Utah Republican John Curtis’ U.S. Senate primary victory signals potential shifts in GOP climate policies.
Kelsey Brugger and Emma Dumain report for E&E News.
In short:
- U.S. Rep. John Curtis, known for his climate advocacy, won his primary, positioning himself for a U.S. Senate seat.
- Curtis founded the Conservative Climate Caucus to promote Republican engagement in climate science and bipartisan solutions.
- His legislative future may include the "PROVE IT Act," focused on studying carbon intensity of U.S. products.
Key quote:
“Does it verify or affirm that you can have a more thoughtful or nuanced position on climate issues and energy issues and still get elected statewide in a conservative state? Yes.”
— U.S. Rep. Garret Graves (R-La), ranking member of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis
Why this matters:
Curtis' win could lead to greater bipartisan cooperation on climate issues in a traditionally conservative state. His efforts to shift Republican perspectives on climate policy may impact national discussions and legislative actions.
