leading with 35% of the vote

Donald Trump is currently in the lead with 35% of the votes in the Republican presidential election.

Labeling climate change as a false claim.

and intensifying his criticism of the Biden administration’s “absurd crusade” for the Green New Deal.

John Curtis

As a Senate candidate, there has been a noticeable change in their approach, as they are now advocating for policies that can help reduce the increase of global temperatures.

The Republican primary race to fill the seat of the retiring Senator has become highly competitive and crowded.Mitt Romney

Potentially the largest vote of the year for the party regarding climate policy.

Curtis is advocating for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions within a red state that heavily relies on fossil fuels. This demonstrates his efforts to broaden the Republican Party’s acceptance of differing perspectives on energy strategies, similar to how Romney challenged the party’s ability to handle criticism of Trump.

“I have achieved success in my present district that is centered around coal, oil, and gas. This proves that Republicans can discuss these topics in a manner that does not push away those who work in this industry,” stated the four-term House member in an interview with POLITICO after declaring his Senate candidacy. “My willingness to address an issue that is not typically prioritized by Republicans has been beneficial to my campaign.”

According to Danielle Butcher Franz, CEO of American Conservation Coalition Action, Curtis is aligned with the views of young conservatives. The organization, which works to engage young voters on environmental matters, has given its endorsement to his campaign.

She stated that it is highly probable that the Republican candidate will secure this position with little effort. Therefore, Curtis must set himself apart as a genuine conservative leader who can also prioritize environmental concerns and demonstrate that there is a conservative approach to tackling these problems.

However, some Republicans who support Trump believe that Curtis’ efforts to address climate change will be unsuccessful. They anticipate that voters’ focus on the economy will take precedence in elections both in Utah and nationwide.

“I don’t believe he will be successful in a debate centered around his goal of shifting the Republican party’s stance on climate change,” stated Mike McKenna, a former energy adviser for the White House during Trump’s presidency.

Curtis’ proposal for addressing climate change highlights the potential economic benefits, such as encouraging private sector investments in carbon capture technology. However, some environmentalists reject these technologies, viewing them as a means to prolong the use of fossil fuels.

Curtis is also critical of the climate legislation proposed by the Biden administration and Democratic lawmakers, which allocates billions of dollars to energy industries such as wind and solar power.

Curtis, a 63-year-old ex-Democrat, leads the Conservative Climate Caucus, which he established in 2021 as a response to surveys revealing the Republican party’s weakness among environmentally-conscious young and suburban voters. The group now boasts 83 members in the House.

The goal of the caucus is to inform House Republicans about climate change and potential ways to tackle it through policies. It does not actively create or support legislation.

Curtis is promoting his candidacy for Romney’s Senate seat, confident that Utah residents prioritize “independent thinking.” However, this stance also makes him a potential target in the crowded GOP primary race, as Utah has not elected a Democratic senator since Orrin Hatch defeated Frank Moss in 1976.

This week, Brent Hatch, son of Hatch, also joined the race. He is running against strong conservative candidate Trent Staggs, who is the Mayor of Riverton, and former Speaker of the state House, Brad Wilson, along with other candidates.

Brent Hatch, speaking to POLITICO, expressed that he does not see climate change as a top priority for Republicans, particularly in Utah. He also stated doubts about John’s approach being effective.

Staggs has gained support from Trump supporters such as Kari Lake, who is a Republican candidate for governor in Arizona’s 2022 election and is also running for Senate this year. Lake is criticizing Curtis’ stance on climate change, claiming that his advocacy goes against the “America first” ideology of Trumpism.

In an interview, Staggs stated that our country is facing a $34 trillion debt, an overbearing regulatory system, and a chaotic border situation. He believes that climate change is not the most urgent problem we are facing, and Utah residents share this view.

Curtis is presenting his proposal on climate in a state known as Carbon County due to its extensive history of coal production. Additionally, Utah ranks as one of the top 10 oil-producing states, largely due to the abundant Uinta Basin that falls within Curtis’ district.

