What a Climate Leader Is Watching on Election Day

California's midterm elections are just days away, and the results could change a lot for the environment. Races for governor and insurance commissioner, along with other contests, could shift who controls decisions in Sacramento. A climate expert named Katelyn Roedner Sutter is watching the results closely. She wants to know what they could mean for California's clean air rules, wildfire dangers, and water supply.

Sutter works for the Environmental Defense Fund, a group that pushes for strong environmental protections. She said the biggest thing at stake is California's right to set its own clean air rules. Those rules have been in place for more than 50 years and allow California to limit vehicle pollution more strictly than other states.

The Trump administration has tried to take away California's special permission — called a waiver — to set stronger pollution rules. A federal court said the government was likely acting unlawfully by doing this. Even so, the House of Representatives already voted to cancel some of those waivers. Sutter believes that if new congressional leaders follow the law, California's right to protect its people from dirty air will continue to be respected.

Sutter said two state races are especially important to watch: the governor's race and the insurance commissioner's race. California is dealing with a serious problem — wildfires are getting worse because of climate change, and insurance companies are raising prices or refusing to cover some homeowners. The next governor and insurance commissioner will have to work together to find solutions to this tough, many-sided issue.

Sutter said that if Democrats take control of Congress, California would gain a partner in the federal government again. She said the Trump administration has been acting in ways that go against the law and against California's rights. A new majority in Congress could help hold the federal government accountable and protect California's environmental rules.

Even if Congress shifts, some things won't change — Trump will still be president and could still try to roll back environmental rules. For example, the Trump administration recently announced plans to weaken rules about methane, a harmful gas that leaks from oil and gas wells. But Sutter said California has the technology to tackle this problem on its own, and the state should act right away.

Xavier Becerra is widely expected to become California's next governor. Sutter said his top priorities should include fixing the wildfire and insurance crisis and defending California's right to set its own environmental standards. His background in public health gives him a strong understanding of how pollution hurts people's health. Sutter added that she is very confident California will keep being a leader on climate, even if a new governor does things in a slightly different way.

Governor Gavin Newsom is also working to finish some major water projects before he leaves office in January. One project, called the Bay-Delta plan, just got approved by the California State Water Resources Control Board. The plan is designed to restore wildlife habitats, protect salmon, and help farms and cities get the water they need. Other water projects are still facing big challenges, including a vote on a new reservoir and a plan to build a large tunnel under the Bay-Delta area.

Attorney General Rob Bonta is suing the Trump administration over its attempt to block a California law that bans small, single-use propane cylinders — like those used in camping stoves. The law requires these cylinders to be reusable instead of thrown away after one use. Millions of the disposable cylinders end up in landfills or recycling centers every year, where leftover propane can cause fires and explosions. Bonta argues the federal government has no right to override California's effort to protect workers and the environment.

California oil companies are enjoying record profits, partly because fuel prices rose due to the war in Iran. Companies like Valero, Chevron, and PBF Energy have all reported huge earnings in recent weeks. PBF Energy's CEO said his company is in its strongest financial shape ever and plans to keep buying as much California oil as it can. Meanwhile, Southern California Edison agreed to pay $7.7 million to settle a complaint that it wrongly charged more than 33,000 customers for deposits during the COVID-19 pandemic, which state rules had banned.