LCV’s 2024 National Scorecard: How Does the Michigan Delegation Stack Up?
Since 1970, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) has published the National Environmental Scorecard, the primary yardstick for evaluating the environmental records of members of Congress. As it has for the last 54 years, the 2024 Scorecard highlights how Michigan’s congressional delegation voted on key environmental and democracy-related issues over the last year – offering insight as to who truly has the interests of our air, land, water, climate, and democracy at heart.
At a time when extreme ideology and radical members of Congress worked to dismantle environmental protections and attack our democracy, some of Michigan’s congressional leaders played a crucial role in fighting back. Others, not so much. The 2024 Scorecard reveals which of Michigan’s representatives in Washington stood up for clean air and water, our Great Lakes, and climate action – and who aligned themselves with polluters and special interests.
The Importance of Accountability
The Scorecard underscores both the importance of electing environmental champions and holding our elected officials accountable for how they vote on critical issues related to our environment, health, and natural resources. With the climate crisis accelerating and severe weather devastating Michigan communities in recent years, the importance of electing leaders who will advocate for clean energy, environmental justice, job creation, and strong protections for our air and water has never been greater.
“In the U.S. House, we saw numerous attacks on common sense air and water protections that are saving Michiganders money. Thankfully some members of the Michigan delegation stepped up to stop these attacks on our environment – and they have the scores to show for it,” said Bentley Johnson, federal government affairs director for the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. “Now, as the Trump administration accelerates attacks on clean energy and environmental safeguards, Michigan needs champions in Congress to stand up and hold our chief executive to account. We must make it clear that we won’t stand for attacks on our air and water and our progress toward cleaner, more affordable energy.”
In 2024, despite attempts by Republicans to roll back environmental progress, Michigan’s congressional delegation largely pushed back against efforts to roll back clean energy investments and dismantle environmental safeguards. The House of Representatives saw repeated attempts to gut environmental policies and prioritize the interests of big polluters. Meanwhile, the Senate continued to confirm well-qualified federal judges who will play a crucial role in upholding environmental protections for years to come.
How Does Michigan’s Delegation Stack Up?
The 2024 Scorecard includes eight Senate votes and 33 House votes covering issues such as clean energy, environmental justice, public health, and voting rights and democracy. Here’s how Michigan’s congressional leaders performed:
SENATE:
- Senator Debbie Stabenow – 100%
- Senator Gary Peters – 100%
HOUSE:
- Representative Jack Bergman – 6%
- Representative John Moolenaar – 6%
- Representative Hillary Scholten – 91%
- Representative Bill Huizenga – 0%
- Representative Tim Walberg – 3%
- Representative Debbie Dingell – 100%
- Representative Elissa Slotkin* – 94%
- Representative Dan Kildee* – 97%
- Representative Lisa McClain – 0%
- Representative John James – 6%
- Representative Haley Stevens – 100%
- Representative Rashida Tlaib – 97%
- Representative Shri Thanedar – 100%
(*No longer serving in the U.S. House of Representatives)
These scores reflect how lawmakers voted on the most pressing environmental issues of the year, providing voters with critical information about who is fighting for a sustainable future. What’s quite clear? Some of Michigan’s representatives in Washington did not do so well.
What Does This Mean for Us?
Amid uncertain and unprecedented political times, the 2024 Scorecard serves as a crucially important tool that we can use to hold our elected officials accountable and ensure Michigan – and the entire country – continues to protect our environment and uphold our democracy. As the Trump administration and Elon Musk pursue policies that threaten our most vulnerable, our future, and our national security, and go directly against the interests of the American people, now more than ever it is imperative we make our voices heard and make clear to our leaders in Congress what is expected of them.
For more details and to explore the full 2024 National Scorecard, visit scorecard.lcv.org.