High tide, downtown Miami, Forida in 2016. Photo by wikimedia user B137 via CC license

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Florida

Our top scientific institutions, including the U.S. military, NASA, and NOAA all say pollution is causing our planet to get warmer. Still, false information designed to discredit climate science is actively promoted by organizations with ties to coal and oil. Many leaders in Congress are also spreading disinformation about the climate. While fossil fuel companies are generating enormous profits, we ultimately will bear the costs associated with extreme weather and rising sea levels. Representatives for Florida in the United States Congress have an important role in supporting efforts to solve the issue. Find your representatives and their positions on climate by using the form below.

Find Your Voter District and Congress Representatives' Positions on Climate Change

Enter an address to find your House and Senate representatives.
Last District Updates 2021

Florida United States Senators:
Marco Rubio, who has stood against efforts in Congress to address the causes of climate change, represents Florida as a Senator. Rubio is changing his statements on climate, and now acknowledges that climate change is happening, and he's recently outlined measures to address the numerous costly effects of climate change in Florida. But he has questioned climate science in the past, and he has stood against proposed legislation and regulations in Congress to address the causes of climate change. Congressman Patrick Murphy, who is a supporter of progress on the climate change problem, ran for this seat but lost in 2016.
Florida will be forced to continue making adjustments in the coming decades because of the changing climate. Trend lines suggest sunny day flooding will become increasingly common as local sea levels rise from a variety of causes. As a result, some researchers predict that the 30-year mortgage will die out in low-lying parts of our state. - Marco Rubio, opinion contribution to USA Today, 2019
I do not believe that human activity is causing these dramatic changes to our climate the way these scientists are portraying it - Marco Rubio, past statement
With climate change already impacting Florida, Patrick knows that the time to act is now. Climate change is not some obscure problem for future generations to solve. Florida is ground zero for the effects of climate change, including sunny-day flooding on Miami Beach, coastal erosion, and the ocean's intrusion into our drinking water. - Patrick Murphy website
Former governor Rick Scott, who also has a history of casting doubt on climate change, won Florida's other seat in the Senate in 2018. Rick Scott was once rumored to have banned the use of the term "climate change" in official communications. Recently, Rick Scott is changing his statements, and spending taxpayer dollars on numerous efforts to react to the problems associated with climate change, as its effects are now nearly impossible to ignore in Florida. Scott defeated former representative Bill Nelson, who has stated that Republicans are denying reality on climate change. The former astronaut said, "You can call it politics or whatever, but the Earth is getting hotter".
House of Representatives, Florida
District 1: District 1 includes the western Panhandle. Matt Gaetz won the district in 2016 as a Republican against efforts to curb climate change, saying it is not clear if humans are causing it. Matt Gaetz has since acknowledged that climate change is real, and that humans are causing it. He has issued statements and taken steps to begin discussing solutions to the climate change problem from a conservative point of view.
I think that more of my colleagues need to realize that the science of global warming is irrefutable. - Matt Gaetz, 2019 (quoted in Florida Phoenix)
In our fervor to protect the environment, we lose sight of economic and scientific reality. - - past statement from Matt Gaetz
District 2: Walter Dartland lost as a Democrat in 2016 while indicating he supports efforts to address climate change. Neal Dunn won the seat, he is a Republican whose position seems to be along Republican party lines against regulating greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. His website is critical of Charlie Crist and his "climate change agenda."
District 3: Kat Cammack won this seat, following in the footsteps of Ted Yoho. Kat Cammack does not say much about climate change (that we can find) and has issued statements against rejoining the Paris climate agreement. The previous representative, Yoho, did not appear to accept climate change as real and blocked progress on the issue in Congress. Yoho was on the BarackObama list of Congress representatives that had been questioning the scientific conclusions about climate change. Ken McGurn was the Democrat challenging Yoho for the seat in 2016. Ken McGurn recognizes the science community's conclusions that we are causing climate change.
