MI-08 Race Backgrounder

Kristen McDonald Rivet Is A Climate Champion Who Will Protect Our Progress 

Michigan State Senator Kristen McDonald Rivet has been a climate champion for Michiganders. McDonald Rivet played an instrumental role in helping Michigan pass landmark legislation to combat climate change and put the state on a path to 100% renewable energy by 2040. She has prioritized practical solutions focused on addressing climate change, such as sponsoring legislation to protect farmers’ right to host solar projects on their land and voting for a bill to make it easier to site large wind and solar energy projects in Michigan. McDonald Rivet has also worked to address the worst effects of climate change – from air and water pollution to extreme rainfall and flooding. McDonald Rivet secured funding to replace lead pipes, secured $50 million for flood reduction infrastructure, and voted to pass legislation to make sure kids have clean drinking water at school. She understands that by running for Michigan’s 8th Congressional District, which represents Flint, she must do whatever is necessary to heal the damage of the water crisis, and has committed to doing so. Her time in the Michigan State Senate has shown us that McDonald Rivet will champion Michiganders’ health in Congress. 

In stark contrast, Paul Junge is attempting his third run for Congress – after having been rejected by Michigan voters twice before – and has made oil and gas production a centerpiece of his campaign. Junge opposed Michigan’s landmark legislation that puts the state on a path to 100% renewable energy. When asked how he would address the environmental impacts of climate change on the Great Lakes and other local water bodies, he doubled down on his support for fossil fuels. He also falsely claimed that solar and wind energy aren’t “dependable” and said we “need to continue to have all kinds of sources of fossil fuels in this modern age.” Junge wants to have it both ways – he claims to support Michigan’s Great Lakes and clean water, but supports policies that would keep the state reliant on dirty fossil fuels and lead to more pollution. Over his political career, Junge has proven to be in the pocket of Big Oil. He has vowed to expand oil and gas leasing on public lands and espoused Trumpian rhetoric about “clean coal” – all while taking more money from the oil and gas industry than any other industry in his 2024 campaign. It’s clear that Junge would be a threat to Michiganders if elected. 

Junge is completely out of touch with the Michiganders. 73% of Michiganders support increasing the share of electricity that is produced from renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, while Junge “strongly oppose[d]” the legislation that already spurred $2.07 billion in investment and helped create 2,221 new clean energy jobs in Michigan’s 8th Congressional District.  In Michigan, the impacts of climate change and continued reliance on fossil fuels will mean more extremely hot days, more frequent heavy rainstorms, and ice cover on the Great Lakes forming later or melting sooner.

The state’s agriculture, its economy, and people’s health will all be hurt: 

• In the past decade, Michigan has experienced 31 billion-dollar climate-related disasters that caused $104.9 billion in damages and killed 371 people. 

• Climate change has caused Michigan to see an increase in temperatures and extreme heat events, putting people’s lives at risk. Michigan is the 15th-fastest warming state in the nation. By 2045, most counties in lower Michigan will experience one to two more weeks of extreme heat each summer.
• A 2021 study from the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability found environmental hazards, such as the urban heat island effect, were inequitably distributed across Michigan, with low-income residents and people of color facing the largest burdens. Census tracts in Flint and Saginaw, which have the largest concentrations of minority and low-income residents, are key hotspots for environmental hazards. Flint and Saginaw are located in Michigan’s 8th Congressional District. 
• According to the American Lung Association’s 2024 State of the Air report, the Saginaw-Midland-Bay City metropolitan area, which is located in Michigan’s 8th Congressional District, ranked 190th for annual particle pollution.

Advancing Climate Action

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While McDonald Rivet played an instrumental role in helping Michigan pass landmark legislation to combat climate change and put the state on a path to 100% renewable energy by 2040, Junge wants to keep the state reliant on fossil fuels and espoused Trumpian talking points of “clean coal.” 

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• McDonald Rivet played an instrumental role in helping Michigan pass landmark legislation to combat climate change and put the state on a path to 100% renewable energy, sponsoring and voting for several bills that were later signed into law. 
• In 2023, McDonald Rivet sponsored legislation – which later became law – that protected farmers rights to host solar projects on their land and voted to make it easier to site large wind and solar energy projects in Michigan.
• During her time in the Michigan State Senate, McDonald Rivet has prioritized passing practical solutions focused on addressing climate change. 
• When asked how he would address the environmental impacts of climate change on the Great Lakes and local water bodies, Junge responded by saying he was supportive of nuclear energy and clean coal. 

