Amid GOP sweep, a few bright spots for clean energy

With former President Donald Trump winning a second term in office and Republicans controlling the U.S. Senate, advocates are bracing for a major rollback of federal climate initiatives.

And while the Republican sweep was felt downballot, particularly in regulatory races in conservative states, some other races with an outsized impact on clean energy efforts bucked the trend. 

For example, Democrats held the governor’s office in North Carolina, Washington voters rejected an effort to repeal a major climate initiative, and voters in Ann Arbor, Michigan, approved a plan for a municipal clean energy utility.

While there will no doubt be drastic changes in direction at the federal level, states and cities can still have a big impact on emissions. We’ll still be working tirelessly to help you keep track of it all. 

Below is a recap of some notable election outcomes from last night.

State governors/​legislatures

North Carolina: While Donald Trump carried this swing state, Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein was elected governor, defeating a scandal-plagued Republican challenger. Stein has helped to advance clean energy and has pledged to work toward carbon neutrality by 2050. Democrat Jeff Jackson also won the race to replace Stein as attorney general. (NC Newsline)

Minnesota: In a state that passed a 100% clean energy standard last year, Democrat Ann Johnson Stewart won the state’s only open state Senate race to fill a vacant seat, giving her party a 34-33 majority; it remains unclear which party will control the state House. (Minnesota Star Tribune)

Michigan: Democrats’ trifecta control over both legislative chambers and the executive office, which led to major clean energy reforms, is broken after Republicans take control of the House. (Detroit News)

Pennsylvania: While Republicans maintain control of the state Senate, control of the House is still up in the air as of this morning. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Ohio: Republicans swept three state Supreme Court races to expand their majority from a 4-3 margin to 6-1. The court will decide multiple upcoming cases related to energy siting, utility accountability and other issues. (Ohio Capital Journal, Energy News Network)

West Virginia: Patrick Morrisey, the Republican attorney general who won a 2022 Supreme Court decision striking down the U.S. EPA’s Clean Power Plan, won election as governor. (WV Metro News)

Regulatory races

Arizona: Fossil fuel-friendly Republicans lead the race for three open seats on the state’s Public Utilities Commission, one of which was held by the lone Democrat on the five-person panel. (AZPM)

Louisiana: Jean-Paul Coussan prevailed in a contest for an open seat held by Craig Greene, a Republican who also backed the state’s energy efficiency program. Coussan, a Republican state senator, has pledged to be a ​“true conservative watchdog” stressing ​“affordable and reliable energy.” (Louisiana Illuminator)

Montana: Independent candidate Elena Evans, who tapped into public outrage over a recent rate increase, is leading in her race for a seat on Montana’s Public Service Commission. Republican candidates Brad Molnar and Jeff Welborn are also on track to win their races. (Daily Montanan)

North Dakota: Republican PSC chair Randel Christmann held off a challenge from Tracey Wilkie, a Democrat and member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa who was opposed to the controversial Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline. (North Dakota Monitor)

South Dakota: Republican PUC chair Kristie Fiegen, also a former state legislator, handily won re-election against two relatively unknown challengers. (South Dakota Searchlight)

Oklahoma: Republican former Secretary of State Brian Bingman easily won a seat on the Oklahoma Corporation Commission vacated by Bob Anthony, who had to step down due to term limits. Bingman, a former oil company employee, raised $400,000 to defeat two candidates who spent little time campaigning. (Oklahoma Voice)

Texas: Incumbent Christi Craddick, a Republican, won re-election to the Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates the oil industry, against a field of four challengers. Craddick has faced criticism after a 2023 report that her family has earned millions from oil and gas rights. (Texas Tribune)

Ballot measures

Washington I-2117: Voters rejected a ballot measure that would have repealed the state’s landmark 2021 cap-and-invest program. (Washington State Standard)

Washington I-2066: A measure to repeal restrictions on natural gas and prevent cities from banning the fuel in buildings appears poised to narrowly pass. (Washington State Standard)

California Proposition 4: Voters approved a measure to authorize $10 billion in debt to spend on environmental and climate projects. (CalMatters)

Rhode Island Question 4: Voters approved a measure allowing $53 million in bonds for green infrastructure. (Rhode Island Current)

South Dakota Referred Law 21: Voters overturned a recent state law that critics say created favorable regulations for carbon pipeline development. (Sioux Falls Live)

Ann Arbor Proposal A: Voters in this Michigan city approved a measure to create a city-run sustainable energy utility to supplement service from DTE Energy. (MLive)

Nashville transit referendum: Voters overwhelmingly approved a sales tax increase to provide $3.1 billion in revenue to support mass transit and sidewalk construction. (Tennessee Lookout)

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