I think it's a natural occurrence ... I think there's an agenda-driven science. I can read stuff that says that the information was skewed. It's not right. - Ted Yoho
Climate change is a real threat and a defining challenge of our time. We can disagree on what is causing the Change. However, everyone should agree that mankind is at least contributing to Climate Change. - Ken McGurn
Blocking the Keystone XL pipeline forces the U.S. to be more dependent on foreign energy sources. This is a huge win for China and Russia and a loss for American jobs in our burgeoning energy - Kat Cammack, on Twitter
Re-entering the Paris Climate Accords undermines our economic growth and competitiveness with strict requirements, giving the upper hand to the #CCP who get off with just a warning. - Kat Cammack, on Twitter
District 4: John Rutherford represents district 4. He has been against climate regulations and supported Trump's decision to pull out of the Paris climate agreement.
Climate change has been going on for a long time and not all of it is manmade - John Rutherford
District 5: Al Lawson won this seat in 2016 as a Democrat without listing climate change as an issue in his campaign. Republican Glo Smith, who questioned climate change, was the other candidate.
District 6: Michael Waltz represents district 6. He acknowledges climate change is a threat to national security, and has advocated for dealing with the effects of it. In the past, Michael Waltz has not made it clear that he supports government action to address climate change. More recently, he's said the United States should lead on clean energy.
We do need to - from a military standpoint, even a national security standpoint — deal with the effects of a warming Earth. - Michael Waltz
District 7: Incumbent Stephanie Murphy won this seat in 2016. Stephanie Murphy has the endorsement of conservation groups and favors taking steps to address the climate change issue. John Mica, the former incumbent, lost in 2016. He was not in favor of proposals in Congress to address climate change, and had voted against the environment. As far as we can tell, he voted against every measure that came his way if it had to do with solving climate change.
I will be a strong advocate for our environment, for cleaner air and water, and for smart investments in green energy that both reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and make energy more affordable for Florida families. - Stephanie Murphy
District 8: Incumbent Bill Posey, in the past, has seemed to not believe in climate change. Like several other Florida Republicans, he seems to be softening his position, and has joined the House Climate Caucus. We're unsure about what actions, if any, he would support on addressing the causes of climate change. Corry Westbrook ran in 2016 but lost. She listed protecting the environment as an issue in her campaign. She favors efforts to address climate change.
District 9: Darren Soto won this seat in 2016 with climate change listed as an issue in his campaign. Wayne Liebnitzky ran as a Republican that year without indicating he breaks with his party's position against taking action on climate change.
Here in Florida, we have a lot to lose from climate change. In fact, Florida has more private property at risk from climate change than any other state. - Darren Soto Website
District 10: Val Demings is the Democratic incumbent candidate, and she has the support of conservation groups due in part to her position on taking action on climate change. Thuy Lowe was the Republican candidate in 2016 - she does not appear to favor efforts to solve climate change, and has made no indication she breaks with her party's position on the issue.
I look forward to working on policies that ensure all Americans have access to clean water, air and that our environment will be protected for generations to come. - Val Demings
District 11: Republican incumbent Dan Webster does not endorse efforts in Congress to curb emissions that cause global warming. District 11 did not vote for Dave Koller in 2016. Koller, who has publicly taken a stand that climate change policy critics are hiding behind statements such as "I am not a scientist", lost the race.
Yes, I believe in climate change. I support finding. researching and developing clean energy sources. I realize that we need a plan here in Florida as well as in all coastal areas of the US to address rising sea levels. - Dave Koller
District 12: Republican incumbent Gus Bilirakis has been hostile towards efforts on climate change, and is known as a fossil fuels energy supporter. Robert Tager ran for the seat in 2016, listing fighting climate change as an issue on his campaign website, but he lost the race.
District 13: Charlie Crist is a Democratic representative who favors taking action on climate change in Congress. Charlie Crist has the endorsement of conservation groups, who note that David Jolly has voted against the environment and efforts to take action on climate change. David Jolly, candidate and incumbent in 2016, was a rare example of a Republican saying he accepts climate change science. However, he opposed action to regulate greenhouse gas emissions (that cause climate change). Jolly lost the race, barely, to Crist.
