Representative Ruben Gallego Is A Climate Champion Who Will Protect Our Progress 

Representative Ruben Gallego is a climate champion for Arizonans. Gallego knows climate change is a crisis – and he has taken action by supporting legislation to limit pollution and promote clean energy, including voting for the clean energy plan which has already spurred $11.81 billion in investment and helped create over 18,000 new clean energy jobs in the Grand Canyon state while saving Arizonans money on their energy bills. Gallego has advanced legislation to address the impacts of the climate crisis on Arizonans, from extreme heat and wildfires to Arizona’s megadrought and air pollution. He has also worked to hold Big Oil accountable by voting to crack down on the industry for gouging Americans at the pump while pledging to not accept any oil and gas campaign contributions. 

In stark contrast, Kari Lake is following up her failed 2022 Gubernatorial bid by running for Senate campaigning on climate denial and gutting our clean energy progress. While figures show that hundreds have died from heat in one Arizona county alone, Lake has bizarrely blamed excessive heat deaths on drug overdoses and callously said she’s “not going to be afraid of the weather.” When it comes to Arizona’s droughts, wildfires, and air pollution, she has not offered any real solutions. She said a clean energy economy is counterproductive and unrealistic and has spread myths about clean energy, claiming windmills were killing thousands of birds and hundreds of whales every year. All the while, she’s taken over $125,000 from the oil and gas industry over her career, and multiple industry executives maxed out their contributions to her campaign for Governor. In return, she has parroted industry talking points and is calling to reinstate the dangerous drilling policies of the Trump administration. It’s clear that Lake threatens Arizonans’ health, safety, and economy. 

Kari Lake is vastly out of touch with Arizonans. While 78% of Arizona voters believe climate change is a serious problem and 75%  support shifting investments away from dirty fossil fuels and toward clean energy sources like wind and solar, Lake has spread myths about clean energy and has opposed renewable energy targets and local measures that advance cleaner energy. In Arizona, the impacts of climate change will mean hotter temperatures and more intense heat waves, decreased flow of water in the Colorado River, increased frequency and intensity of wildfires, and conversion of some rangelands into desert. The state’s agriculture, its economy, and people’s health will all be hurt: 

• In the past decade, Arizona has experienced 13 billion-dollar climate-related disasters that caused $131.6 billion in damages and killed 805 people. 
• Arizona is the ninth-fastest warming state in the nation, and Tucson and Phoenix are the eighth and tenth-fastest warming cities, respectively. Increasing temperatures in the state have led to hundreds of heat-related illnesses and deaths each year. In 2023, Maricopa County alone saw 645 heat-related deaths.
• Arizona outdoor workers could lose up to $2.6 billion in earnings every year due to extreme heat, with the counties of Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal being hit hardest. 
• The megadrought that has gripped the southwestern U.S. for the past 22 years is the worst in at least 1,200 years. Drought and rising temperatures have lowered the level of the Colorado River, threatening the 40 million Americans across Arizona and six other states who rely on it for drinking water.
•  In the Southwest, fires have become larger, more frequent, and more severe, with clear evidence of climate change as a major cause. Arizona’s largest wildfires have all occurred since 2007. 
• Arizona has some of the worst air quality in the nation. The Phoenix-Mesa metropolitan area is the fifth-most polluted by ozone and ranks ninth in annual particle pollution and 16th in 24-hour particle pollution.

Advancing Climate Action

If You Say One Thing

As of June 2024, Arizona has received $15.9 billion in funding from the clean energy plan – that’s money going to communities all across the state to promote drought and climate resiliency, reduce pollution, and advance climate-smart agriculture. While Ruben Gallego acknowledges that the climate is changing and has worked to advance legislation to address the crisis head-on, Kari Lake is openly skeptical of climate change and doesn’t believe “that we’re in some sort of a weird heating trend.” 

Compare Records

• Gallego voted for the clean energy plan, which has already delivered over $15 billion in funding to Arizona – including $22 million to increase access to green spaces.  
• In 2019, Gallego cosponsored the Climate Action Now Act, a bill requiring the President to develop and update annually a plan for the United States to meet its pollution reduction goals under the Paris Agreement.
• In 2020, Gallego cosponsored a bill implementing various ocean-based policies, programs, and goals to address climate change and reduce carbon pollution. 
• In 2021, Gallego cosponsored a bill that established a Climate Change Education Program to increase climate literacy and promote the implementation of new technologies and incentives related to climate change. 
• In 2021, Gallego cosponsored a bill to address the disproportionate adverse human health or environmental effects of federal laws or programs on communities of color, low-income communities, or tribal and indigenous communities.
• Gallego said, “we need bold leaders in the Senate who are willing to address climate change head-on.” 
• Lake is a climate change denier who said “don’t tell me that we’re in some sort of a weird heating trend, I don’t believe that for a minute” and “I’m not going to be afraid of the weather.”  

