NEW POLL: Majority of Voters in Rep. Murphy’s District Want Congress to Make Bold Investments in Climate, Pass Full Build Back Better Act

Washington, D.C. — Sixty-nine percent of voters in Florida’s Seventh Congressional district want Congress to make bold investments to fight the climate crisis, according to new polling from Data For Progress and Climate Power. Floridians are demanding their representatives in Congress pass the full Build Back Better agenda — which includes the bipartisan infrastructure bill and budget reconciliation — after living through increasingly devastating extreme weather that has ravaged their communities and the economy. Meanwhile, Floridians know that climate investments will cut energy costs, create jobs, and reduce pollution.

Floridians living on the front lines of the climate crisis as the state approaches its annual peak of hurricane season. Historically, October has been known as the most intense month for hurricanes — Hurricanes Wilma, Michael, and Matthew all brought catastrophic damage during this month — and this year’s hurricane season shows no signs of letting up. Additionally, dangerous extreme heat is driving up energy costs and sending thousands of Floridians to the emergency room due to heat-related illness each year. Floridians know that the climate crisis is putting their futures and communities at risk. Recent data from the Yale Program on Climate Communication shows 61% of voters in FL-07 are worried about how the climate crisis is hurting the country now and even more (72%) worry about how the climate crisis will hurt future generations.

Floridians understand that we need to take bold action, which is why a majority of voters in the Seventh Congressional district support more funding and tax credits for clean energy production and implementing limits on climate emissions. Florida is already a leader in clean energy production, ranking 4th in the nation in clean energy jobs. Nearly 150,000 Floridians work in the clean energy industry and the additional investments in the Build Back Better plan would accelerate job growth in this booming sector, putting more Floridians to work while reducing fossil fuel emission rates.

The politics around climate have changed in Florida, but also across the nation. Voters are demanding Congress to meet this moment by passing the full Build Back Better agenda, with investments in clean energy jobs and cutting fossil fuel emissions. Americans from every corner of the country are living with the consequences of climate inaction as historic wildfires, hurricanes, drought, and extreme weather ravages their communities and hobbles the economy.

Topline results from the FL-07 district polling can be found here.

Here are some key takeaways from the poll:

69% of FL-07 registered voters believe it’s important for Congress to make additional investments along with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal that address climate change and extreme weather, create clean energy jobs, and reduce pollution.
66% of FL-07 registered voters support the full $3.5 trillion Build Back Better plan that would invest in addressing climate change and supporting families.
55% of FL-07 registered voters said they would be less likely to vote for a candidate who opposes the $3.5 trillion Build Back Better plan.
A majority of voters in each of the eight districts believe it is important for Congress to make additional investments to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal that address climate change and reduce pollution.
A majority of voters in each of the eight districts believe the $3.5 trillion funding for the Build Back Better plan should be increased or kept the same.