Pinellas County is more than just my home - it's a treasure that we must protect for future generations as well. - Charlie Crist
I'm going to tell you something you rarely hear a member of Congress say: I think the climate's changing. I think man's had an impact, and we need to stop arguing about the science....I truly do not understand why members of Congress argue over science. I don’t understand it. I understand the healthy argument and constructive dialogue over the solutions because we all have different solutions. - Republican David Jolly
District 14: Incumbent Kathy Castor says she is a supporter of renewable energy solutions. Republican challenger in 2016 Christine Quinn did not seem to reference climate change in her campaign.
District 15: Scott Franklin represents district 15. He has cast doubt on human contributions to climate change, and has indicated he has stood against government action on climate. Ross Spano previously represented the 15th district in Florida. He stood against proposals on climate change, he supported offshore drilling, and supported Trump's pullout of the Paris agreement on climate.
District 16: Vern Buchanan, Republican incumbent, has been protested for his inaction on climate change. Vern Buchanan has adapted his position on climate more recently, and he voted against the United States exit from the Paris climate agreement (a vote on the side that failed). Buchanan has a mixed record but his acknowledgement that climate change is an issue worth noting.
Moments ago I voted for legislation to keep the United States part of the international Paris Climate Accord. Global warming is a serious threat - especially to a state like #Florida with two coastlines vulnerable to rising waters. - Vern Buchanan, on Twitter, 2019
District 17: Republican Greg Steube has adopted the position that climate change cannot be addressed through government.
I don't think there are solutions that we as legislators can necessarily do (on climate change). - Greg Steube
District 18: Brian Mast is the Republican incumbent representative - in 2016 he listed rolling back efforts on climate change as a priority on his website. He is on the House Climate Caucus and thus now seems at least open to discussing policies to address climate change. Some conservation and environmental supporters have questioned the authenticity of the Republican attempts to show willingness to act on climate. Candidate Randy Perkins was the Democrat running in 2016 with a history of environment work.
District 19: Byron Donalds represents district 19. According to local news reports, in a debate he said that the science of climate change is "not settled". But, he acknowledged the effects of climate change. Francis Rooney was the previous representative. Rooney had recently opened up to conservative approaches to the climate change issue. Robert Neeld ran as a Democrat in the 2016 race, listing green energy as a priority in his campaign.
What we do know is that seas are rising, sea level rise is real. It is impacting parts of Florida and, frankly, parts of the world. Is there something that we should be doing with a coordinated federal response on sea level rise? Perhaps. - Byron Donalds, in a debate, according to local news reports
District 20: In this southeast Florida district, Alcee Hastings is the Democratic incumbent in support of efforts to solve climate change. He has a high favorability rating with conservation groups. Gary Stein ran as a Republican in 2016 - he had indicated he is in favor of climate change efforts and accepts the science on climate change.
District 21: Lois Frankel is the Democratic incumbent who believes in addressing climate change.
District 22: Ted Deutch is the incumbent who supports efforts on climate change. Andrea Leigh McGee did not mention climate change or the environment in her issues list when she ran, and lost, in 2016.
As a global economic and political power, Ted strongly believes the United States has a responsibility to provide real leadership on the issue of climate change. If we are truly committed to passing a healthier environment on to our children, then we must treat the challenge posed by global warming as a threat to our national security. - Ted Deutch website
District 23: Democratic incumbent Debbie Wasserman Schultz has some record of supporting environment and climate change efforts in the House, and has the endorsement of conservation groups. Republican Joe Kaufman ran as well in 2016, indicating he does not support efforts to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.
District 24: Frederica Wilson, the current incumbent, holds the position that climate change is real and supports efforts to curb the greenhouse effect.