Expanding The Clean Energy Economy

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The clean energy plan has already spurred $2.07 billion in investment and helped create 2,221 new clean energy jobs in Michigan’s 8th Congressional District. While McDonald Rivet applauded the passage of the plan and supported several bills that put Michigan on a path to 100% clean energy, Junge opposed Michigan’s landmark clean energy legislation, falsely claimed that solar and wind energy weren’t dependable, and  “strongly oppose[d]” the clean energy plan.

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• In 2023, McDonald Rivet sponsored legislation—which later became law—protecting farmers’ rights to host solar projects on their land. 
• In 2023, McDonald Rivet voted for legislation – which later became law – that requires utilities to achieve 100% clean energy portfolios by 2040 and 60% renewable energy by 2035. 
• In 2023, McDonald Rivet voted for legislation – which later became law –  that made it easier to site large wind and solar energy projects in Michigan.
• In 2023, McDonald Rivet sponsored legislation – which later became law – that expanded the scope of projects and properties eligible for energy efficiency or renewable energy financing.
• McDonald Rivet applauded the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and clean energy plan. 
• Junge opposed Michigan’s landmark legislation that puts the state on a path to 100% renewable energy, as well as President Biden’s 100% carbon-pollution free electricity by 2035 goal. 
• Junge falsely claimed that solar and wind energy aren’t “dependable” and said we “need to continue to have all kinds of sources of fossil fuels in this modern age.” 
• Junge “strongly oppose[d]” the clean energy plan. 

Water & Air Pollution

If You Say One Thing

While McDonald Rivet has spent her time in the Michigan State Senate securing funding to replace lead pipes, passing legislation to make sure kids have clean drinking water at school, and committing to doing whatever is necessary to heal the damage of the Flint Water Crisis, Junge is trying to have it both ways – he claims to support Michigan’s Great Lakes and clean water, but supports policies that would keep the state reliant on dirty fossil fuels and contribute to more pollution. 

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• During her time in the Michigan State Senate, McDonald Rivet secured funding to replace lead pipes and passed legislation to make sure kids have clean drinking water at school and in child care centers.
• McDonald Rivet has committed to standing up for communities in Flint and doing whatever is necessary to heal the damage of the Water Crisis, including continuing initiatives like Rep. Kildee’s Flint Registry, which connects services and programs to residents who were directly impacted by the Flint Water Crisis.
• McDonald Rivet will be a fierce champion for clean water, lakes, and air, and has committed to protecting the Great Lakes and Saginaw Bay, making sure everyone has clean drinking water.
• Junge is trying to have it both ways – he claims to support Michigan’s Great Lakes and clean water, but supports policies that would keep the state reliant on dirty fossil fuels and contribute to more pollution. 

Extreme Rainfall And Flooding

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While McDonald Rivet secured $50 million for flood reduction infrastructure in Midland, Junge has not provided a plan to address extreme rainfall, flooding, and weather in Michigan.

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• In 2023, McDonald Rivet secured $50 million for flood reduction infrastructure in Midland. 
• Junge has not provided a plan to address extreme rainfall, flooding, and weather in Michigan. 

Holding Big Oil Accountable

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While McDonald Rivet has helped pass legislation that would transition Michigan away from dirty fossil fuels and to 100% renewable energy, Junge is in the pocket of Big Oil. He has vowed to expand oil and gas leasing on public lands and espoused Trumpian rhetoric about “clean coal” – all while taking more money from the oil and gas industry than any other industry in his 2024 campaign. 

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• McDonald Rivet has helped pass legislation that would transition Michigan away from dirty fossil fuels and to 100% renewable energy. 
• Junge has called for an energy approach that includes more oil and gas exploration, natural gas development.
• Junge espoused Trumpian rhetoric and said he supported “clean coal.” 
• Junge supported the Line 5 pipeline, which is owned by the same energy company that was responsible for a 2010 Michigan oil spill that was one of the largest inland oil spills in U.S. history. 
• Junge vowed to expand oil and gas leasing on public lands and resume work on the Keystone Pipeline. 
• Junge has taken over $60,000 from the oil and gas industry over his career –  $26,511 in his 2024 campaign, $16,288 in his 2022 campaign, and $20,853 in his 2020 campaign. 
• In his 2024 campaign for the House of Representatives, Junge took more money from the oil and gas industry than any other industry, and his top campaign contributor – which donated twice as much as the next highest contributor – was Midland Energy, a Texas-based oil and gas company.