Expanding The Clean Energy Economy

If You Say One Thing

Gallego has championed Arizona’s clean energy industry. He voted for the clean energy plan, which has already spurred $11.81 billion in investment and helped create 18,130 new clean energy jobs in the Copper State, and supported legislation to increase the amount of renewable energy on public land and waters. In stark contrast, Lake has spread myths about clean energy, claiming windmills are killing thousands of birds and hundreds of whales each year and strongly opposed renewable energy incentives. 

Compare Records

• Gallego voted for the clean energy plan, which has already spurred over $11 billion in investment and helped create 18,130 new clean energy jobs in the Grand Canyon State.
• In 2017, Gallego cosponsored a bill to increase the amount of renewable energy on public land and waters.
• In 2019, Gallego cosponsored the 100% Clean Economy Act, which established requirements to reduce pollution and set a national goal of achieving a 100% clean economy by no later than 2050. 
• In 2019, Gallego cosponsored the Clean Energy Standard Act, which required retail electricity suppliers to sell a certain quantity of clean electric energy, established a federal clean energy credit trading program, and more. 
• Gallego said he was proud to cosponsor bills limiting pollution and promoting renewable energy to address climate change. 

• Lake repeatedly attacked and spread myths about clean energy, claiming windmills are killing thousands of birds and hundreds of whales every year. 
• Lake opposed incentives for clean energy and local measures that advance clean energy.

Extreme Heat

If You Say One Thing

Arizona is highly vulnerable to extreme heat caused by climate change, and our leaders must acknowledge and act on the problem. While hundreds have died from heat in one Arizona county alone, Ruben Gallego has introduced legislation and led funding requests to assist those suffering from extreme heat. Meanwhile, Kari Lake denies that extreme heat is a problem, blamed heat-related deaths on drug overdoses, and callously said that she’s “not going to be afraid of the weather.” 

Compare Records

• In 2023, Gallego introduced the HEAT Illness and Deaths Act, which would provide $100 million in financial assistance to reduce exposure to extreme heat and recommend federal action on heat health issues.
• In 2023, Gallego introduced the Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act, which would establish a grant program targeted to urban areas facing disproportionate impacts from extreme heat. 
• Gallego led the first-ever funding request for the National Integrated Heat Health Information System, the federal government’s hub for extreme heat response. 
• Gallego acknowledged that extreme heat in Arizona is deadly and said he’s “fighting for forward-thinking, comprehensive solutions to help Arizonans stay cool and healthy – even in the summer months.”

• Lake blamed extreme heat deaths on drug overdoses, saying, “it’s not the heat, it’s the drugs.” 
• Lake said “leftists” were “pushing mass hysteria in an effort to declare a climate emergency” and said a majority of heat deaths could be attributed to methamphetamine. 
• Lake responded to questions about extreme heat by saying, “don’t tell me that we’re in some sort of weird heating trend – I don’t believe that for a minute” and said she’s “not going to be afraid of the weather.” 

Droughts And Water 

If You Say One Thing

The water sources Arizona relies on are increasingly fragile due to sustained drought periods exacerbated by climate change. While Ruben Gallego has supported legislation to keep water in Lake Mead and other Colorado River reservoirs and to provide support for communities experiencing long-term drought, Kari Lake criticized the same legislation and believes a new water delivery system for Western states should be exempted from environmental reviews and legal challenges. 

Compare Records

• In 2021, Gallego voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which has provided nearly $275 million into water infrastructure projects across Arizona, protecting public health and preserving water resources. 
• In 2021, Gallego cosponsored the Safe School Drinking Water Act, which grants awards to install and maintain drinking fountains at schools and childcare programs.
• In 2022, Gallego voted to pass the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act, which provides $500 million for actions to keep water in Lake Mead and other Colorado River reservoirs and helps Western communities conserve water.
• In 2023, Gallego introduced the Water Infrastructure Modernization Act, which supports planning and other aspects of implementing smart water network technologies.
• In 2024, Gallego introduced legislation to support communities experiencing long-term drought conditions and advocated for permanent authorization and funding for a program that protects critical drinking water sources across the country.
• In 2023, Gallego cosponsored the Water Affordability, Transparency, Equity, and Reliability Act, which increased funding for water infrastructure programs related to controlling water pollution or protecting drinking water.
• Gallego co-authored the 30×30 Initiative, a comprehensive plan to conserve 30% of our global lands and oceans by 2030. 
• Lake critiqued the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, calling it “full of terrible ideas.”
• Lake supports desalination and river pipelining and believes a new water delivery system for Western states should be exempt from environmental reviews and legal challenges. 