District 25: Republican incumbent Mario Diaz-Balart has, in the past, questioned the scientific community on global warming and warned against a "knee-jerk" reaction on climate change. While seeming to acknowledge climate change, he has at the same time seemed to cast doubt on the need for Congress to regulate the emissions that causes of climate change. A 2021 search of his House website for "climate" returns three results: a 2010 statement that "CIA Should Chase Terrorists not Polar Bears and Global Warming", support for a 2020 act on climate resiliency (dealing with the effects of climate change), and support for a request for funding for Everglades restoration. Running against him in 2016 was Alina Valdes, a supporter of efforts to climate change.
My fear is using the bandwagon of global warming to have Congress act on some knee-jerk reaction which will please some editorialists, will hurt our economy, will not do anything to help us in the future. - Mario Diaz-Balart, past statement
Addressing climate change in Florida, which is one of the most vulnerable states due to its low elevation and predominantly limestone base, must be a priority if we are to remain above water. Not only will there be a devastating economic impact on the state but the people will be in danger as we have seen with the severe weather events that have been attributed to global warming and its consequences. - Alina Valdes website
District 26: District 26, in the southern part of Florida, is represented by Carlos Gimenez, who is familiar with and responsive to the costly effects of climate change. Carlos Gimenez Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, previously represented the district with a stance in favor of addressing climate change. Bore that, this district was previously represented by Republican incumbent Carlos Curbelo. Curbelo says "I have concerns about the ecological impact that climate change has on our planet, especially as it relates to rising sea-levels. It is vital Congress works in a bipartisan manner to mitigate the effects of climate change and I’m proud to be a pro-environment voice in the Republican Party."
Let's be clear, sea-level rise is a very serious concern for Miami-Dade County and all of South Florida. It's not a theory. It's a fact. We live it every day. - Carlos Gimenez
Climate change is an urgent threat to our way of life in South Florida. I’m proud to be endorsed by Climate Hawks Vote and I’m ready to get to work on REAL climate action in Congress. - Debbie Mucarsel-Powell
I realized some time ago that this issue is an existential threat to where I live. Here in South Florida, regrettably, this is no longer an abstract issue. We are already witnessing the effects of climate change and sea level rise, and we know which way the trend is going. - Carlos Curbelo, Republican
District 27: Maria Elvira Salazar won this district in 2020, as a conservative who recognizes the need to address climate change. Donna Shalala previously represented district 27 by supporting efforts to address climate.
Climate change is real, and the evidence is right here in Miami. Miami’s pristine coastline must be protected. The water level is rising in at an alarming rate and coastal areas like Miami Beach may become uninhabitable in a matter of decades, not centuries, unless we work to combat the problem. - Maria Elvira Salazar
Climate change is the biggest planetary challenge we face in the 21st Century, and for South Florida it is a dire existential threat. -  Donna Shalala, previous representative in district 27
Florida's Governor, Ron DeSantis, has historically been called out for questioning climate change science. More recently, he's adapting his statements, and has introduced numerous costly measures to address the effects of climate change in Florida. It's now nearly impossible to dismiss these effects, but we're still waiting for him to address the causes of climate change by taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas pollution.
The idea that we have the capacity to change or stop the climate, I'm just skeptical. - Ron DeSantis, past statement

Disclaimer: The statements and comments about representatives positions are the opinion of the writer. We try to include accurate information and base the representative and candidate positions on a variety of reliable sources. Sources include reputable reporting on candidates' past statements, campaign websites, press coverage of campaigns and representatives, votes in Congress on issues, and party affiliation. If you feel we are missing something, let us know. Please contact us to suggest a correction or request an update. Individual representatives and districts are updated periodically, but may at times become outdated. These statements are opinions related to how the U.S. Congress is responding to a national security and public health issue, but should be treated as opinions.



See also: Disinformation on Climate Change is Staggering

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