Vote Climate U.S. PAC’s Voter’s Guide gives every incumbent and challenger for the U.S. House and U.S. Senate, a – Climate Calculation – a score for voters to take into the voting booth in November. Our Climate Calculations, ranging from 0 (Climate Zero) to 100 (Climate Hero) will help Americans vote climate. Candidates are scored in 4-climate change categories:
Climate Change Categories for Incumbents
- Position
- Votes
- Leadership
- Fee on Carbon
Scores are averaged for a final Climate Calculation, based upon the following criteria:
Climate Change Criteria
Position – What They Think and What They Say
- 0 – Disagrees with the scientific consensus that climate change is real and human-made, from burning fossil fuels.
- 25 – Does not take a position on whether climate change is real and human-made, from burning fossil fuels.
- 50 – Agrees with the scientific consensus that climate change is real and human-made, from burning fossil fuels.
- 75 – Understands the importance of climate action but not as a top priority issue.
- 100 – Understands the importance of action on climate change as a top priority issue. (Supports zero human-made GHG emissions by 2050.)
Vote Score (Incumbents Only – 4 Votes Scored in U.S. House/4 Votes Scored in U.S. Senate)
- 0% – Voted “pro-climate” on 0/4 of all guiding legislation
- 25% – Voted “pro-climate” on 1/4 of all guiding legislation
- 50% – Voted “pro-climate” on 2/4 of all guiding legislation
- 75% – Voted “pro-climate” on 3/4 of all guiding legislation
- 100% – Voted “pro-climate” on 4/4 of all guiding legislation
Leadership – What They Do (Incumbents Only)
- 0 – Public statements, advocacy or votes against climate action.
- 25 – Does not oppose climate action.
- 50 – Supports climate action, but does not advocate for it.
- 75 – Website and position papers advocate for climate action, but does not see it as a top priority issue.
- 100 – Makes public statements and advocates for action on climate change as a top priority issue. (Supports zero human-made GHG emissions by 2050.)
U.S. Fee on Carbon – Position and Leadership
- 0 – Public statements or advocacy against putting a U.S. fee on carbon.
- 25 – Opposes or votes against a U.S. fee on carbon.
- 50 – No known position on a U.S. carbon fee.
- 75 – Supports a U.S. fee on carbon but does not advocate for it.
- 100 – Publicly supports and advocates for a U.S. fee on carbon.
Support for Roe v. Wade
- Supports Roe v. Wade, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion.
- Opposes Roe v. Wade, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion.
- Has no known or inconsistent position on Roe v. Wade, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion.
[If a candidate supports Roe v. Wade, they do not support restrictions on a woman’s right to choose safe and legal abortion up until the point of viability, at 24 weeks of gestation. They support abortion rights post-viability if it is necessary to save the life or health of the women. If candidates indicate that states should be allowed to decide, they do not support Roe. There will be no score associated with the candidate’s position on Roe v. Wade, so it does not figure into their climate calculation. It will be noted on the Google form in their profile. Any sources associated with their position will be added to the sources section of the profile.]
NOTE: For new members elected in 2022, we used votes taken during their term that are different from the votes used for incumbent candidates, elected in 2020 or earlier.