Environmental Politics

President Obama actually mentioned climate change in his victory speech last night.

In addition to defeats of California's GMO-Labelling and Michigan's clean energy measures, voters approved rebuilding a Seattle seawall and a Colorado city's fracking ban and defeated a measure to remove California's Hetch Hetchy dam.

"Storm-weary residents across the New York and New Jersey area encountered confusion and long lines as they went to cast ballots in the presidential election on Tuesday, and regional officials began scrambling to prepare for a new weather threat due as early as Wednesday."

"A measure that would require most foods made with genetically engineered ingredients to be labeled in California was significantly behind early Wednesday."

Voters in most cases Tuesday elected candidates supported by environmentalists for their positions on climate change and clean energy. The list of "Climate Heroes 2012" was drawn up by a coalition called "Citizens Determined to Elect Clean Energy Champions." The coalition was led by people like Bill McKibben. Below are results for candidates listed as "Climate Heroes."

"Proposal 3, a [Michigan] state ballot initiative promoting renewable energy, fizzled out at the polls Tuesday. 36 percent of voters supported the measure, while 64 percent came out against it, according to the Detroit Free Press at 12:27 a.m Wednesday."

Five House members targetted by the League of Conservation Voters for their denial of climate change took heavy hits in Tuesday's election. Defeated were Ann Marie Buerkle (R-NY 24), Francisco Canseco (R-TX 23), and Joe Walsh (R-IL 8). The races for two others, Dan Benishek (R-MI 1) and Dan Lungren (R-CA 7) remained too close to call late into the evening.

"SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Ending a mystery that captivated the run-up to Election Day, the Arizona group behind an anonymous $11 million donation revealed under court order Monday that the shadowy donation was laundered through two groups, including one tied to David and Charles Koch, the billionaire brothers who have played a huge role in spreading anonymous political cash around the country."

"How the industry kept scientists from asking: Does sugar kill?"

"PHILADELPHIA -- Pennsylvania officials reported incomplete test results that omitted data on some toxic metals that were found in drinking water taken from a private well near a natural gas drilling site, according to legal documents released this week."