Climate group achieving significant victories outside of Washington DC: 'Success is still possible'

With a president who has dismissed climate change, avoided global climate talks, and staffed the federal government with former fossil fuel executives, many see the U.S. climate agenda as stalled. Yet, focusing on state and local politics paints a far more optimistic picture.

Experts estimate that around 75% of the U.S. pledges under the Paris climate agreement can be achieved without federal involvement. This belief in local action drives Climate Cabinet, a group supporting pro-climate candidates in often overlooked state and city elections. Using data analytics, the organization reviews over 500,000 public offices open to voters, identifies candidates capable of influencing climate policy, and provides both financial and strategic assistance.

Founded by Caroline Spears, who previously worked for a major solar company, Climate Cabinet emerged from her observations on how local policies determine renewable energy progress. While her company succeeded in Massachusetts, it struggled in sunnier Arizona, despite both states operating under the same federal conditions. Spears realized that local governance was a decisive factor in clean energy development, prompting her to create an organization to harness that influence.

Since its inception in 2020, Climate Cabinet has backed over 500 candidates, ranging from school boards in Virginia to state legislatures in Minnesota, achieving roughly a 75% success rate. In 2025, this rate increased further, with 42 of 45 endorsed candidates winning, including a narrow victory for a former Biden climate advisor in Virginia. Today, these officials collectively oversee policies affecting more than 813 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually.

Ian Holzhauer, a city council member in Naperville, Illinois, exemplifies the impact of local leadership. Naperville is tied to the Prairie State Energy Campus, a major coal plant shared by multiple Midwestern public power authorities. Facing an early contract renewal that would extend coal reliance until 2055, Holzhauer ran for council in 2021 and sought re-election in 2025 with Climate Cabinet support. Despite aggressive opposition funded by conservative billionaire Richard Uihlein, Holzhauer and other climate-backed candidates secured victories, preventing automatic renewal of the coal contract and opening the door for clean energy concessions.

Climate Cabinet targets under-the-radar races for maximum leverage. Small donations can significantly influence these campaigns compared to the multi-million-dollar budgets of federal races. For instance, city council races in Colorado cap contributions at $450, while some Virginia races have no formal limit. Even modest support can level the playing field against fossil fuel interests.

One 2026 focus is New Mexicos land commissioner race. The position oversees 9 million acres of state land and 13 million acres of mineral rights, generating revenue primarily from oil and gas. Climate Cabinet backs Juan de Jesus Sanchez, a native New Mexican with a background in natural resource management and conservation advocacy. While Sanchez has not committed to fully phasing out fossil fuels on state land, he supports expanding renewables and enforcing strict environmental standards for operators.

Many of these elections are low-profile, yet they control chambers and offices critical to climate policy. Flipping state legislatures in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Virginia allowed the passage of 100% clean energy laws. Endorsements are based strictly on voting records, not party affiliation, occasionally supporting Republicans aligned with climate action.

Holzhauer sees local government as a laboratory for policies that can scale statewide or influence broader legislation. Napervilles bans on assault weapons and puppy mills later inspired state-level adoption. In a time when federal climate progress is stalled, local officials can still secure substantial victories.

Author: Ethan Caldwell