Press Releases

New Ad Campaign Focuses on Republican Inaction and Indifference to Climate Change in California and Florida

Aug 30, 2021

Jason Phelps, jason@climatepower.us, 651-274-9417 | Courtnee Connon, courtnee_connon@lcv.org, 727-744-4163

Washington, D.C. – A new seven-figure ad campaign from Climate Power launches this week in six U.S. House districts held by Republicans where constituents are suffering from the devastating impacts of climate change. The television and digital ads show just how out of touch these members are with the reality on the ground in their California and Florida districts on the frontlines of the climate crisis. 

New ads are up in the following districts:

  • CA-21 (Rep. David Valadao)
  • CA-25 (Rep. Mike Garcia)
  • CA-39 (Rep. Young Kim)
  • CA-48 (Rep. Michelle Steel)
  • FL-26 (Rep. Carlos Giménez)
  • FL-27 (Rep. Maria Salazar)

WATCH:

“Florida and California citizens are on the front lines of the climate crisis and their Republican elected officials must treat it as the existential threat it is,” said Lori Lodes, Climate Power Executive Director. “Climate change is happening right now. It’s disrupting lives and threatening livelihoods. Meanwhile, Republican members of Congress refuse to act. There is no more time for denial and any leader who stands in the way of climate action will be held accountable by voters.” 

“These Republicans’ decision to oppose popular and necessary action on climate and clean energy puts their constituents who are already experiencing the devastating impacts of the climate crisis in even greater danger,” said Pete Maysmith, LCV SVP of Campaigns. “From the ‘code red for humanity’ IPCC report to devastating extreme weather and long-standing environmental and racial injustice and economic inequality, it’s never been more urgent or more important to act on climate at the scale that science and justice require.”

The hard-hitting ad campaign shows the impacts climate change-fueled tropical storms, extreme heat, drought, and wildfires are having on California and Florida communities. The ads will be shown on screens across a variety of platforms including Fox News in California and Spanish language TV in Florida. 

The dynamic creative is backed up by real testing that shows:

  • Voters care about climate change. Reminding voters of Congressional Republicans’ vote on the Build Back Better plan reduced job approval by 3 points and persuaded voters that Republicans in Congress are not looking out for families. 
  • Climate change matters to moderates. The ads moved disapproval of Republicans in Congress nearly 4 points among this group.

These ads are the latest effort in LCV and Climate Power’s historic summer of climate advocacy. In August so far, LCV and Climate Power have already invested $14 million in national, state, and district level paid media campaigns; LCV organizers have knocked over 140,000 doors, distributed almost 10,000 ‘Climate Action Now’ yard signs, and garnered support from nearly  5,000 businesses across the country; and LCV and Climate Power have held over 35 events with key Members of Congress, Biden administration officials, state and local elected officials, labor unions, environmental justice partners, and more. 

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