However, Curtis expressed that the Utah community is worried about climate change due to the various visible consequences, such as a shorter ski season due to decreased snow quality, negatively impacting the state’s tourism sector. Additionally, the worsening wildfires and drought have also caused concern, as evidenced by the shrinking of the Great Salt Lake.

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Last year, a survey was conducted statewide by Utah State University.

The findings revealed that participants listed drought, the depletion of the Great Salt Lake, and low air quality as their main worries regarding the environment.

A survey conducted in eight individual states.

I discovered that a significant number of voters in the Western region are in favor of preserving public lands and increasing the use of renewable energy sources. This is in addition to their worries about the cost of gasoline.

The state of Utah has the lowest median age per capita, making it the youngest state in the country. As a result, Curtis has organized consecutive “Conservative Climate Summits” at college campuses in the state.

According to John Hart, a co-founder and vice president of C3 Solutions, a conservative climate group in Washington D.C., Curtis embodies the direction the Republican Party should take.

Hart, a former aide to the late Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, expressed confidence that the country will continue to follow his direction, regardless of Trump’s actions.

Heather Reams, the leader of Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions, a climate organization in Washington D.C. that supports Curtis, stated that he is not solely focused on tackling climate change just for the sake of it.

According to Reams, Republicans such as Curtis have incorporated the economy, energy options, and costs into their messaging from the start. This serves as a test to see if addressing climate change from a more practical perspective will make it more acceptable to Republicans.

However, there are critics who question if climate change is a priority for Republican primary voters and believe that it may not be a successful campaign topic for Curtis. Additionally, Democrats who support taking action on climate change are not immediately coming to his support.

Rep. Jared Huffman

Representative D-Calif., who serves with Curtis on the House Natural Resources Committee, stated that Curtis has not fulfilled his promises regarding climate issues.

According to Huffman, John Curtis may talk a lot, but he has not followed through on his promises. Despite his calm and amiable nature, he is not the savior for Republican climate concerns.

Tiernan Sittenfeld, senior vice president for the League of Conservation Voters, called Curtis’ approach “somewhat noteworthy,” but cautioned against setting “too low of a bar” by comparing him to the former president or to other GOP presidential candidates.

In 2022, Curtis’ lifetime score from the environmental group increased to 16 percent from the initial 7 percent.

Curtis emphasizes the potential financial advantages of addressing climate change through promoting private sector advancement in technologies like carbon capture for fossil fuel plants and smaller nuclear reactors. He also criticizes Democratic policies and laws, such as the Inflation Reduction Act, for being too expensive.

Curtis has also taken his approach to the international stage, traveling to the past three U.N. climate summits, including attending last month’s confab in Dubai

as a member of a delegation representing the GOP.

Kevin Book, the leader of ClearView Energy Partners, a research organization based in Washington D.C., stated that Curtis’ efforts towards addressing climate change may hold more appeal in a state like Utah compared to other conservative states.

Book stated that discussing climate change from a Republican viewpoint is likely more feasible in a state with the Great Salt Lake compared to other states in the country.

In addition to addressing climate concerns, Curtis is advocating for traditional Republican policies like strengthening border security and managing inflation.

He promises to participate in non-partisan talks about making it easier to obtain permits for constructing energy projects, such as pipelines and transmission lines, which would help increase the distribution of renewable energy throughout the nation.

In a conversation with POLITICO, they also mentioned their intention to propose a similar bill to the Prove It Act, a bipartisan piece of legislation in the Senate, within this month.

This proposal involves the federal government conducting a study on the level of emissions intensity.

The production of specific goods is being used to establish the possibility of implementing carbon tariffs on imported products.

Reams stated that if Curtis were to secure a Senate position based on his stance on climate action, it would mark a significant shift for the Republican party. However, should he be unsuccessful, she does not believe his commitment to environmentalism would be the determining factor. She points out that voters tend to prioritize economic matters over climate change.

She stated that his loss may not necessarily be attributed to climate change, but rather due to the preference of Utah residents for a different senator.Mike Lee

“Greater than a Mitt Romney.”