The Nov. 8 midterm election is approaching and voting for candidates who value the environment is essential for ensuring change in the federal and state handling of climate issues. In Missouri, a few key races have clear winners in the environment department.

If climate change goes unchecked, Missourian’s will experience extreme heat, drought, wildfires and inland flooding. Many effects are already present, as evidenced by the recent floods in St. Louis and wildfire in Wooldridge. If Missouri’s elected officials don’t demand climate action, events like these will become more frequent and harm more citizens.

Trudy Busch Valentine is the Democratic candidate for state Senate and the best choice for the environment. According to her campaign website, Valentine believes in climate change and sees it as a crisis that needs addressing. She aims to decrease carbon emissions, “ensure clean water and air” and transition the U.S. to renewable energy sources if elected.

Notably, the Missouri Sierra Club has endorsed Valentine and “are confident that she will work to protect Missouri’s environment.” This vote of confidence from Missouri’s largest grassroots environmental group can help reassure voters who want to vote with the planet in mind.

Valentine has never held public office, making it difficult to assess if she will actually follow through on her promises to protect the environment. She does, however, use solar power on her own ranch and understands that moving to renewable energy is not only good for the planet, but good for Americans’ wallets.

Using economics to sell sustainability can be effective and Valentine’s campaign platform describes it as a way to create jobs and industries. Her Republican opponent, Mo. Attorney General Eric Schmitt, does not see it this way. Schmitt opposes environmental protection policy, such as the block on the Keystone XL Pipeline, stating that it destroyed industries and eliminated jobs. Schmitt doesn’t care about the potential environmental damage of projects like this. Missouri needs someone in D.C. who understands the range of benefits provided by protecting the planet including job and industry creation.

Boone County is in Missouri’s fourth congressional district. Voters will choose between Mark Alford, Jack Truman, and Randy Langkraehr for House Representative. The ‘greenest’ option is Truman, who is running as a Democrat but describes himself as a “liberal-conservative”.

Truman lives a vegan lifestyle and advocates for animal rights. According to his answers on Vote Smart’s “Political Courage” test, he supports renewable energy and regulation of greenhouse gas emissions. Beyond this, Truman has not shared much about his stance on the environment. Alford is the Republican nominee and has not taken a clear position on environmental issues. Given the limited information on the two most prominent candidates, Truman is the greener option.

State government also matters in protecting Missouri’s environment. Ingrid Burnett is running for re-election to the Missouri House of Representatives and is the green candidate in her race. In 2021, she sponsored a bill that “repeals the state prohibition of local governments regulating paper and plastic bags.” Her opponent Karen Spalding has not taken a clear stance on environmental issues. Burnett’s history of voting for conservation and environmental protection makes her the best choice for the environment in the 19th district race.

The winners of these three key elections will determine how Missouri and Boone County are represented in Congress. Groups such as the Missouri Coalition for the Environment demand clean water and air, sustainable food and protection of public lands. If Valentine, Truman and Burnett are elected, Missouri can make progress on these goals and create a sustainable future.

Go to statesatrisk.org to find how climate change will impact different states and use lcv.org/endorsements to discover candidates who will support the environment while in office.

The power of democracy is choice. At the polls, choose the Earth.