Wildfires

If You Say One Thing

Arizonans are increasingly at risk from larger, more frequent, and more severe wildfires thanks to climate change. While Ruben Gallego recognizes the need for a comprehensive strategy to address wildfires and has voted to pass legislation that provided Arizona tens of millions for wildfire prevention, Kari Lake called the legislation “full of terrible ideas” and has not offered any solutions to addressing deadly and destructive wildfires in Arizona. 

Compare Records

• In 2021, Gallego voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provided $61 million for Arizona wildfire prevention in 2022 alone, as well as funding to implement a 10-year strategy to combat wildfires. 
• In 2022, Gallego voted to pass the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act, a bill that creates a ten-year strategy to prevent, mitigate, and combat wildfires.
• Gallego recognizes the increased threat of drought and wildfires and the need for a comprehensive strategy to mitigate their threat.
• Gallego said that Arizona residents “know better than most” how climate change, drought conditions, and forest mismanagement increase the risk of catastrophic wildfires. 

• Lake critiqued the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, calling it “full of terrible ideas.” 
• Lake has not addressed the threat wildfires impose on Arizonans. 

Air Pollution

If You Say One Thing

Arizona has some of the worst air quality in America, with Phoenix’s air ranking among the worst polluted in the nation. While Ruben Gallego has acted to address air quality, cosponsoring legislation requiring funding for air quality monitoring, Kari Lake has pushed for more drilling and has said a transition from dirty fossil fuels is “counterproductive and unrealistic.”

Compare Records

• In 2021, Gallego voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which has provided nearly $2 million to Arizona to transform air-polluting, abandoned brownfield sites into thriving community assets. 
• In 2021, Gallego cosponsored a bill that required the Environmental Protection Agency to replace existing school buses with clean school buses that do not emit greenhouse gasses and other pollutants.
• In 2022, Gallego voted for the clean energy plan, which provided nearly $2 million in funding for air quality monitoring projects to help local and tribal governments better monitor air quality and protect Arizonans.
• In 2022, Gallego cosponsored the Environmental Justice Air Quality Monitoring Act, a bill requiring the Environmental Protection Agency to award grants for hyperlocal air quality monitoring systems in environmental justice communities. 
• In 2024, Gallego wrote a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency requesting that they work with localities in Arizona and the Inter-Mountain West to ensure that air quality regulations effectively target air pollution at the source. 

• Lake admits that “less pollution is better than more pollution” while simultaneously saying a transition away from oil and natural gas is “counterproductive and unrealistic.” 
• Lake has pushed for more drilling and wants to reinstate Trump-era energy policies. 

Holding Big Oil Accountable

If You Say One Thing

Ruben Gallego has voted to hold Big Oil accountable for gouging Americans at the pump and signed a pledge not to take money from the fossil fuel industry, while Kari Lake’s campaigns have raked in more than $125,000 from the industry – with multiple oil and gas executives maxing out to her campaign – and called for the reinstatement of Trump’s dangerous drilling policies. 

Compare Records

• In 2017, Gallego cosponsored a bill requiring states to prohibit the underground injection of fluids or propping agents related to oil, gas, or geothermal production activities unless the person proposing to conduct the hydraulic fracturing operations agrees to conduct testing and report data
• In 2017, Gallego cosponsored a bill to increase royalty rates and penalties for oil and gas leasing.
• In 2022, Gallego voted to pass the Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act, a bill that cracks down on price gouging and excessive price increases by oil company CEOs.
• In 2024, Gallego pushed the 11 oil refineries that Arizona uses to source its gasoline to explain to Arizonans why gas prices have risen.
• Gallego said high gasoline prices “are the result of Big Oil capitalizing on unprecedented global crises for their own benefit.” 
• Gallego signed a pledge in 2018 to not take money from the fossil fuel industry. 

• Lake received more than $125,000 from the oil and gas industry in her campaigns for Governor and Senate and multiple oil and gas executives maxed out to her campaign. 
• Lake called for reinstating Trump-era drilling policies.