be women, young people and people of color.
PennEnvironment also stepped up its door-to-door campaign targeting voters who might not normally vote in midterm elections. Through partnerships with the National Environmental America Action Fund, statewide groups have spent more than $1 million, about 30 percent more than the previous year.
“Climate change being an existential crisis is certainly more dangerous,” Mazur said. “The clock is ticking, time is running out. With each election, the window is closed to prevent us from escaping this climatic cliff of no return.”
Another super PAC, NRDC Action Votes, donated $500,000 to CVPA efforts in support of Shapiro. Launched in 2020, the group focuses on broadcast and digital advertising.
“The stakes at the state, regional and national levels outside of Pennsylvania are very high this year,” said Jocelyn Steinberg, director of NRDC Action Votes. “Mastriano has the worst climate voting record in Congress.”
Not all environmentalists are happy that the Democratic candidates for Shapiro and Sen. John Fetterman continue to support fracking. But Steinberg says there are still big differences compared to Republican opponents.
“Neither Shapiro nor Fetterman have an easy answer to that,” she said. Get contributions and not regulate the industry.”
The Pennsylvania Senate election could determine the balance of power in the Senate, which makes it all the more important. Republican candidate Mehmet Oz also has support from the oil and gas industry, including his $31,036 from Mariner East pipeline builder Energy Transfer.
“One of the reasons we prioritize this race is that Oz now denies the basic science of climate change and attracts huge donations from the oil industry,” Steinberg said.
The group spent $1.6 million on campaign ads supporting Pennsylvania Governor, Senate and Democratic Representative Matt Cartwright. Half of these funds were intended for the Senate elections.
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