While the left worried Biden was too moderate on many issues, they were forced to respect his environmental record when he signed historic climate change legislation two years ago. But that record, along with a ban on fracking that Harris has now withdrawn support for, has alienated voters in Rust Belt states like Pennsylvania, an opening that Trump and other Republicans are seeking to exploit.
This makes Waltz one of the more persuasive pragmatists among the Democratic candidates.
Some Democrats had actively lobbied Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro to run alongside Harris, arguing that his support for the state’s fossil fuel industry would assuage union concerns. But Walz, who ran for Congress representing a historically conservative district, was a much stronger supporter of the Democratic Party than Harris. Mixed records He has taken a more proactive stance on environmental policy than would be expected from reports of his time as a progressive governor.
In the Legislature, for example, Mr. Walz was hardly seen by his colleagues as a champion of environmental protection, voting in favor of completing construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline. As governor, Mr. Walz has infuriated environmentalists who say his administration should act to halt mining development in the state.
Ms Harris is also facing questions from the left about how she will differentiate from Mr Biden, including on climate change policy. One issue that has come up is her long-standing and vocal defense of Black, Hispanic and poor communities that have been subjected to disproportionate levels of pollution.
As San Francisco district attorney in the mid-2000s, Harris Environmental Justice Unit As a senator, he introduced legislation on the issue, and as vice president, he also helped secure $15 billion to replace lead drinking water pipes as part of Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure bill, Politico reported.
Environmental groups have broadly praised Harris’ choice as vice presidential candidate, even as mining issues become more prominent as countries compete for access to critical minerals needed for green technology. Strong supporter It will require the introduction of automobile emission standards equivalent to those of California and the supply of zero carbon electricity by 2040.
Trump and his allies have sought to position Walz as a left-wing candidate who would ultimately support policies that would drive jobs out of the United States.
